4 GUNS, 3 MONTHS Four instances of firearms in residence halls this semester leaves campus community with questions about communication.06
MEGHAN HOLT, DN ILLUSTRATION
11.16.2023
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THIS CAN’T BE THE NEW NORMAL. Ball State Daily News Editorial Team
Editor’s note: Digital Managing Editor Olivia Ground is an employee of Ball State Housing and Residence Life. To avoid a conflict of interest, ground recused herself from the editing process of this staff editorial. We are a part of the post-Columbine generation. We grew up with lockdown drills, barricaded doors and had lessons on when to run or attack. Every room we enter, we look for the exit. We look for places to hide. We wonder if the textbooks in our bookbags will stop a bullet. We shouldn’t have to wonder if our university will communicate threats promptly. From 2000 to 2021, there were 276 casualties (108 killed and 168 wounded) in active shooter incidents at elementary and secondary schools and 157 casualties (75 killed and 82 wounded) in active shooter incidents at postsecondary institutions, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Sandy Hook. Parkland. Virginia Tech. Uvalde. University of Texas. Nashville. Enoch Brown. The list goes on, and we remember them all. Michigan State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Some of the Daily
News staff waited in fear for updates during these shootings, hoping the people we knew at each school were OK. Last Wednesday, the University Police Department (UPD) sent out a public safety advisory email announcing the arrest of two Ball State University students involved in a firearm discharge, which took place in Noyer Complex — a dorm that can house 800 students. One of the students involved, and later arrested, was treated for a non-life-threatening, accidental gunshot wound. The gun from the incident and a secondary firearm were found in a dorm room in Woodworth Complex. The arrest, and advisory email, came two days after the incident. It took two days for us to know that a gun was fired in a dorm that houses up to 800 students. This incident happened after the Sept. 16 report of a discharged firearm in Studebaker West. Through a public safety announcement, students were informed on the same day. It was concluded by UPD to not be an immediate threat. This also transpired after a modified Glock handgun — one with a switch to turn the gun fully automatic — was found in a university dorm room in an investigation following an off-campus shooting Oct. 27. Many of us learned about the
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incident from local news following the release of court documentation instead of being informed by the university. Four instances of guns in residence halls in our first semester so far. One had the potential to be fully automatic. One weapon student sustained a gunshot wound. The email we received last Wednesday closed with the following: “President Geoffrey S. Mearns charged Ro-Anne Royer Engle, vice president for student affairs, to establish an action group of individuals from various units on campus to proactively address campus safety. This group will work to identify both short- and long-term actions.” Establish an action group … proactively address campus safety … work to identify actions … It took a second gun discharge for the university to put this plan into effect. Not after Studebaker West, not after the discovery of a potentially fully automatic weapon — it took multiple safety threats for action to be taken. When is enough enough? After responding to the incident Tuesday, it took the university 24 hours to let students know about a bullet leaving the chamber of a gun in a building where hundreds of students live. A bullet that struck a student involved in the incident and
CORRECTION
The Nov. 9 edition of the Ball State Daily News was issue 13, not issue X. In the Nov. 9 issue, the weather forecast on pg. 2 was inaccurate. On pg. 18, in Robert Koester’s last quote, the word “ebb” was inccorect. The correct word was “be.” To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
caused them to sustain a gunshot wound. But how long are we going to be kept in the dark? Even if UPD felt it wasn’t an immediate threat, the fact of the matter is a gun was fired in a dorm. Why wasn’t there action after the incident at Studebaker West? How are we meant to feel safe when our university is not communicating potential threats promptly? These are the questions many of us are asking. Many of us have already lived through mass shootings, bomb threats and armed intruders in places we’re told we are safe. What makes our situation at Ball State any different? When we aren’t being communicated with in a timely manner, our sense of security is fractured. If the people in charge of our safety wait over 24 hours to tell us what is going on in the place we live, work and go to school, how can we believe they’re prepared to communicate in the event of something worse? So how far does it have to go? We hope speaking out on this issue will bring attention to concrete efforts to improve emergency communication methods. Guns on our campus can’t be the new normal, but communicating about incidents at the moment they happen should be.
The USA has had 57 times as many school shootings as all other major industrialized nations combined. Source: National Library of Medicine.
The number of casualties from 2000 to 2021 at schools (kindergarten through college). Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
Since Columbine in 1999, more than 338,000 students in the U.S. have experienced gun violence at school. Source: The Washington Post.
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National
m o r f Quee d i K e n h s T
AP: Colorado shooting suspect pleads not guilty A man accused of a mass shooting at a Colorado supermarket in 2021 plead not guilty by reason of insanity Nov. 14. The plea means that attorneys for the man are claiming mental illness prevented him from understanding right from wrong on the day of the attack. He is accused of killing 10 people using a gun with a high-capacity magazine.
State
AP: Eberhart agrees to plead guilty to fraud Former Indiana lawmaker Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) will plead guilty to a federal charge alleging that he accepted promises of lucrative employment from a gaming company during his time in office. The office is punishable with a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release following imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
National
AP: Supreme Court adopts code of ethics
Dr. Anand Marri aims to use his position as Provost to support students across campus.04 Ball State University’s newly appointed Provost Anand R. Marri poses for a picture Nov. 8 outside of Teachers College. Marri began at Ball State as Dean of Teachers College on July 1, 2020. ANDREW BERGER, DN
The adoption comes in the face of criticism over gifts and trips from wealthy benefactors to some of the justices, however, the code lacks a means of enforcement. The policy, which was agreed unanimously, does not seem to create any significant new requirements and leaves decision-making entirely up to each justice.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: SGA INTRODUCES FIRST SENATE AMENDMENT OF SEMESTER
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Anand Marri never saw himself becoming provost and executive vice president for academic affairs when he was a child growing up in Queens, New York. Olivia Ground Digital Managing Editor Growing up riding subways and buses in Queens, New York, Anand Marri watched adults in fancy suits making their way into Manhattan to the law offices, prepared to make changes in the world and make lots of money doing it. Marri planned to be one of them. He came to the United States when he was 9 years old from Hyderabad, India. He didn’t speak English, his parents owned cologne and fragrance stores in the area malls. His parents put him through English as a second language (ESL) classes as soon as they came to the States and enrolled him in a private school– ensuring he received the best education he could get compared to the disadvantaged public schools Marri’s family members were exposed to. “My parents worked for seven days a week in the store,” Marri said. “I saw that they provided us an opportunity by sacrificing, by sending us to campus and will pay the tuition. I was lucky enough to get all those opportunities, but I saw a lot of our kids in the neighborhood not having opportunities.” Marri is a first-generation student who attended Bowdoin College, a small liberal arts university in Maine. He attended on a full-ride scholarship, playing two sports and admittedly “partied a little too much his first semester.” Marri didn’t have cable growing up– but he did have three newspapers arrive at his home daily. The New York Times, The Daily News and The New York Post. He read them “cover to cover” as a kid. “My parents instilled to me the joy of reading,” Marri said, “ I was more aware of the world because I got to read the papers all the time.” This all mounted to one moment in his sophomore year required credit class: Education 101 with Professor Penny Martin. The first question Martin asked the class: Who is Lamar Alexander? Marri raised his hand, the only one in the room to do so, and identified the then-Secretary of Education. “I was the only one in the room who knew that, and we connected from there on,” Marri said. “She took me under her wing.” The only reason he knew it? He read it in a newspaper in his home in Queens. From that point on, Marri knew he wanted to work in education, despite being a Political Science and Government major. Conversations, advice and mentorship from Martin led Marri to Stanford, where Marri received his master’s degree. Leaving Stanford with a master’s degree and teaching license, the opportunities were wide open for Marri. He was able to go to any school district he wanted simply because he had graduated from Stanford, he said. But, he chose a low-income district to teach in. “I hit the education lottery. I was a first-generation college kid, got to go to Bowdoin – a place of privilege – as a scholarship kid the whole time,”
Ball State University’s new Provost Anand R. Marri poses for a picture Nov. 8 in the Quad. Marri’s previous roles were at Columbia University and the University of Rochester. ANDREW BERGER, DN Marri said, “ I wanted to focus on helping students that don’t traditionally have access to [education] get on that path.” Marri taught AP US History, AP government and AP economics, motivated by the want to teach students to become engaged citizens in American democracy, he said. Once he eventually left his position to get his Ph.D., he researched ways to support nontraditional students – first-generation students and students in low-income areas – to find ways into higher education. He was drawn to Ball State University when he learned of the merger Ball State made with Muncie Community Schools. “There is no other place in the country where the state legislature said the school district is going to work very closely with the university and put governing the school board with the university,”
Marri said. “I said, ‘This is somewhere unique,’ and I also wanted to go to a place where schools of education are valued.” Since arriving in Muncie, Marri has put a priority on immersing himself in the community. He volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank, worked on the campaign committee for the new YMCA and actively serves on the board for the Boys and Girls Club. “It’s important that our committee members see the university as a partner and as a catalyst for economic growth for not just the university but for all of the community,” Marri said. “We’re looking at ways to partner because if the students at Muncie Community Schools are not doing well, that means we’re not really doing that well either.” Marri started at Ball State as dean of Teachers College in 2020, creating large changes in a few short years.
I hit the education lottery. I was a firstgeneration college kid, got to go to Bowdin – a place of privilege – as a scholarship kid the whole time.” - Anand Marri, Ball State University Provost
“Colleges of education and teachers colleges all across the country are experiencing declining enrollment,” Geoffrey Mearns, Ball State University president, said. “Our teachers college, because of his advocacy and the strong work of our faculty, staff and graduates associated with teachers college, is bucking that trend and enrollment is growing modestly.” Marri worked closely with Kendra Lowery, associate dean for equity and engagement. “Provost Marri was a visionary. He was collaborative. He was very accessible and approachable. He would allow people to dream and to brainstorm,” Lowery said. Marri took on the role of interim provost following Susana Rivera-Mills’ departure for Aurora University in March. Marri described the transition from teacher to Dean to Provost by ways of navigating a forest. As a faculty member trying to get tenured, make scholarships and build community, you are focused on one tree in the forest that is higher education, Marri said. When you become a Dean, you start to focus on a couple dozen trees. When you become Provost- you are overseeing the whole forest. “Now I get to think about half of the university budget [in] Academic Affairs. We have over 1200 faculty that work in academic affairs and a lot more staff,” Marri said. “And so now I have to figure out how to think about this from a strategic viewpoint in partnering with other parts of the university with our same priorities.” Marri said he is focusing on three goals in his new role: student success, faculty success and changing the budget model. In terms of student success, Marri wants students from all backgrounds to succeed but places an emphasis on first-generation and lowincome students. At Ball State, one in three students are first generation, according to Ball State Student Affairs, and 80 percent of students at Ball State qualify for financial aid, according to Ball State Admissions. “Our students here don’t have the same path that I had at Bowdoin, my life was much easier at Bowdoin because we had a lot of resources, we don’t have that,” Marri said. “So how do you work within that system to provide the same excellent undergraduate experiences and graduate school experiences for our students to get into the path of the middle class and beyond?” Marri’s student-centered approach to the position aligns with the responsibilities that Lowery feels administrators have to the university. Marri echoed the sentiment, expressing he has yet to deny any student a meeting since he took the position and has no intention to. Or, they are welcome to join Marri as he hits the ground running on campus each morning at 5 a.m.. Editor-in-chief Daniel Kehn contributed to this story. Contact Olivia Ground with comments at olivia. ground@bsu.edu or on X @liv_ground_25.
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Following the fourth instance of a firearm in a residence hall, university officials put action team plan in place. Daniel Kehn Editor-in-chief Gary Reynolds has been worried since his son, Case, was in high school. A gun-related incident in their hometown Noblesville, Indiana, school district permanently changed how he thought about Case’s education. “Ever since then, it’s scary and you think about it every single day,” Reynolds said. Case, a first-year sociology major, has grown up part of the post-Columbine generation, where guns in schools is the new normal. “It’s terrifying to me and honestly, it just seems that there is not a safe space anymore – but at schools and universities, there really should be,” Gary Reynolds said. Reynolds, like other parents with students on campus at Ball State University, signed up for campus alerts and advisories when Case moved to campus in August. Reynolds received an email when University Police Department (UPD) was investigating a reported gun shot in Studebaker West Sept. 16. He also received an email Nov. 8 from the advisory system explaining that two students had been charged for having weapons on campus; one student in Noyer Complex who had discharged a weapon in his dorm room Nov. 6, injuring himself, and the other student in Woodworth Complex, who police believe had the first student’s firearm and an additional firearm in his dorm Nov. 8, according to the advisory email. UPD responded to the incident Nov. 7 and informed the campus community the following day. Spokesman Greg Fallon explained the system used by the university that community members can opt in to. Alerts are sent as soon as possible via text and are used when there is an immediate threat to campus and action is required, while advisories are sent later when it is determined there is no immediate threat to campus. “I believe that first text message needs to go out immediately,” Reynolds said. “For one, I know guns are illegal on campus. So they shouldn’t be there at all. So when that does happen, a notification needs to go out immediately via text and it should be a shelter in place and as much information that is known at the time, but at least shelter in place. Now, we have this incident and I’m curious to know, and we haven’t been informed yet, how is it that this
It is a case-by-case situation, and in the cases that we have had on campus this semester, they have not been deemed an imminent, immediate threat that we need students to take action about.” - RO-ANNE ROYER ENGLE, Vice president of student affairs occurred on Monday, and no one was made aware until 48 hours later?” Reynolds, along with others who opt in for advisory text messages and email alerts, did not receive any notification when a gun had been found in a student’s dorm after the student fired it multiple times in an off-campus incident. The incident occurred after Muncie Police officers responded to a report of shots fired Oct. 21 on Granville Avenue, according to the probable cause affidavit. Officers identified and located the shooter, a Ball State student, and found the firearm in his dorm on campus. The incident in Noyer last week marks the fourth incident involving a firearm in a residence hall this semester. It is the second time that a firearm has been discharged in a residence hall. The university did not use an emergency notification text alert in either of those incidents, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Ro-Anne Royer Engle. Some students question the university’s communication decisions in these instances. “To be honest with you, it does kind of scare me a little bit,” said Logan Campbell, a second-year architecture major. “Just because the campus did say they pride themselves on communicating with students about things that happen.” Campbell was not in Noyer Complex at the time of the incident Nov. 8, but expressed his concern over the university’s communication. “It’s dangerous. That’s a gun discharged in the building,” he said. “People should know about it. If they have questions about it, if they have questions or anything, I think information should be spread
To be honest with you, it does kind of scare me a little bit. Just because the campus did say they pride themselves on communicating with students about things that happen.” - LOGAN CAMPBELL, Second-year architecture major
Noyer Complex Nov. 15 on Ball State University’s campus in Muncie, Ind. MYA CATALINE, DN
ON CAMPUS FIREARM INCIDENTS THIS SEMESTER:
When the threat has been neutralized, then I think sometimes they’re going to exercise a little bit more patience to gather the information and communicate it out.” - GEOFFREY MEARNS, University president immediately so people are up to date. It’s serious, but it wasn’t like a shooter this time, but if we don’t know about it, how are we supposed to know?” Engle said the handling of situations of this nature is on a case-by-case basis, and UPD makes an assessment about risk level when it arrives to a scene. “There may be specifics about situations [and] specific incidents that make us determine that this is not an imminent threat, and I think there is a difference between that and a firearm being discharged,” Engle said. “Although a firearm being discharged in a residence hall could be a threat, it does not mean in the immediate that it is. So it is a case-by-case situation, and in the cases that we have had on campus this semester, they have not been deemed an imminent, immediate threat that we need students to take action about.” She went on to explain that in the specific situation at Noyer, residential staff there were not provided any additional information earlier than anyone else on campus, but the situation was communicated to upper-level housing staff.
4See FIREARM, 18
Sept. 16
University Police Department (UPD) responded to reported gun shot in Studebaker West. University spokesman Greg Fallon confirmed that the gun was not recovered.
Oct. 21
Muncie Police Officers responded to a report of shots fired Oct. 21 on Granville Ave. Officers identified and located the shooter, a Ball State student, and found the firearm in his dorm on campus.
Nov. 7
UPD responded to a reported discharge on Nov. 6 in Noyer Complex. Police arrested the student who fired the firearm in Noyer Complex, and as well as another student who had the discharged firearm and another firearm in his dorm in Woodworth Complex.
Source: Ball State Marketing and Communications Delaware County Court Records
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11.16.23
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Women’s Volleyball
Gates earns 1,000th dig at Ball State In a 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-15, 2624) win over Northern Illinois Nov. 10, fifth-year libero Havyn Gates recorded her 1,000th career dig with 21 digs total in the contest. During her two years at Indiana Wesleyan prior to Ball State, Gates recorded 1,124 digs. The Cardinals are set to compete in the Mid-American Conference tournament Saturday, Nov. 18.
Ball State Athletics
Two home athletic events Saturday Saturday, Nov. 18, Ball State is promoting two home athletic events back-to-back, making a push for fans to attend each consecutively. Women’s basketball hosts Northern Iowa at 11 a.m. at Worthen Arena before football hosts Kent State at 2 p.m. at Scheumann Stadium. Athletics is advertising that a ticket for one event will grant entry to the other.
Swim and Dive
Ball State competing at IUPUI
Kiael Kelly’s near-three-year journey to becoming Ball State football’s facilitator. 10 MYA CATALINE, DN PHOTO MEGHAN HOLT, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
After opening the season with two team wins and numerous individual wins from the likes of fifth-year senior Owen Chaye and sophomore Payton Kelly, both the men’s and women’s Cardinals are heading to Indianapolis Nov. 16-18 to compete against multiple schools across the state such as Indiana, Purdue, Notre Dame, Butler and IUPUI.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: FOOTBALL RETURNS HOME FOR MATCHUP AGAINST KENT STATE.
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Identical Drive Twin women’s basketball players Olivia and Hailey Smith begin the next step in their basketball career at Ball State.
Hailey and Olivia Smith, freshmen Ball State women’s basketball players, pose for a photo at Schondell Practice Center Nov. 8. The identical twin sisters recently committed to Ball State from Fishers High School. MYA CATALINE, DN;
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Trinity Rea Sports Reporter The Smiths share everything together. From their cadence as they walk to the placement of the tattoos they don on their bodies. Since the beginning, they’ve always had one another and their passion for basketball. As early as second grade, incoming Ball State freshmen basketball players, Hailey and Olivia Smith, frequently joined in on games of street ball set up by their older brothers. Across local courts in Fishers, Indiana, they faced their siblings and older guys in their neighborhood. “Our household was full of boys; we have four other brothers, so it was just me and Olivia,” Hailey said. “Our childhood was just with boys, doing everything with our brothers’ friends.” These battles in the street became a constant throughout the twins’ lives. They began taking their love for the sport with them to school, battling classmates at recess.
As a team, we want to make it far, you know? You don’t want to lose.” - OLIVIA SMITH, Freshman basketball player at Ball State University
“We didn’t really [play] any other sport,” Olivia said. “We wouldn’t be the ones playing with Barbie dolls and stuff either, it was always like, ‘I just want to be outside playing basketball.’” This was the twins’ only exposure to basketball until they joined a travel team together in the sixth grade. This travel squad was aimed at improving play and introducing the idea of culture, directly leading them into what would be their future team, the Fishers High School Lady Tigers, where Hailey and Olivia made a name for themselves within the basketball world, expanding their potential to way outside of Fishers. Making varsity all four years, they helped propel the school to success and led the squad to a state championship game last year. “Hailey and Olivia have a competitiveness and a toughness about them, that is pretty clear,” head coach Lauren Votaw said. “They hate to lose and they are willing to hold their teammates and themselves accountable to things that they know need to be done in order for us to win.” Their competitiveness thrived on the court alongside some new-found leadership developed throughout their high school career. While they acclimated to this position, they made sure their teammates had the same goals in mind; to achieve a championship and nothing less. “It was one of our first open gyms last fall and in practice, I don’t remember if it was somebody complaining or somebody not going hard, but one of the twins looked at that player and said, ‘We are trying to win a championship, we don’t have time for that,’” Votaw said. “That’s kind of the way they approach everything.” Throughout their time at Fishers, Votaw asked for immense growth from the twins, and as time went on, she saw the results combined with a heightened desire from the twins to continue growing on their
own. Votaw said within many facets of their lives, they became very disciplined, putting in the work to improve themselves overall. Ball State head coach Brady Sallee has seen what Votaw helped instill within the Smiths’ over the last four years. Sallee said he could not be more excited to have them join the Cardinals this year. In his thirty years of coaching, Sallee has not seen any one player be similar to another. This is why with the Smiths, he cannot emphasize enough how unique of players they are. “They kind of have a wingman built in, where if one ain’t feeling it, then the other one picks up the slack, so I think that’s clearly a different dynamic in and of itself,” Sallee said. “There’s days that I can’t always tell them apart, but it just lends to the story, you know? They’re just really, really neat kids.” Sallee associates this uniqueness with how the twins are seemingly able to read one another’s mind, on and off the court. In their short time with the team, he says their contributions have been immense, immediately boosting team morale and creating a positive environment. “The first thing we were drawn to when we recruited them was the personality and the intensity; The dog,” Sallee said. “As you get to know them through the process, you see that it’s to the heart. It’s not turned on, it’s not necessarily generated by the basketball floor, it’s just part of who they are.” Hailey and Olivia attribute their attitude and energy to their love for family. They are big on traditions and spending time together with the ones they love. The twins said at the end of the day, no matter what they go through, they will always have each other. “Family comes first. I always say we all still know at the end of the day that this is where it all started,” Hailey said.
The intensity; The dog... It’s not turned on, it’s not necessarily generated by the basketball floor, it’s just part of who they are.” - BRADY SALLEE, Head coach of Ball State women’s basketball With their family standing ready behind them, the Smiths are looking forward to what’s to come, excited to begin their collegiate career. In the twins’ short time with the team, they’ve recognized their growth within basketball and the ability they have to shift their mentality as they enter a new level of play. The welcoming environment of Ball State is something they’re proud to be a part of, already making lasting connections with their new teammates. Branding this season as one for learning, the Smiths’ are thankful to be experiencing it alongside their other half. “Individually, I just want to take this year as a learning experience, really take it all in so next year, I can come back better,” Olivia said. “As a team, we want to make it far; you don’t want to lose.” Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu. edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
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Left: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaiel Kelly laughs as he plays with his dog, Lou, Nov. 11 at a dog park in Muncie, Indiana. Right: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaiel Kelly pets his dog, Lou, Nov. 11 at a dog park in Muncie, Indiana. MYA CATALINE, DN
Kiael Kelly and his friends and family provide an in-depth look into who the man under center at Ball State is.
Kyle Smedley Print Managing Editor and Co-Sports Editor Jaclyn Kelly still remembers the day she dropped her son off at Ball State University. She remembers asking Kiael if he was sure that he was OK. She asked him if he could handle the cold of Muncie, Indiana, compared to the consistently warm temperatures of their hometown of Tampa, Florida. She said she and his younger brother, Jai, cried on the plane ride home, more than 1,000 miles away. Kiael may have attended three different high schools, but he had never moved away from Florida. Having left one of her sons far from home to pursue his dreams of making the NFL, it frustrated Jaclyn to see Kiael in a backup quarterback role for his first two full seasons and at the start of his third. Jaclyn just wanted her son to get a chance. That chance finally came before the Cardinals’ contest against Toledo in week seven. When Kiael broke the news to Jaclyn, she let out every emotion that came with months of prayer for her son. “I screamed, I yelled and I think I cried when he told me, ‘Mom, I’m going to start,’” Jaclyn said. “I said, ‘Alright, I’m booking my flight.’” She hasn’t missed a game since. “We’re all that we have,” Jaclyn said. “I just have to be there.”
When Kiael and his older brother, Kijah, were growing up, Jaclyn said she called the three of them “The Three Musketeers.” Even with her nineyear-old son Jai now in the picture, the three will always have that unique bond. Whether it be through her constant support on social media, making day trips from Florida to Indiana to watch his games in person or paying for personal trainers to develop Kiael into the best athlete he could be leading up to college, Jaclyn never thought twice about making sacrifices for her children. “If my kids say, ‘Mom, I want to learn how to walk on the moon,’ if I can’t show them, I’m going to put them in a situation or try to research and get the help to get them there,” Jaclyn said.
Football and family
When Kiael told his older brother he earned the starting spot at Ball State, Kijah cried too. “This is something that we planned forever since we were little, spending countless nights when we had to stay after and practice hard,” Kijah said. Kiael and Kijah each said they’ve always been best friends. From sleeping in the same room together until Kijah’s junior year of high school to playing football together for a season in high school, the two were always attached at the hip. Kijah tore his ACL during his junior season of high school, but eventually made it back to the field for his senior season. Kiael mostly played at
He doesn’t want to go out and say, ‘I’m Michael Jordan or Joe Montana,’ or whatever quarterback he’s not; He’s just trying to be Kiael Kelly.” - SETH DAVIS, Kiael Kelly’s mentor
the junior varsity level that season, but near the end of the year, he was called up to varsity and was able to play alongside Kijah. However, in the final game of the season, Kijah tore the same ACL again, and his chance to play college football at UAB was flushed down the drain. Kiael said this moment taught him not to take his opportunity to play at the Division I level for granted. “I can sense his football career lives through me,” Kiael said. Kijah knows his brother’s admiration for him, and it’s reciprocated in the way Kijah speaks about Kiael. Few people know the dedication and sacrifices Kiael had to make to get to where he is now more than Kijah. “It’s always been like this,” Kijah said. “We always support each other through the back end, no matter what it costs.”
Deeper than blood
Kiael still remembers the first time he ever met Seth Davis. It was the first day of fifth grade basketball practice with Davis as his new coach, and while Davis was instructing the group, Kiael was spinning a basketball on his finger. Davis took him off the court and had him sit out the next drill. Kiael stood on the sideline, mad and confused because he had never been taken out of practice.
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Kijah Kelly (left) and Kiael Kelly (right) pose for a photo in 2010 along the road in their home state of Florida. Kijah and Kiael are two of five siblings. KIJAH KELLY, PHOTO PROVIDED “How are you gonna be my best player and you’re spinning the ball while I’m talking?” Davis asked Kiael. Kiael was taken aback, but he thought, ‘You don’t even know me, how are you gonna assume I’m gonna be the best player?’ In that moment, Davis earned Kiael’s respect, and Kiael decided then that he would follow Davis’ lead. Davis remembers the day Kiael was named the starter at Ball State just as well as Kiael’s own family. He said the text he received from Kiael simply read, “I did it.” Davis said he and Kiael talked about earning this role for years before the day of the announcement, and while Kiael was eagerly waiting for it, Davis said he was never negative toward the Ball State coaching staff or his teammates. Instead, Kiael told Davis he was trying to perfect his game in the best way possible so the staff had no choice but to run with him under center. “He doesn’t want to go out and say, ‘I’m Michael Jordan or Joe Montana,’ or whatever quarterback he’s not; He’s just trying to be Kiael Kelly,” Davis said.
people talking about me with Willie Snead, Nate Davis and Justin Hall. I approach every day trying to be great.” Kiael said he’s always putting in extra work, any chance he gets. If that means doing push-ups during commercial breaks while he’s watching a football game, he’s going to do it. If that means using the posts on a bed frame to do bandwork, he’s going to do it. Even though Kiael is mostly operating under an “all football all the time” mindset, he admitted he dedicates time toward taking breaks so he doesn’t burn out. To get away from football, he’ll play his PlayStation5, walk his golden retriever, Lou or watch other sports on TV. However, he said it’s hard to fully unplug. When he’s playing Madden or watching a football game on TV, he said he always gets an “itch.” That’s why he ends every day with at least 30 minutes of football. Kiael’s thirst for leadership in athletics is something Davis said he saw in Kiael the day they met. “He wanted to guard the other team’s best player; He wanted that spotlight to be in front of him,” Davis said. “Although he was always humble, never arrogant, never cocky, he wanted to show who he was in between the lines.” Davis praised Kiael’s work ethic and lead-byexample approach, citing his quiet, yet confident demeanor as one he has consistently seen Kiael’s teammates rally around. Davis remembered watching Kiael during Ball State’s last-second win over Northern Illinois. Although freshman kicker Jackson Courville made the game-winning kick, Kiael could be seen celebrating perhaps more than anyone. “It’s cool to know that you did good, but did you win or not?” Kiael said. “People judge quarterbacks off their record. It doesn’t matter if you had seven touchdowns in a loss. You lost, and that’s what matters.”
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The man behind the helmet
Speaking on Muncie and the people he’s been able to meet during his three years in the 765, Kiael said even though he’s soft-spoken, he loves meeting new people in the community. “I love the city of Muncie. They brought me in,” Kiael said. One way Kiael has been able to consistently meet new people outside of football is in his community service work. Kiael has volunteered for as long as he can remember, even providing the homeless with meals on Christmas Eve back home in Tampa, but he said the way he’s most been able to give back to Muncie is through his offseason job at local YMCA locations. Whether it’s someone who comes in for a workout and leaves or someone who stays almost the entire day, he knows the kids who come in know who he is and look up to him as a public figure, so he tries to be the best role model possible. “If you do good, good comes to you,” Kiael said. “Never forget who you are. “It’s your life, you gotta live it.” While the news that changed Kiael’s life was more than a month ago and he has started four games since, Kiael still remembers walking through the Ron and Joan Venderly Football Center with tears in his eyes that morning. “I still can’t put it into words,” Kiael said. “I have to do well while I’m here because it can be gone tomorrow. Everybody knew it was time.” Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or on X @KyleSmedley_.
Kiael Kelly (center), Joclyn Kelly (left), Kijah Kelly (right) and Jai Kelly (bottom) pose for a photo after Kiael officially signed with Ball State football Dec. 16, 2019, in Tampa, Florida. Kelly is a redshirt sophomore quarterback currently starting for Ball State. JOCLYN KELLY, PHOTO PROVIDED
Why football? Why quarterback?
Kiael competed in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field growing up, excelling in each, which Davis said came down to Kiael’s “sportsoriented mind” and his athletic background; Kiael’s father, Kenny, is a former MLB player. “There was nobody that was out working him,” Davis said. “He’d come to basketball practice in his baseball uniform, and then he’d leave basketball and go to football.” Despite participating in four sports, Kiael said he wanted to take football to the next level simply because he felt that was his best sport. He received his first scholarship offer for football during his freshman year and never looked back. While he had offers from Power-5 schools, like Illinois and Wake Forest, Kelly chose Ball State because of the relationships he quickly formed during the recruitment process; former teammates Yo’Heinz Tyler and Amechi Uzodinma II hit it off with Kelly immediately. “I want to go down in history at this place,” Kelly said. “I want to look back on my career with
I want to go down in history at this place. I want to look back on my career with people talking about me with Willie Snead, Nate Davis and Justin Hall. I approach every day trying to be great.” - KIAEL KELLY, Ball State football quarterback
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Community
Ukulele Jam Session Nov. 18 at the Muncie Mall, near Books-A-Million, the Muncie Singalong Society is hosting the free event. It’ll be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Guests of all-ages are welcomed to bring any instrument, sing and/or suggest songs. The society will also teach some chords of the ukulele to those who want to learn.
Campus
Copeland’s the Tender Land The Ball State Opera Theatre program has a show Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. in Sursa Performance Hall. The show takes place in the rural midwest and tells a young woman’s coming of age story. General admission tickets are $15, senior tickets are $13, faculty tickets are $10 and students tickets are $8 at the door but $5 when purchased in advance.
Community
Encouraging
Equestrians
Holidays at Gresham Ball State Hunter Jumper Equestrian Club encourages riders of all levels.
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Third-year elementary education major Alyssa Ford poses with Finn, one of the team’s horses Nov. 11 at Kolowa Equestrian. ELLA HOWELL, DN
Meridian Health Services is hosting a sneak peek for the free drive-thru light show at Suzanne Gresham Center Nov. 28 from 6-9 p.m. Attendees are welcome to donate and able to be put into a drawing for a $100 gift card. The winner will be announced the next day. “Holidays at Gresham” will continue throughout December every Friday to Sunday, with a winner announced each week.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: BALL STATE MISSIONARIES SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE ON CAMPUS.
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The student-run equestrian team is trained by a Ball State graduate. Ella Howell Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor Editor’s Note: Lifestyles Editor Hannah Amos and Hunter Jumper Equestrian Club President Alyssa Ford are roommates. Amos recused herself from the editing process of this story as a result. On competition days, Indiana college equestrian teams arrive with a handful of horses in tow. Prior to each class, riders draw from a small collection of available horses. If they’re lucky, the horseshoe, popsicle stick or any other object on hand will partner them with a steed their team supplied; a horse they’re more familiar with. For Ball State University’s Hunter Jumper Equestrian Club (HJEC), some names members are hoping to draw include Leo, Churchill “Church”, Finnegan “Finn” and Frito. The drawings at competitions take place to help make competitions more fair. With the wide variety of horses, there are varying levels of training and experience among them. Most of the team’s shows take place in the fall semester each year, making this the team’s busiest time, with some back-to-back show weekends. Some of the colleges the team competes against include Indiana University, Purdue and IUPUI, as well as Butler, who occasionally do combined practices with Hunter Jumpers. Most recently, the team attended a competition hosted by IUPUI in Atlanta, Indiana. HJEC is made up of a wide spectrum of levels of riders. These levels include introductory, prenovice, novice, limit, intermediate and open. Hannah Hartman is the team’s trainer and attended Ball State herself for both her undergraduate and graduate degree in accounting. This is Hartman’s third year working with the team, and she has about 12 years of riding experience. “One thing that’s unique about the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association) is it is
Just try it. Come ride, even if you have zero experience. It’s not scary. A lot of people think about joining the team, and they see girls who have been riding their whole lives, and they might get a little intimidated, but it’s not like that.” - MELISSA COONS, Fourth-year general studies major
Fourth-year general studies major with a minor in management Melissa Coons arranges equipment Nov. 11 in Atlanta, Indiana. ELLA HOWELL, DN open and encouraged to have beginner as well as advanced riders, and all the different positions, even the walk-trots, those points count just as much as your open division,” Hartman said. “So seeing that camaraderie, that teamwork is also very rewarding.” Fourth-year general studies major Melissa Coons started riding around the time she started elementary school, taking after her father who was in an equestrian club from a young age. Coons has noticed a decrease in the amount of people who enjoy riding, partially contributing to
her motivation to join the team. “Joining the team, obviously, I would be surrounded by people who have the same interest as me,” Coons said. “For me, when I go to the barn, you kind of forget everything and you just ride.” The team practices the English discipline of riding, as opposed to Western. Hartman explained that in English, the rider is a lot more close contact with the horse, due to the smaller saddle. Controlling an animal as large as a horse requires knowledge of commands and knowing how to communicate with them. “There are a lot of cues that you can give horses, with the reins as one point and then your legs as another. When you ask for transitions, you’re
gonna be using your legs and then supporting with your hands,” Coons said. “All horses are different, but simply put, it’s just keeping them between your legs.” One of the things Coons enjoys about being a part of a team is being able to better manage the development in her riding. “For me, I really like noticing that I have a challenge and then overcoming it and being better. It makes me really happy when I notice that I might not have been doing so great, and then I visibly improve,” Coons said. The mutual support that takes place on the team is something Coons values about being a member of HJEC. She also echoed Hartman’s statement about the variance in levels of riders that are welcome to join. “Whenever somebody places well or maybe they had a bad ride, we’re all there for each other, so it’s really nice in that way,” Coons said. “All levels of riders are [welcome]. We have somebody that just started learning how to ride horses. So [there’s] beginner, never having ridden before, all the way up to my girls who have been riding their whole lives.” Hartman appreciates the impact she gets to have on her students’ lives. She aims to challenge them both as riders and as individuals. “I truly believe that horses and riding make good, hardworking, kind, empathetic people, and I love being able to facilitate the opportunities for riders of all walks of life,” Harman said. Alyssa Ford is the president of HJEC this year and has been riding horses since she was five years old. “We get people who have only had six months under their belt, we’ve had people that have no riding experience before and we have people who have been riding their whole life. So, It’s really nice because it doesn’t matter what level you are as long as you’re passionate about horses,” Ford said.
4See EQUESTRIAN, 18
Left: Third-year elementary education major Alyssa Ford competes in the flat class Nov. 11 in Atlanta, Indiana. Ford came in second place with her drawn horse, Dutch. Right: Third-year elementary education student Alyssa Ford checks the information about the horse she drew Nov. 11 at Kolowa Equestrian. Ford placed second with the horse Dutch. ELLA HOWELL, DN
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Under the Weather Remedies Simple ways to make you feel better when you’re under the weather. Editor’s Note: The information contained here is not intended to usurp medical advice from a professional practitioner. Herbs, spices, roots and other plants started modern day medicine, and they are still beneficial and used today. These five plants and remedies listed below can help you feel better when you feel a little under the weather.
Ginger Ginger, a root from southeast Asia, has many different health benefits, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The most known benefit is that it helps with nausea, but on top of that, it can help with digestion, bloating and gas, cell health and inflammation. Ginger can be used ground, dried or fresh. One way to consume it is through ginger tea, which you can make with boiling water and your chosen form of ginger, and add lemon juice and honey for flavor.
Turmeric A relative to ginger, turmeric is known for its ability to help with pain, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Johns Hopkins also states the other benefits of it are helping with inflammation, degenerative eye conditions, Metabolic Syndrome, Arthritis, blood cholesterol, anxiety, muscle soreness and kidney health. Besides incorporating turmeric in one’s everyday meals and spices, it can also be consumed as a tea as well. Supplements aren’t recommended due to the body having difficulty absorbing it, resulting in kidney stones.
Lavender Lavender and lavender essential oil has a history with aromatherapy and reducing anxiety, as well as having anti-inflammation properties, reducing
pain and antioxidant properties, according to a National Library of Medicine study. Healthline suggests drinking lavender tea or simply smelling the plant or the essential oil. Another National Library of Medicine study showed lavender oil combined with sage, rose and clary oil can help reduce menstrual cramps.
Honey A popular natural sweetener, honey has a long history in traditional medicine due to its protection from fungus, bacteria and viruses, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, according to a National Library of Medicine study. In the past, honey was used to treat wounds. In the same study, it mentions evidence of honey being able to help with cancer treatment. The Farmer’s Almanac suggests using honey to help with coughs, sleeping, dandruff and insect bites, among other treatments.
Onion Onion has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as being beneficial to the immune system, according to a National Library of Medicine study. Long-term consumption of onion can help prevent vascular and heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders — like Alzheimer’s Disease — and cataracts. Onions have been used to help treat earaches, bruises, jaundice and pimples. To help with earaches, the onion can be used as a hot compress or as a poultice. Just boil the onion in 450-degree Fahrenheit water for 15 minutes, and then you can either wrap half an onion in a towel and put it on the ear, or juice the onion to use as drops, according to Everyday Health. Contact Hannah Amos with comments at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_ Amos_394.
AMBER PIETZ, D N ILLUS TRATIO N
Hannah Amos Lifestyles Editor
DNOpinion 16
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MYA CATALINE, DN PHOTO; JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: THE MOST IMPORTANT NOTES I TOOK IN MY FIRST 21 YEARS.
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JESSICA BERGFORS, DN DESIGN
It can be absolutely exhausting to be a female leader. Olivia Ground
Digital managing editor, “Liv, laugh, love”
Olivia Ground is a third-year advertising major and writes “Liv, laugh, love” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Right before the East Point train stop in Atlanta, there is a beautifully painted mural of Atlanta’s first female and first African American Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard. Her portrait stands tall at eye level with the elevated train tracks on the side of Aya Tower. On the train ride to the airport after being in Atlanta for what felt like almost too long, in the light of the setting sun, the words on the mural resonated with me in a way that inspired me to write this article. “Be True To Thyself.” I left the city with a newfound sense of self-worth. I left with a new perspective on leadership and who I was in this world. Being true to myself is standing up for the things I care about. Being true to myself is being proud of myself. Being true to myself is recognizing I am a strong, talented leader. I also left with the realization that it is truly exhausting being a female leader. And it’s especially tiring being one in a world where men benefit from a system that prioritizes them. The truth is I have always worked just as hard, if not harder, than my male counterparts in leadership positions similar to mine, spanning as far back as high school. And in this current reality of our society, there are barriers in place that make it even harder for women to be in positions of leadership. I have been told my entire life I was a “natural leader.” That was almost always followed up with a comment about my kindness or compassion, whereas men are called strategic or honest. I consider my compassionate nature an important part of my leadership style. However, I find it incredibly unfair that my leadership is referred to as an extension of my femininity and the traditional roles of motherhood when men can simply be good leaders. It wasn’t until this year, my third year of college, that I was called strategic, intentional, mature and honest by an industry professional for the first time. They were able to see me as simply a good leader, not just a woman who is also sometimes in a leadership position. This disconnect in the standards of leadership between men and women is what enforces the metaphorical glass ceiling and patriarchy in many workplaces. Women leaders have to be charismatic and motherly, whereas male leaders can be seemingly excused for lacking humility. Women are expected to manage the emotional aspects of their workplace, whereas men can sit idly through it. I am tired of taking on the emotional labor of leadership. I’ve
spent too much of my life staying complacent in workplaces and organizations that were passive when it came to misogyny. I’m tired of shouting my concerns and still not being heard, tired of being called dramatic and emotional. I think that almost every woman who saw Barbie remembers what was said at the end. I can’t be assertive, I’m told I’m too aggressive. I have to be confident but not take up too much room. I have to be the boss but not bossy. I have to be the best all of the time, but I can’t take credit for my work.
I have to work twice as hard to prove I deserve positions of leadership, raises, promotions and more after I leave the lab. I know I am a woman and this is a world that is designed to uplift men.” I can’t complain about all of this or I am ungrateful for the position I have. But if I did not raise my concerns, I wouldn’t be true to myself. Women leaders before me have fought and even died, so I could be in the position I am now. Women historically have been silenced so I could write this piece. I am writing this for them now. I am grateful for all of the positions and opportunities in leadership I’ve had spanning back as far as high school, but I’m so tired of the emotional burden I’ve had in any job simply because I am a woman. And even though I am fortunate to work in a newsroom that is currently predominantly female, I know that there is a world and
industry run by men ready to greet me when I leave the Unified Media Lab. It feels like nothing I do is going to make a difference. I have to work twice as hard to prove I deserve positions of leadership, raises, promotions and more after I leave the lab. I know I am a woman and this is a world that is designed to uplift men. The sad part is that the fault doesn’t entirely fall on men. In our society, men are expected to be breadwinners and providers; women are expected to be the caretakers. Oftentimes, these roles are reflected in the workplace. I’ve been told in every single sociology class I’ve taken that these roles were created, and now I must lay in the bed that the generations before me made. I think a side effect of the patriarchy often forgotten is the fact that we have raised and socialized men to be unemotional and abrasive. Society has upheld the “boys can’t cry” narrative for so long that I am still witnessing my male peers struggling to lead with empathy and humility simply because society has told them they can’t. In an article written for LinkedIn, Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta, said, “Toxic masculinity can be particularly damaging to men as well. The gendered stereotypes we are exposed to start at a young age and can stay with us; men are supposed to be the primary financial provider, they are supposed to be strong, in charge, in control and show no emotion. This can create a lot of pressure for men to meet unattainable standards.” We can no longer be complacent when addressing the gender gaps and roles in leadership. We have to be honest and vulnerable and address the issue head-on. If men want to truly be feminists, they can put aside the toxic masculinity-charged facade and learn to become leaders who are vulnerable, empathetic and understand the ways they can contribute to making a workplace that doesn’t promote misogyny. They can learn to embrace and lead with their emotions. If we want to see other women in positions of leadership, they will start calling out the misogyny in their workplace and start making the change. If I want to be true to myself and the thousands of women who came before me, who laid the path for me to be where I am now, I am going to keep calling out misogyny when I see it. I am going to be a part of making a difference for the young women who come into positions of leadership after me. That is being true to myself. Contact Olivia Ground with comments at olivia.ground@bsu.edu or on X @liv_ground_25.
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EQUESTRIAN
FIREARM
Continued from Page 14
The team is entirely student run, which puts more responsibility on riders compared to some of their competitors. On top of practice and competitions, board members are responsible for keeping up with things like bookings and paperwork. “We have a fantastic board. I am very grateful for our president Alyssa Ford. She does a phenomenal job organizing the girls and bringing them all together,” Hartman said. “I’m excited with the level of enthusiasm that she has brought to the table. It’s something I haven’t seen in past years, and I think that she’s getting to mold the freshmen now, and I think it will be a legacy that she gets to pass onto the team.” For those hesitant to join, for any reason, Coons hopes more people hear about the team and feel
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welcome and encouraged to join the “small but mighty” team, according to their mission statement. “Just try it. Come ride, even if you have zero experience. It’s not scary. A lot of people think about joining the team, and they see girls who have been riding their whole lives, and they might get a little intimidated, but it’s not like that,” Coons said. “If anything we really support our new riders, and we’re so happy for them and all the accomplishments that they make, so I wish that more people would come out and see what we’re about.” More information regarding the club can be found on their Instagram @bsuhunterjumpers. Contact Ella Howell with comments at ella. howell@bsu.edu.
I truly believe that horses and riding make good, hardworking, kind, empathetic people, and I love being able to facilitate the opportunities for riders of all walks of life.” - HANNAH HARTMAN, Team trainer
Above, left: Ball State horse Finnegan “Finn” is kept warm in the stable when he’s not competing Nov. 11 in Atlanta, Indiana. Above, right: Third-year elementary education major Alyssa Ford poses with “Finn,” one of the team’s horses, Nov. 11 at Kolowa Equestrian. Below: Leo competes in the flat class after being drawn by a Butler rider Nov. 11 in Atlanta, Indiana. ELLA HOWELL, DN
“The Noyer staff did not necessarily get information before everybody else. The housing leadership team was aware and prepared and worked with the staff and met with the Noyer and Woodworth staff as part of their process in responding to the information, but the Noyer staff did not get information ahead of everyone else,” Engle said. Engle emphasized the “want to know” versus the “need to know” in situations like the one in Noyer Complex. Ana Diaz, a first-year in the pre-nursing program who lives in Noyer Complex, was unaware of the situation until the email was sent Nov. 8. “[It’s] not the best feeling honestly, since there is a lot of gun violence that has been going on, especially with school shootings everywhere. “It is important that we are aware of what’s going on, especially because we live here,” Diaz said. “So it’s not like, ‘Oh, we just come to visit,’ this is where we’re staying at. It’s definitely a need to know.” A supporter of gun rights and a gun owner, Gary Reynolds said anytime a gun is discharged on campus, students should know immediately because if there is a gun found, there is an inherent danger to the student population. “I don’t think you should ever wait for an investigation before any communication goes out,” Reynolds said. “That to me just seems ludicrous.” In response to the most recent incident in Noyer Complex, President Geoffrey Mearns directed Engle to establish an action team to address campus safety. Engle said the members of the team would be identified by Nov. 17, with a plan outlined for the spring semester by the end of this semester. Additionally, the action group will continue to meet during the Spring 2024 semester to create a long-term plan. “If there is an ongoing threat, [staff is] always going to err on the side of more information so that students, faculty and staff can take the necessary steps to protect themselves,” Mearns said. “When the threat has been neutralized, then I think sometimes they’re going to exercise a little bit more patience to gather the information and communicate it out.” Because of Engle’s explanation about the university relying on UPD expertise to assess a situation to determine the communication needed, the Ball State Daily News requested to speak with Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police John Foster. The request was denied by Fallon. “We’re confident there are no additional details Chief Foster can share with you beyond RoAnne’s answers during your interview,” Fallon said via email. Ball State campus community members are encouraged to report suspicious activity to University Police. Specifically, any individual who has knowledge of a firearm on university property should immediately contact UPD at 765285-1111. Contact Daniel Kehn with comments daniel. kehn@bsu.edu or on X @daniel_kehn.
Crossword & Sudoku
ACROSS 1 __ d’Azur: stretch of the Riviera 5 Black-and-white mammal 10 NBC skit show, familiarly 13 Declare bluntly 14 Relaxed 16 Garland that may feature kika blossoms 17 *Destructive meteorological events marked by high winds and heavy rain 19 Geologic age 20 Director Roth 21 Sun Devils sch. 22 Aquaman’s staff 24 Indulgently lavish 27 Opening 28 *Phenomena created by sunlight refracting through ice crystals in clouds 33 __ voce 36 Spots for fast cash 37 Actress Long 38 Consequently 39 Gives in 41 Piquancy 42 Objective 43 Achy 44 Ballet jumps 45 *Low-pressure systems also called “winter hurricanes” 49 Favorable vote 50 Be just right for
54 Altogether 58 Blasting material 59 Michael of 10-Across 60 “Excusez-__” 61 Feature of early spring and late fall, or an apt description of the answers to the starred clues? 64 Nosher’s bite 65 Cream-filled pastry 66 ‘The __ Tour’: 2023 Taylor Swift concert series 67 Flamenco cheer 68 Party leaders 69 Intro, in journalism jargon DOWN 1 Surveyed surreptitiously 2 Plant structure with reproductive cells 3 Discussion point 4 Pasture grazer 5 Quarterback, often 6 Bring into harmony 7 Prefix for a revived music genre, e.g. 8 Move quickly 9 Genre of YouTube videos that may bring about brain tingles, for short 10 Go to bed before putting something to bed, say 11 Word on really bright Crayolas
12 Dryer fluff 15 Endorses digitally 18 Part of NPR 23 Blot 25 Matinee hrs. 26 Goes a long way 29 Had a bite 30 Sends a text, briefly 31 Viognier, e.g. 32 Droops 33 Try 34 Indiana neighbor 35 Muscle-strengthening session for a baby 39 Demurely evasive 40 Curved path 41 Piquancy 43 Not at all abundant 44 Volkswagen sedan 46 Comb creator 47 Get the better of 48 Bay Area NFLers 51 Autumn colour 52 Still to come 53 Brief 54 “Uh, guess again” 55 Wrench, e.g. 56 Scot’s swimming spot 57 ‘Seize the day’ acronym 62 __ Vegas 63 Business card no.
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