N D
FALL 2023
GRADUATION EDITION
DAILY NEWS
the
MEGHAN HOLT AND BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
2 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
CONGRATULATIONS
Graduates TABLE OF CONTENTS The Daily News News: 3-5 Sports: 6-11 Lifestyles: 12-15 Opinion: 18-20 Gallery: 21-22
Graduates by College Architecture & Planning: 24 Health: 24 Communication, Information & Media: 24-25 Fine Arts: 25 Miller College of Business: 25-26 Sciences & Humanities: 26-27 Teacher’s College: 27-30 University College: 30
MEGHAN HOLT AND BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
VOL. 103 ISSUE: 16 CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com
The Ball State Daily News (USPS144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Thursdays during the academic year except for during semester and summer breaks. The Daily News is supported in part by an allocation from the General Fund of the university and is available free to students at various campus locations.
EDITORIAL BOARD Daniel Kehn, Editor-in-chief Kyle Smedley, Print Managing Editor, Co-Sports Editor Olivia Ground, Digital Managing Editor Grayson Joslin, Director of Recruitment 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 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 accepted and no prior experience is necessary.
CORRECTION
In the Nov. 30 edition of the Ball State Daily News, the graphic on page 6, the graphic displayed two Toledos. The 23-win team is Toledo and the 14-win team is Ohio University. Also on page 6, the photo caption is incorrect. Fans were in Worthen Arena to watch basketball. To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 3
HOMETOWN
HEROES
Ball State University’s Guardian Scholars Program awarded Hometown Hero Grant by local radio station. 404 Guardian Scholars program manager Bria Zolman poses for a photo Nov. 28 in her office at the Multicultural Center. KATHERINE HILL, DN
4 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
Ball State University’s Guardian Scholars Program Awarded Hometown Hero Grant by local radio station. Katherine Hill Reporter Ball State University’s Guardian Scholars Program, a program established in 2004 to help students in foster care navigate through college, has been awarded a Hometown Hero Grant by WLBC, owned by Woof Boom Radio. “Woof Boom asks a selection committee [comprised of community members and employees] to evaluate the Hometown Hero Applications,” said Megan Orbin, coordinator of the Hometown Hero Grant, via email. Applications are evaluated based on the relatability of their mission and their call to action which allows listeners to help a cause. All recipients are required to fit the values of the radio station, which include: to speak the truth, work with passion and to do one’s best. The radio station is in its 10th year of grant-giving. Ball State’s Guardian Scholars Program is in its 19th year of operation. During that time, the program has served 178 students who have experienced foster care and seen 41 through to graduation. “The Guardian Scholars Program really excels at trying their best to meet the needs
The fact that we have so many wonderful [donors] who are willing to donate not only time—but resources, and money to our program—it just makes me feel amazing to know that they’re there—and that they care.” - JAKE WARFEL, Fourth-year social work major
of the students in their program,” fourth-year Jake Warfel said. Researchers at the University of Chicago found in 2011 that less than 5 percent of foster care students obtain a four-year college degree and only 2-6 percent obtain a two-year degree. “[Students in Guardian Scholars] are largely navigating college life independently, without the support of an adult who has [pursued higher education] and can help them,” Program Manager Bria Zolman said. “My job is to be that person.” Third-year Brian Zachary, who has been in the program since his first year at Ball State, is on a five-year plan to graduate in 2026 with a Bachelor’s Degree in architecture. Warfel, who has also been in the program since his first year at Ball State, is majoring in social work and will graduate next spring with a four-year degree, having been on the Dean’s List the past four semesters. “The first semester of my freshman year didn’t go so hot. I was put on academic probation. It was a huge mess. Then, Bria stepped in…” Warfel said. The pair had weekly coaching meetings during his freshman and sophomore years. During them, Zolman asked how Warfel was doing “not just academically—but as [an] individual. “That says a lot about [how much] she cares,” Warfel said. Zolman, who took over the program during Warfel’s second semester in mid2020, connects with students as early as high school during their application process. Those students are often battling some form of food and housing insecurities, mental health barriers, financial hardships and/or relationship difficulties. She helps students combat those issues by being there for them, and ensuring their basic needs are met. Zolman said the program is not just about academic success. Zolman, who works “as an office of one” helps students “exhaust every effort” by making them aware of resources available both on campus and in the community, she said. She arranges everything from career seminars and study sessions to lifestyle skills workshops and special holiday celebrations to help her students succeed, yet Zolman said she does not consider the job itself to be exhausting. “She’s amazing. I absolutely adore her. She’s always a helping hand with any aspect of college…and…personal life,” Zachary said. He has taken advantage of the events and said they are where students all come together as a
The first semester of my freshman year didn’t go so hot. I was put on academic probation. It was a huge mess. Then, Bria stepped in…” - JAKE WARFEL, Fourth-year social work major
program and can hang out and socialize. On any typical day, Zolman’s office is full of snacks, hygiene products and household items—resources that are available to students because of the program’s donors and monetary giving system. “We have what we have because other people care about the program,” Zolman said. Warfel connected the essential human need to belong with the desire to feel cared for and supported. “The fact that we have so many wonderful [donors] who are willing to donate not only time—but resources, and money to our program—it just makes me feel amazing to know that they’re there—and that they care,” he said. Donating is especially appreciated around the holiday season, as itemized goods will be sorted and packaged by Zolman to give to students over the extended holiday break in what she calls their “Winter Break Boxes.” Zachary, who was adopted and works to build relationships as an RA (resident assistant) on campus said students do not have to avoid higher education because of financial barriers or insecurities. “I don’t want anyone to be discouraged— ever,” Zachary said. “There are a lot of programs like Guardian Scholars and foster care grants or financial grants available… One of the best experiences out there is college… It’s expensive, for sure… [but] it pays for itself. ” Those looking to learn more about or donate to Ball State’s Guardian Scholars Program can do so by visiting their website, bsu.edu/ gscholars, or by contacting gscholars@bsu.edu. Contact Katherine Hill with comments at katherine.hill@bsu.edu.
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 5
HEEDING THE CALL Ball State University wins eighth HEED Award for commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Meghan Braddy Reporter Distinguished again for its unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion, Ball State University has claimed the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for the eighth consecutive year. The university’s dedication earned a spot in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity alongside 108 other institutions. Rashida Willard, associate vice president of inclusive excellence at Ball State, emphasized the importance of the award as it recognizes significant institutions within the United States working to improve their daily diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. “We have consistently demonstrated that we have an institutional commitment to diversity, equity and inclusive excellence,” Willard said. “It’s shown in the initiatives and programs that we put out every year.” Willard credits the university’s efforts in achieving this award to supporting students, citing increased usage in learning centers, the opening of the Cardinal Central location at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, and the addition of proactive advising and student success coaching. Charlene Alexander, chief strategy officer at Ball State, further reflected on the university’s journey to get to this point. “In 2016, I submitted our first application for the HEED award, and I am thrilled that we have continued to receive that recognition every year since,” Alexander said via email. These continuous efforts to go through the application process for the award each year underscores the university’s unwavering commitment to fostering a campus environment that values diversity and actively celebrates it. Alexander shed more light on the initiatives contributing to the university’s success in fostering inclusivity, including the Diversity Associates Program and the Pathways Program, celebrating faculty research publications and inviting faculty as fellows to advance research. “We engaged the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) to provide support for the writing goals of faculty and graduate students. Recent efforts
also include the implementation of Student Success Coaching in University College,” Alexander said via email. “This has proven to increase students’ GPA and overall success when students participate in at least two coaching appointments during the year.” Another more significant initiative to help foster inclusivity on campus is the Faculty Mentorship Program (FMP), a collaboration between Disability Services and faculty members that connects new students with disabilities with a faculty mentor in their major. Alexander said this program continues to receive national attention, with 31 new students matched with mentors this year, bringing the total served to 602 in its 15 years of existence.
The obvious thing is…there’s always…potential legislation or something that could come through to stop DEI efforts. But I think the commitment is very strong here at Ball State,” - RASHIDA WILLARD, Associate vice president of inclusive excellence at Ball State Student involvement is also crucial to Ball State’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Willard said the Student Anti-Racism and Intersectionality Advisory Council, along with various leadership advisory councils and affinity groups, actively build awareness and foster a sense of community. An integral aspect of Ball State’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is measuring the impact and progress of these initiatives and efforts that have been executed. Alexander said the Office of the Chief Strategy Officer prioritizes this by describing Priorities for Action (PFAs) aligned with Ball
State’s institutional Strategic Plan. These PFAs include specific action steps, success metrics and individual responsibilities. In addressing challenges, Willard emphasized pushing through potential barriers, ensuring all community members feel a sense of belonging and inclusion. “I think the commitment is very strong here at Ball State. Our job is to ensure that everybody feels welcome and included in either their workplace or the classroom, whatever that looks like in their educational experience,” Willard said. “We push through, even with that potential barrier, and make sure everyone knows our work impacts all people.” Emilie Allen, a second-year economics major and a student with a disability, said Ball State being awarded the HEED Award makes sense. “I’ve always felt at home here, and I’ve never felt excluded for being deaf or for any other reason,” Allen said. She said she sees the HEED Award as representing the collective efforts within Ball State to improve diversity and inclusion, citing examples of proactive work within clubs like the Honors College organizing cross-cultural discussions. Alexander credits this achievement to the Office of Inclusive Excellence and the leadership at Ball State in advancing inclusive excellence, emphasizing the importance of celebrating these achievements at a national level. She urges students, alumni and the broader Muncie community alike to support these ongoing efforts by following Ball State’s Beneficence Pledge, specifically the commitment to valuing the intrinsic worth of every community member and respecting differences in people’s ideas and opinions. “Looking ahead, we’re going to be looking to implement strategies and…measure strategies that might improve the campus climate and help folks feel like they belong here on campus,” Willard said. “[We’ll be] working with connecting groups on campus who are leading the work of inclusive excellence so that we can connect and share strategies for improving…their inclusive excellence plans.” Contact Meghan Braddy with comments via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu or on X @ meghan_braddy.
6 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM DN FILE
Four Ball State football players reflect on their time in the program after the end of the 2023 season. Kyle Smedley Print Managing Editor and Co-sports Editor
C
BOYS TO
MEN
layton Coll still remembers the play that ended his 2023 season by heart. Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary completed a pass to wide receiver Barion Brown on the left sideline, and when Brown cut past Potts, it was up to Coll to make the tackle. He said he wasn’t expecting Brown to cut in toward him so fast, so he didn’t have enough time to fully break down for the tackle as well as he normally would have. Coll’s cleat got stuck in the ground and his ankle twisted under him, but he still made the tackle. “I went to stand up and it felt like, my leg, somebody put a balloon in it and it just blew up,” Coll said. “I vividly remember one of our trainers getting there to me and saying, ‘What’s wrong?’ I told him, ‘I think I just broke my ankle.’” Coll fractured his fibula and suffered significant damage in two ligaments in his ankle during the second quarter of Ball State’s first game of the season. Coll had gone through multiple injuries to his hamstring, back and more prior to this moment, but he said this was the most intense pain he has ever felt. As he made his way up onto the team’s medical cart and had an air cast put on his ankle, he knew things were serious. “I was in front of 60,000 people but I was all alone,” Coll said. After the game, head coach Mike Neu addressed the media with tears in his eyes, choking up when talking about what Coll means to Ball State football. He wouldn’t say it at the time, but Neu’s verbiage and tone suggested the writing was on the wall for Coll’s injury being season-ending. The senior linebacker has gone back and listened to that press conference and said it’s still hard to watch four months later. Coll said
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 7 his older brother, Casey, texted him after the game and simply said, “Football takes what it wants.” “It really does,” Clayton said. “It’s a gruesome sport. It happens. And the football team has got to keep going.” In the months that followed, Coll said he has leaned on his wife, Ali, more than anyone. The two have had conversations about every aspect of the injury; most notably, what does Clayton’s future look like with football or without it? While he said he spent a lot of time dealing with anger and even at times thinking, ‘Why me?’ Coll knew he had to change his perspective in order to move on mentally from the effects of the injury. He still has a year of eligibility to continue playing at the collegiate level, and announced Dec. 1 that he would enter the transfer portal after five years as a Cardinal. “To my teammates, I will forever be thankful for the relationships and memories we have made,” Coll said. A biology major, Coll’s dream for as long as he can remember has been to become a doctor. Even in this aspect, Coll found a way to bring football into the mix. A True Cardinal, or team captain, for two years, Coll said he has learned the value of mental toughness, physical toughness, discipline, passion, leadership, effort and attitude so much that he drew back on these values in his application to medical school. “Whenever football ends for me, whenever that day comes, that doesn’t mean I’m going to drop these values that I’ve learned and these
lifelong life lessons that I’ve learned from the sport,” Coll said. Coll said the Cardinals have adopted a team exercise called “Drivers,” where each player and coach outlines the biggest motivators in their lives to help remind them who and what they’re playing for outside of the program. Coll said he has photos of his two best friends from both high schools he attended, his wife, his family at his wedding, his grandparents at one of his high school games and photos of some of the injuries he has had.
Whenever football ends for me, whenever that day comes, that doesn’t mean I’m going to drop these values that I’ve learned and these lifelong life lessons that I’ve learned from the sport.” - CLAYTON COLL, Senior linebacker
“I came here as an 18-year-old kid that thought he knew everything. I knew exactly what I was gonna do. I was gonna get married, play four years of football, go play in the NFL and have a great life,” Coll said. “I sit here today as a 23-year-old man that knows there’s a lot more to learn and there’s a lot more to live.
There’s a lot more to life than just football.”
From walk-on to scholarship Cole Pearce, unlike Coll, didn’t come to Ball State on scholarship. During the first week of the 2018 season, he was a walk-on. Pearce knew he wasn’t likely to see much playing time in his first or second season because of his status, but that didn’t matter to him – he just wanted to play. He got his first taste of action on special teams for two games during his sophomore season but began to play consistently during the 2020 season. While he was still mainly on special teams, he suited up for every game. During his time on the bench and even on special teams, Pearce said he closely watched those above him on the roster; how they approached games, practices, weight training, film study and being part of the team. He finally made his first start in the fifth game of his fourth season, a home contest against Army. “It just doesn’t happen overnight,” Pearce said. The senior linebacker grew into a consistent starting role and started every game for the past two seasons. In 2022, he was able to start every game alongside Coll, his closest friend at Ball State. He said the fellow linebacker helped him grow confidence on the field and even said their time playing together in 2022 was the most fun he has ever had playing football. That made things all the more difficult when Coll suffered his season-ending injury.
Senior linebacker Cole Pearce tackles the quarterback for a sack against Central Michigan Oct. 21 at Scheumann Stadium. Pearce had three sacks in the game. MYA CATALINE, DN
8 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
Above: Senior outside linebacker Sidney Houston Jr. celebrates a tackle against Kent State Nov. 18 at Scheumann Stadium. Below: Redshirt senior defensive back Tyler ‘Red’ Potts celebrates a win over Kent State Nov. 18 at Scheumann Stadium. MYA CATALINE, DN
“W
e were so excited to play together again for our last year,” Pearce said. “When that happened, it was really tough. I was so sad for him because I know how much work he put in. It was just horrible.” After Coll’s injury, Pearce still started every game in 2023 and filled the leadership void left by Coll for younger players on Ball State’s defense. With the program moving on without him, he said it was especially important to lead the younger players this season. Pearce experienced the highest of highs during Ball State’s 2020 MAC Championship season and the lowest of lows, missing out on bowl eligibility for the two seasons that followed, but he was adamant that the results on the field aren’t what will define his experience in Muncie. “I’m going to miss this place,” Pearce said. “I’m gonna have to come back to it year in and year out.” Pearce made a point to bring up the spiritual journey he has undergone while in the program as well. He said he grew up as a Catholic, but during the end of his high school career, he fell out of his faith. In 2021, he began to open his ears to religion again through conversations with chaplains in the program and current/former teammates who practice. He said he has since accepted Christianity, which has helped him on the field just as much as off. “Even if I miss a tackle, I’m always going to bounce back because I know what the greater purpose is,” Pearce said.
Chasing dreams, regardless of the sacrifice Sidney Houston Jr. had his first daughter, Si’nyka, when he was 18, heading into his first year of college at McKendree University. His second daughter, Si’reya, was born two years later. Just 40 minutes away from his hometown of Cahokia, Illinois, Houston and his former partner were in close proximity to help raise their daughters despite their bond’s severance. However, it had been Houston’s dream since he was five years old to make the NFL. He has made it his aspiration to do so because of those depending on him, mainly his two daughters. “We’re doing this for a bigger purpose,” Houston said. While he is thankful for his time at McKendree, he knew he would be much more set up for success if he made the jump to the
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 9 Division I level. Coming to Ball State helped him realize it was possible, thanks in no small part to his fellow teammates who have the same dream. Since the season’s conclusion, he has officially declared for the NFL Draft. Moving two states away from his daughters, who live in St. Louis, was a wake-up call for Houston. While the move was a difficult adjustment, Houston said the decision itself wasn’t a tough one. “You got to go all in. You can’t be one foot in and one foot out in this situation,” Houston said he told himself. Houston said the biggest thing he’s learned from his time at Ball State was the importance of accountability and attention to detail. Coming to Ball State, a university with an enrollment of nearly 20,000 compared to McKendree’s enrollment of less than 2,000, was a major adjustment; he said he even had to schedule help sessions with those in the football program to help him adjust to a far stricter schedule and larger campus. Even more important than that, however, is that Houston’s college graduation will be the first in his family. He will graduate with a major in general studies and two minors in marketing and psychology. Houston said he tried to soak in the little things during his final season – like practice, walkthroughs, weight room sessions and film study. He said he’s going to miss waking up at 6 a.m. every day for practice; he’ll miss the life of being a student-athlete. The outside linebacker said he approached his second season at Ball State trying to be more of a leader than ever, pouring his knowledge into fellow linebackers like Keionté Newson, Danny Royster and DeJuan Echoles Jr. He’s tried to preach to them not to take the little things for granted, just like he hasn’t. “At the end of the day, when it’s time for you to get up out of here, you want to leave a good legacy,” Houston said.
Taking chances On a cold February evening in 2017, Tyler ‘Red’ Potts remembers walking through his front door in Columbus, Ohio, after a high school basketball practice only to see Neu sitting at his kitchen table with Potts’ family, waiting for a recruitment visit. Neu spoke with Potts and his parents about life outside of football. That’s when he felt Ball State was a program based on family. “He promised my parents that I will leave this place as a man and with a degree,” Potts said. “I would like to say after five years he
accomplished that.” Despite the positive first impression, the redshirt senior defensive back admitted his relationship with Neu has gone through its challenges. He said they have had tough conversations throughout his five seasons at Ball State, even discussing entering the transfer portal following the 2021 season. Potts took a redshirt his first season at Ball State, played much of his second and third, but missed the entire fourth season due to developing myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), reportedly from his COVID-19 vaccine. He met with Neu to discuss his future at Ball State and asked the head coach who sat
Ball State will always hold a special place in my heart because they took a chance on an 18-year-old kid from Columbus, Ohio.” - TYLER ‘RED’ POTTS, Redshirt senior defensiveback
at his kitchen table three years prior, “Is it attainable for me to ever be a starter here?” Neu told him it wouldn’t be easy, but if he met the expectations laid out in front of him when healthy, he could. Potts said that was all he needed to hear to stay in Muncie. “I will never ever run away from competition a day in my life; that’s not me,” Potts said. “I know as long as I’m good and I’m healthy, I can play with anybody.” Two years later, Potts, like Coll, Houston and Pearce, is one of Ball State’s nine “Tough Cardinals,” selected by the coaching staff at the beginning of each season. With his journey in mind, Potts said when he was told of his standing at the beginning of the season, he was at a loss for words. He approaches this position as one to inspire the younger generation of Ball State football players and show them the hard work it takes to play at the highest level. “We’ve grown to be brothers,” Potts said. “There’s not nothing anybody in here can’t call on me for.” Potts said his relationship with Neu has grown into one he’ll always cherish because
of these conversations – Neu has always made it known that Potts can come to him for things outside of the sport. “Having somebody like that, being so young in your career, is essential,” Potts said. “Your parents aren’t with you anymore. It’s easy for a head coach to just wave an 18-year-old off, but he gives everybody a chance.” Potts said although his journey at Ball State has been bittersweet – one that included a redshirt, a COVID season, a season missed due to a heart condition, two bowl appearances, a conference championship and two losing seasons at the end – he feels like he has set himself up for a positive future better than he could have anywhere else. “The game of football is going to end eventually, but the game of life never ends until your calling,” Potts said. Potts, like Houston and four other Cardinals, has a child. He called his young son, Braylen, his “ultimate motivation.” Although Braylen lives in Columbus, Potts was able to see him at the Kentucky, Indiana State and Central Michigan games throughout the season. Potts is majoring in psychology, and when he moves on from football, he wants to work his way up to becoming a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He said his ethnicity is the biggest motivating factor for this career path; he wants to help bring more Black people to executive roles. “I just want to find a space where I can help my people be better,” Potts said. “If I got to do it on my own to take that next step and that initiative to make things right for my people, then that’s what I’m gonna do.” But before that, Potts plans to declare for the NFL Draft. “I’m ready to take that next step, take the next shot and give myself a chance to chase a dream I’ve been chasing since I first put a helmet on,” Potts said. Potts said seeing former Ball State players like Nic Jones and Bryce Cosby get drafted gave him the motivation to do the same. He had a good relationship with the two of them and continues to draw on what they taught him at Ball State moving forward. “Ball State will always hold a special place in my heart because they took a chance on an 18-year-old kid from Columbus, Ohio,” Potts said. Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or on X @ KyleSmedley_.
10 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
In SEARCH of
NEW IDENTITIES
Senior Elyse Horner poses for a photo surrounded by her Ball State team gear Dec. 1 at the photojournalism studio in the Art and Journalism Building. MYA CATALINE, DN
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 11
Soon-to-be graduates of Ball State athletics prepare for lives without their collegiate sport. Trinity Rea Reporter Donning a Cardinal red polo and khakis, he sits with some uncertainty. His knees bounce up and down, progressively gaining speed, while he slowly spins side to side in his chair. He takes a deep breath and directs his once-darting gaze to the floor. He hasn’t really thought about life without tennis. “You’re scaring me here,” graduate student Vince Orlando said. “The future is a little bit unknown for me.” Uncertainty surrounding identity postgraduation can be felt by different soon-tobe graduates across Ball State University athletics. After living a life full of sport, putting it in the past can prove to be a tough pill to swallow. Orlando is preparing to enter his fifth regular season as a collegiate athlete, starting another year of continuous training, practice and play. Sticking to this routine is one challenge, but leaving it behind is another. “It’s going to be a reality check, you know? Tennis has been a part of my life since I was probably four years old,” Orlando said. “It shaped me into the person I am, and I feel like a lot of things in my future, because of this experience…it’s going to be an adjustment.” Senior Kiah Parrott of Ball State women’s golf is also just beginning to feel, accept and process the emotions that are to come with her final season. “It’s surreal, and honestly, it hasn’t really sunk in yet… I don’t want to think about that,” Parrott said. “It’s gone by so fast, but it’s been fun.” Already finding success early in her final season, Parrott is humble, but optimistic about the road ahead as the season picks back up in February. Parrott said the culture and success she experienced at Ball State are unforgettable parts of her time in Muncie and hopes to bring them with her post-graduation in spring 2024. Parrott originally had dreams to play professionally after school but recognized within the last year that golf could be a part of her life without it being competitive. This realization comes as a desire to continue enjoying her sport for decades to come and hopefully with future grandkids.
“I don’t think [leaving golf is] a loss. I’ve had some success and I think that success is always going to be left here at Ball State, but it is never going to go away,” Parrott said. “I’ll always have the success that I had here with me too, it is something I can carry on down the road.” Regardless of whether or not Parrott will play golf after college, she is hoping to involve the sport in her career to inspire the younger generation, especially young girls. “I could see myself owning and operating my own kind of teaching clinic. I want to be that person for the younger generation,” Parrott said. “I approach my whole life just wanting to do something for someone else, I want to be that leader.” Fifth-year swimmer Owen Chaye also hopes to give back to the younger generation postgraduation. Studying to be a teacher, he has a desire to be a role model like prior instructors have been for him. Along with giving back to the youth, Chaye also hopes to remain close to Muncie and give back to the city, school and team he calls a second home. Big goals are coming with Chayes last season both with his team; hoping to take home the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship; and personally, to participate in the upcoming Olympic Trials. At this point in the year, Chaye has lived up to his goals, putting up the best numbers of his career. On Oct. 21 at the Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate meet, two first-place finishes earned him a MAC Swimmer of the Week award. Above all, Chaye just wants him and his other fifth-year teammates to be leaders in their final year. “We’re kind of in that transition, going from being college athletes to being out in the real world,” Chaye said. “So, I do feel that weird sense of wisdom, and that I can be there for the other, younger kids on the team.” After electing to swim another year at Ball State this past offseason, Chaye said he wanted to give the Cardinals his best one last time and showcase his growth. Chaye also said this choice helped ease the realization that sport cannot be his whole life, and he doesn’t want it to be. “Swimming was a very huge part of my identity last year,” Chaye said. “I’ve definitely worked on and have gotten better with [knowing] at the end of the day if I’m not a college athlete, I’m still a son, still a brother, still an uncle. None of that will ever change.” For Elyse Horner of Ball State field hockey, who finished her last season at the end of October, coming to terms with her current reality has been tricky.
Senior Vince Orlando serves in a match against Binghamton University April 14 at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center. KATELYN HOWELL, DN Horner has been a Cardinal for the last four years, but suffered a season-ending injury her sophomore year, and did not see the field as much as she’d like to. It is because of this, a lack of a championship in her time at Ball State and the connections she has made which leave her in limbo. “It doesn’t feel real. I’m like, ‘I’m coming back, what do you mean it is time to move on?’ Horner said. “It’ll be weird to not do it in the fall, not be training for preseason, not coming back and seeing the younger girls on the team.” This past season, Horner prided herself on being present at every given moment; one-hour bus rides, practices with teammates and different conversations held throughout the season. Playing a sport that traditionally ends in college, Horner knew long before her time at Ball State that it would be the end of the road with field hockey. Horner was already able to channel the lack of sport into working out and becoming a cycling instructor this upcoming summer. Regardless of this, the thought of having to say goodbye is still surreal. “I wouldn’t be where I am today or who I am today without my team. I have 26 built-in sisters, and I know no matter what happens in life, we are there for each other,” Horner said. “Field hockey created relationships for life. Ball State, this program, this school and my team hold a special part of my heart.” Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity. rea@bsu.edu or on X@thetrinityrea.
12 • GRAD EDITION SPRING 2022 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
Workforce Wardrobe Second-year political science major Payton Glesing (left) and second-year nursing major Elena Mazzei (right) browse in the dress section of the Goodwill on Hessler Road Dec. 1 in Muncie, Indiana. ELLA HOWELL, DN
Local resources can help graduates feel more confident with professional attire. Colin Brown, Ella Howell Reporter, Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor With Fall Commencement comes a great deal of ceremony: cap and gown, “Pomp and Circumstance” and the speeches of proud faculty and peers. It’s a thoroughly fancy affair – a dignified send-off to four long years of hard work and memories. While it marks the end of the class of 2023’s college years, it’s only the beginning of a life of formalities. The professional world is a world not too unlike graduation, despite the etiquette varying from field to field. It’s filled with ceremony, tradition and style. Without a sleek suit and a winning smile, you might be fighting an uphill battle. The latter can be taught. The former, though? That’s something you have to buy, which can be a problem for students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Around Muncie, however, there are initiatives that can help those students build a professional wardrobe. Cardinal Closet is one of those programs, offering free business attire and work clothes to students of Ball State University. Located on campus at Park Hall, the program
is overseen by the Student Action Team (SAT). Through grant money and donations, they supply students with professional clothing entirely for free, with each able to take up to three items per visit.
One of the reasons we have Cardinal Closet is to break down those barriers by providing free and accessible clothing. - CHANDLAR WILLIAMS, president of Student Action Team Chandlar Williams, president of SAT, said she takes a great deal of pride in the program. She sees it as a way to level an uneven playing field. “[What] people don’t understand is professional attire is meant to be complicated, because it has a history of classist and racist connotations,” Williams said. “One of the reasons we have Cardinal Closet is to break down those barriers by providing free and
accessible clothing. When I can educate people on what [professional attire] looks like, they’re able to pull things from their closet, not spend as much money and feel excited for their career.” Another free resource on campus is The Lavender Door, a clothing resource particularly aimed at providing genderaffirming clothing for LGBTQ+ students. It’s located in the Multicultural Center, and students can schedule a 30-minute appointment on Ball State’s website. Daniel Todd is a staff member at Lavender Door and said the resource was created by a former member of the Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education masters program (SAAHE), Mack Yohe. When they realized there wasn’t anything similar that catered to LBGTQ+ students, Yohe began taking note of what other campuses were doing. The Lavender Door is completely donationbased, so the majority of the clothing they have available is more casual, however, they do get more formal and professional pieces on occasion. “We also try to assess, when students finish using the resource, what kinds of things they were looking for that maybe they didn’t find or want to see more variety and such,” Todd said. Like Cardinal Closet, Lavender Door can
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 13
Closet
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help those entering the professional world who may not be as advantaged as some of their peers. They also allow students to utilize the closet privately, without fear of running into someone they know, which makes it exclusively accessible to those who are not out. “LGBT+ students, in general, tend to be a lot more socioeconomically disadvantaged, so number one, being able to provide those resources for free is very helpful, especially for those who may be in the midst of some sort of gender transition and looking for a way to change up their whole closet or change up their style a little bit,” Todd said. “For LGBT+ students, it’s a really important resource.” While the closet was created with LGBTQ+ students in mind, it’s open to all students, no matter how they identify. “One thing we’ve been trying to emphasize as the years go on is that gender-affirming clothing is for everyone,”
Todd said. “Even if you were assigned female at birth, you still identify as a female, you have a very feminine gender expression, we still got stuff for you.” Another resource that can be found across the country, and even internationally, is Goodwill. Muncie is currently home to two locations of the nonprofit chain store, which are both a short drive for students who have access to transportation.
One of the reasons we have Cardinal Closet is to break down those barriers by providing free and accessible clothing. - CHANDLAR WILLIAMS, president of Student Action Team Maria Smith is a Goodwill manager at the location on Hessler Road in Muncie and has worked for the company for 10 years. “It’s probably a third, or even less,
Goodwill
Clothing hangs on racks in the Goodwill on Hessler Road Dec. 1 in Muncie, Indiana. ELLA HOWELL, DN
than the price of regular clothing or business attire that you would buy full price in a retail store,” Smith said. “It’s definitely more affordable, is the number one thing, but also it’s keeping things out of the landfill which will help everything in the long run.” While Muncie has various places to shop for affordable business clothes, Goodwill is a much larger company and tends to have a higher variety of clothing as well as more resources. Smith finds professional attire coming in on a daily basis. “I know [Muncie] has a few other businesses that you can get affordable attire from, however, we try very hard to push quality,” Smith said. “So nothing holey or ripped or stained, whereas the other businesses may not.” With the various resources, both on campus and in the community, graduating students can transition to a more professional wardrobe without worrying about the cost. Contact Colin Brown with questions and comments at colin.brown@bsu.edu Ella Howell at ella.howell@bsu.edu.
Resume Recap
14 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
With graduation coming around the corner, here are five ways to improve your resume. Hannah Amos Lifestyles Editor
“The Dont’s” College Possible,
Harvard University, Robert Tucker
• Use “I” in sentences • Have spelling and/or grammar errors • Use a narrative style • Use slang • Have inconsistent formatting
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN DESIGN
With Ball State University’s fall semester coming to a close and winter commencement on Dec. 16, a new batch of students will be entering the job market looking for a place. To start off strong, it’s smart to have a resume that stands out, especially since employers look at resumes an average of 7.4 seconds, according to a study conducted in 2018 by Ladders Incorporated, a job searching website. Here are five tips to have a solid foundation:
Format The length of your resume should be one page, two pages maximum. If the second page is substantial, Ball State’s Career Center advises students to put their last name and the page number in the top right-hand corner. The Career Center also advises using one font for the resume, as well as having little to no design elements to have the most space for content. Instead, students should utilize the margins and take out information that doesn’t apply to the job position. Common fonts to use for a resume would be Times New Roman, Arial, Courier and Calibri, and text should be between 10 to 12 point font except for the name, which should be between 14 to 16, according to College Possible. For the margins, College Possible recommends margin size to be between .5 inch to .9 inch for all edges. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) suggests incorporating keywords and phrases from the job description so the resume comes up in an applicant tracking system search. It is recommended to start sentences with strong action verbs and to avoid using
unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, according to SHRM. Before a resume is submitted, always check spelling, and make sure contact information, like a respectable email and phone number, are on the document. The Career Center suggests avoiding the use of a hyperlink in the email. Robert Tucker, associate director of Employer Relations and Recruitment Programs in the Career Center, said via email that grammar, spelling errors and inconsistent formatting are common mistakes students make in resumes. He advises students to schedule a meeting with Career Center coaches.
Extracurriculars Extracurricular activities, like clubs and sports, give students a chance to show their strengths outside of school, especially if students have little work history, according to College Possible. Students should list positions held in these organizations and provide a brief description of what they do, according to College Possible. According to the Career Center, as students become more involved in university, it is important to replace high school extracurriculars with university ones. Tucker said via email that it is important to highlight achievements.
Work History Work history is for any part-time, full-time, internship and volunteer experience a student has had. These experiences should be listed with the most recent position on the top and the least recent on the bottom, according to the Career Center.
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 15 Jobs that are currently held should be listed in present tense, and past jobs should be in past tense. The dates a position was held should be listed by the month and year, as well as the title, name of the employer/company and city/ state, according to the Career Center. Provide a bulleted list for each position that gives a brief description of the position’s responsibilities and skills using active words. SHRM suggests that students should give specific examples of skills and achievements in these descriptions.
Education When it comes to where you got your education, the Career Center recommends students fully write out the name of the university and the degree. College Possible adds that the city and state of the school should be listed as well. The graduation date is the only date needed, and it’s the month and year, and like with work history, the most recent education goes on top of the list, according to the Career Center. Putting the GPA is optional, but the Career Center recommends putting it on the resume if it is a 3.0 or above. The honors section is optional as well. Any class projects or coursework that are relevant to the position are recommended to be added, like immersive learning classes.
Top 5 Resume Mistakes According to Harvard University
• Spelling and grammar errors • Missing contact information • Using passive instead of active voice • Not organized, concise or easy to skim
• Not tailored for the job or the industry
Specialty Resumes Every person is different, so each resume should be different. Resumes should reflect both the person and the position they are applying for. Resumes for design-based positions should look creative and have design elements because the resume shows employers the design skills of the applicant. The Career Center recommends that design resumes should avoid using a bulleted format. Ask others well-versed in graphic design to provide feedback on your resume, and see where it can improve. For teachers, the length of the resume is less important than the content. According to the Career Center, many graduating teaching majors have a second page of relevant content. According to Harvard University resume guidelines vary between countries, so if you apply outside of the United States, learn those guidelines. Contact Hannah Amos with comments at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_ Amos_394.
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
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CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!
18 • GRAD EDITION FALL 2023 | BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM
Graduating to
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION, MYA CATALINE, DN PHOTO
the next stage
20 things I learned as a college student
BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM | GRADUATION EDITION FALL 2023 • 19
Emma Plank
Associate Social Media Editor, “Tea Time”
Emma Plank is a fourth-year journalism major and writes “Tea Time” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Growing up, everyone had an idea of what college was supposed to be. I think the idea I had maybe wasn’t the most realistic — it had its ups and downs — but the end came much faster than I expected. Now that my time is over, I want to reflect on what I learned and gained from this rollercoaster of an experience. I’ve compiled 20 things that I’ve picked up as a college student in these last four years.
1. Romanticize Your Experience Allow yourself to live in a fantasy for a bit. Your college experience is about working toward your career, so it’s the time to be selfish and not limit yourself. Treat yourself or live your life like you’re in a movie. You’re only this age once.
2. Be On Campus Being in college during a pandemic really changed my perspective on what I wanted to get out of this time in my life. I wanted to be as present as I possibly could, so I made it a point to try and study on campus. Go to the library, sit outside by Frog Baby or do homework while eating dinner at North
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
Dining. Don’t get me wrong, I could spend all day in my room — if anything, I prefer it — but I made it a point to walk to campus. It kept me on track and allowed me to immerse myself in this temporary environment.
3. Call Your Mom Talking to my mom kept me sane. If I had a question about a recipe, why my car was making a weird noise or I just needed someone to calm me down from failing a test, being able to talk to my mom was a blessing. I wouldn’t be graduating if it wasn’t for her constantly being in my corner. Find someone who’s an anchor. A person who will listen to you rant about next semester’s schedule, to call if your roommates are being annoying or to just tell you that you’re going to be OK. A mother’s support, in my own experience, is truly unbeatable.
4. Protect Your Peace As I mentioned earlier, I love to be alone in my room with no one to bother me. I will schedule time in my day to debrief with my thoughts. In an uncontrollable environment like a lecture hall, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed. Schedule time to be by yourself and to do stuff for yourself. If this means renting a movie, buying a $7 coffee or going to TJ Maxx and smelling every candle in the aisle, then do it.
5. Good Things Will Come Work toward your career. Make friends. Be forward. But remember that what’s meant for you will find you. With that comes a lot of patience and wisdom. Your dream job might land in your lap as soon as you graduate or it might be 20 years down the line. I’ve found comfort in throwing away my clock.
6. Make Playlists Dec. 1 at Fourth-year journalism major Emma Plank poses for a photo g. Buildin lism Journa and Art the in studio urnalism photojo the MYA CATALINE, DN
There are times in my life when a good music playlist solves all my problems. Curate playlists that
help you get through the day. No matter what season, my “fall” playlist is constantly on repeat. A little bit of Lana Del Rey and Amy Winehouse have been known to take me out of any funk.
7. Never Stop Being A Fan Obsess over the little things. Did the new Euphoria episode come out? Yes, and I’m calling all my friends to debrief about our favorite character. Harry Styles is releasing a new album? I’m on my way to the listening party. The Oscars are on tonight? No one talks to me until my favorite actor wins. Allow yourself to care about the small things and be a fan. It’s important to put your all into the lighthearted aspects of life.
8. Yes, Chef! I come from a family of cooks, but cooking is not the gene that I was blessed with. The kitchen and I do not mesh, but being a broke college student didn’t allow me to be picky. Call home to get your grandma’s recipe or scour Pinterest before going to the grocery store. Learning how to cook was one of my biggest takeaways from my college experience. It’s a skill I’ll use forever.
9. Time Magagement Scheduling out your time pays off in the long run. Time management is public enemy number one for me because being time conscious is difficult. But once you grasp it, it’s smooth sailing and so worth it. Once I realized how important it was and learned how to do it, the continuous relief throughout the semester was well worth it.
10. You Got the Cinema Go see a movie in person. Go by yourself. Go with friends. As a kid my mom couldn’t afford to take me on family vacations, so we would instead spend a whole day movie-hopping to different showings. In finishing a test or having a tough week, I have
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION