Ball State Daily News Vol. 103, Issue 22

N D DAILY NEWS

DNNews

Grassroots Realness

Connecting the Cardinal Community Former men’s basketball player Paris McCurdy is now Ball State’s 410 Director director of Community community diversity Diversityinitiatives.

Initiatives.410

Real Black Excellence is bettering Muncie. 403

REAL BLACK EXCELLENCE, PHOTO PROVIDED

DNSports Track and Field Alexis Thigpen and her dedication to serve the community. 410

DNLife

MLK Dream Team Muncie’s MLK Dream Team volunteers to educate and support Delaware County. 413

ELLA HOWELL, DN

DNOpinion

Support Students of Color

Ball State’s efforts should go beyond promotional steps and tokenism. 416

02.15.2024

Ball State’s Director of Community Diversity Initiatives Paris McCurdy poses with a ball for a photo Feb. 7 at Worthen Arena. McCurdy is most remembered for being a member of the 1989-90 Cardinal team that made it to the Sweet 16 NCAA tournament. ANDREW BERGER, DN

ballstatedailynews.com

@bsudailynews

DNBlack History

02.15.24

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Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from February 9-14 and take a look at upcoming events...

BallStateDailyNews.com

INDIANA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, PHOTO PROVIDED

Indiana National Guard deployed

AP: Mayorkas impeached

Feb. 9 : Indiana Gov. Eric

Feb. 13: The U.S. House voted

Holcomb announced Friday, Feb. 9, that he would immediately deploy 50 Indiana National Guard soldiers to the Texas-Mexico border. Holcomb is fulfilling a direct request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, which comes after he promised Texans he’d expand his border strategy at a news conference early last week.

Ball State travels to Ohio Feb. 17: After defeating

James Madison 72-57 Feb. 11, the Cardinals will attempt to create a two-game win streak as they take on Ohio. The game is set to start at 1 p.m. Ball State is 21-3 and sits at No. 1 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Bobcats are 7-15 on the season and are the No. 8 team in the MAC. MYA CATALINE, DN

VOL. 103 ISSUE: 21 CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com

The Ball State Daily News (USPS-144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Thursdays during the academic year except for during semester and summer breaks. The Daily News is supported in part by an allocation from the General Fund of the university and is available free to students at various campus locations.

EDITORIAL BOARD Daniel Kehn, Editor-in-chief Kyle Smedley, Print Managing Editor, Co-Sports Editor Olivia Ground, Digital Managing Editor Grayson Joslin, Director of Recruitment Trinity Rea, Associate News Editor Katherine Hill, Associate News Editor Elijah Poe, Co-Sports Editor Zach Carter, Associate Sports Editor Hannah Amos, Lifestyles Editor Ella Howell, Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor Kate Farr, Opinion Editor Elaine Ulsh, Associate Opinion Editor Jacob Boissy, Video Editor

to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the handling of the U.S.-Mexico Border. The chamber voted 214 to 213 for the measure, after the first attempt failed last week. The charges against next go to the Senate for a trial. Mayorkas is the first Cabinet secretary charged in nearly 150 years.

Shooting during Super Bowl Parade

Feb. 14: There was a shooting near the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade Feb.14. According to the Associated Press, there was one casualty and 22 injured. Among the injured were at least eight children.

Police officers detained two suspects during the incident. Once the gunshots rang, the crowd ran from the scene. The situation as of the evening of Feb. 14.

Oakley Myers, Social Media Editor Mya Cataline, Photo Editor Andrew Berger, Associate Photo Editor Meghan Holt, Visual Editor Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor Brenden Rowan, Visual Editor Maria Nevins, Podcast Editor Terry Heifetz, Interim 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 Feb. 8 issue of the Ball State Daily News, Liliana Osborne’s major was inccorect on pg. 6. She is an organizational communications major, not a entrepreneurship major.

To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.

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DNBlack History

REDEFINING Real Real Black Excellence is furthering its mission of supporting the community. 05

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State

Indiana among least educated states A study released Feb. 12 revealed that Indiana is ranked the 40th most educated state in the U.S. All 50 states were tested via 18 different indicators of a welleducated population including educational attainment, school quality, achievement gaps between genders, races, etc.

Local

Free programs at Muncie Public Library The Muncie Public Library released a schedule Feb. 12 containing information on free events taking place during the rest of February.

There are programs featuring live jazz, free chili and the celebration of local community difference-makers.

For more information, head to the calendar on the Muncie Public Library website.

AP National

Senate passes a $95 billion package

A member of Negasi Gardens poses for a photo with a harvested vegetable at a community garden Aug. 8, 2022, in Muncie, Indiana. The organization looks to help youth create healthier relationships with food. REAL BLACK EXCELLENCE, PHOTO PROVIDED

The Senate passed an emergency spending package Feb. 13 that will provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel. The package also replenishes U.S. weapons systems and will provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

It will now head to the House for approval where it could take months before the legislation reaches President Joe Biden.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: ALPHA PSI OMEGA HOSTS “RAINBOW NIGHT”

DNBlack History

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MAKING STRIDES IN MUNCIE Muncie’s NAACP branch reflects on its past and looks toward the future.

Katherine Hill Associate News Editor Muncie’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Branch #3063, is continuing to move forward on a path that celebrates diversity.

Branch President George Foley Jr. has been a member since 2015, doing avid marketing for the organization while working closely with the community as the program director for the Muncie Parks Department.

The two leadership roles have provided him with greater community outreach.

Foley stepped into the role of branch president in November 2023 when the previous branch president, Joseph Anderson, accepted a job offer out of the state.

“I wanted to improve what the NAACP stands for and what we do,” Foley said.

Foley said he understands the organization is often thought of as being for African Americans only — a myth he wants to dispel. He cited the organization’s mission statement, directed toward fighting against discrimination cases.

“The NAACP is for anybody,” he said.

“Discrimination can come in any force. We’re here [for] both civil rights and social injustice.”

Right now, the branch has 15 members who meet via Zoom at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month. The routine has been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic, although Foley said the organization is hoping to meet in person again by the spring.

In part to encourage both new and lasting members, the branch organization has established a youth council where members frequently create community partnerships.

In this relationship, they’re hoping to hone in on

Muncie’s NAACP Youth Council at the 2018 State Conference in October, 2018, inside the Horizon Convention Center. The group meets every second Thursday of each month. TAILORED TECHNOLOGY, PHOTO PROVIDED gun violence awareness and initiate conversations with Muncie’s Police Department.

Muncie Central High School junio Jamar Clark, president of Muncie’s NAACP Youth Council, is involved in many school extracurriculars but views his community role as the one with utmost importance.

The NAACP Youth Council is another resource he considers to be beneficial to his upbringing and useful to his social development.

Clark said roundtable events with the local police department are a huge opportunity for the

The NAACP in Indiana: A Brief History

Feb. 12, 1909:

Following the Springfield Riots of 1908, Harvard-educated socialist and Kentucky labor reformer, William E Walling, together with fellow reformer and journalist, Mary Ovington, call for a “national conference” to address racial justice, establishing the NAACP in New York City.

May 1912:

Mary Cable organized the Indianapolis branch of the NAACP. At that time she was the president of the Colored Women’s Civic Club.

She then also became Indiana’s first NAACP president. In May of 1913, the branch was approved.

members of the Youth Council to be heard and say what they want to say. He said this importance lies in the fact that youth voices are multiplying but still not always heard.

Although a bigger relationship is being established between the branch and its Youth Council, the council is very much independent and is equipped with its own board of officers.

The 25 council members meet the second Monday of each month at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Foley said.

Clark said his favorite part of the presidential

Nov. 1947:

1916:

Gary, Indiana’s NAACP branch is founded.

1918:

NAACP state president Katherine “Flossie” Bailey organizes a Marion branch.

Muncie office became NAACP branch #3063 with Smith Thompson Jr. presiding.

role is helping inform the public about the council, persuading them to join, as the NAACP is not widely known. On the national scale, the NAACP has been around for 115 years.

“The future of our democracy lies in America’s forgotten corners. That’s why the NAACP is working hard to recruit 300K volunteers across the country ahead of the 2024 presidential election,” President and CEO of NAACP Derrick Johnson said on the organization’s national website.

Muncie’s branch of the national organization was established in November 1947 by Smith Thompson Jr., Foley said. In years since, the branch credits a variety of pivotal events responsible for its community impact.

In 2018, the branch hosted a seminar of 600 people in attendance — along with two corporate sponsors, AEP and Meridian Health Services — to listen to speaker Ron Stallworth.

Stallworth is a retired police officer famous for infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan and later serving as the inspiration behind Spike Lee’s 2018 film, “BlacKkKlansman.”

The success of the seminar was an instrumental step in the branch’s revival.

“We tried to get the whole city exposed and invite as many people as we [could] to find out what the NAACP [was],” Foley said. “But despite being asked to host the event the following year, we declined because it was so much work … We had [to] change the focus of the state conference.”

Since then, he has remained adamant that the branch’s main focus is to increase membership rates and do all that is possible on the local front, including hosting an annual Freedom Fund Banquet.

The branch’s meetings are also a hot-ticket event for keynote speakers like national education consultant Robert Jackson and Rashid Shabazz, a Chicago-based educator and Muncie native.

4See STRIDES, 18

June 19, 2023:

Then-president Joseph Anderson earns the Community Award from Juneteenth Muncie.

2000:

Joseph Anderson becomes Muncie’s NAACP president.

Nov. 2023:

George Foley Jr. becomes the branch’s current president, focusing on local membership.

2018:

According to NAACP Tucson, Indiana has 34 branches of the NAACP, but establishing dates for those branches could not be found.

The branch hosts a 600-person seminar, essential to the branch’s revival.

MEGHAN HOLT, DN DESIGN Source: George Foley Jr., NAACP Tucson, NAACP.org

05 02.15.24 DNBlack History

Real Black Excellence has created a family and is bettering Muncie.

Trinity Rea Associate News Editor Stephen Hargrave has strived his whole life not to be limited by how he chooses to identify.

This freedom is something he likes to describe as being underground.

“There’s a grassroots realness with somebody considered underground,” Hargrave said. “You can say whatever you want, but we’re down here and it’s like this. That’s a rallying cry to the regular people.”

Remaining underground was key in the creation and survival of Hargrave’s organization Real Black Excellence.

“We put ‘Real’ Black Excellence because we encompass a lot. We realize there’s no excellence without connecting to other communities,” Hargrave said. “It’s just a recognition, a symbol, realizing that we network with everyone, and real excellence is a human interaction that connects with all diversities.”

Hargrave said he has been working under the organization’s mission for decades with some other community members, stating it was something he started to better Muncie. The group was officially declared a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2023.

Real Black Excellence holds different events that focus on the youth in the community. This comes in the form of weekly history classes for youth, along with bi-weekly and monthly meetings with guest speakers who talk to youth.

As a part of its initiative, the group is hosting a concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, with Grammy award-winning jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

The group also volunteers locally to help achieve its mission. At the Muncie Youth Opportunity Center (YOC), it runs a restoration academy for young men and women.

Within the academy, the group teaches hygiene, how to improve the way they treat others and how to recognize media messages to improve their media literacy.

We are so proud to be Black. I repeat this over and over again —we’re so proud to be Black— if we started telling you about it, you would get proud.”

- STEPHEN HARGRAVE, Founder of Real Black Excellence The non-profit has also implemented eight ‘Educational Activists’ in South View Elementary School. These activists work daily, teaching students how to read and write in one-on-one or small group settings.

Members of Concrete Rose pose for a photo at their annual banquet at The North Church Venue June 25, 2022, in Muncie, Indiana. The group awards each high school senior a scholarship at this event. REAL BLACK EXCELLENCE, PHOTO PROVIDED Rachel Tocholke is one of these educational activists and is also the assistant coordinator for Real Black Excellence. Tocholke said the experience has meant a lot to her because of her ability to help students in rough places.

“It’s nice because we’re dealing with really poor students who come through broken homes or are homeless,” she said. “We’re dealing with education, but we’re doing more within the community… It’s everything.”

The organization prides itself on its ability to do all of this, honing in on people’s ‘gifts’ and how each individual can improve the community as a whole.

Hargrave said focusing on this creates a unique ability to reach people and showcase change.

“There’s no shortage of programs. There’s no shortage of sincere people,” Hargrave said.“There’s no shortage of people that have a mission; but there’s not an organization that says, ‘Come here, here’s how this works.’ This is what community means, and that’s why we exist.”

Other organizations exist under Real Black Excellence, which acts more as an umbrella.

Mission Force, Negasi Gardens and Concrete Rose follow the overall mission created by Hargrave, while pursuing passions through action.

According to the Real Black Excellence website, Mission Force is a three-week-long boot camp that aims to prepare young people for all that service entails. The organization looks to provide people with a full and deep educational experience that cannot be found elsewhere.

Concrete Rose is a non-profit led by Sasha King that focuses on educating and empowering Black

youth in Muncie. King said the group prides itself in its ability to teach kids about its history ­— not to just learn it, but to see real examples of how to better themselves.

In addition, they learn ways to engage in giving back to their community in the process.

“We try to provide these opportunities for them so they can stay out of trouble and grow individually and learn the importance of giving back to the community,” King said.

Within the group, youth from first to 12th grade can participate. She said members are required to volunteer and participate in community service alongside their education hours earned at Real Black Excellence history classes.

One of the group’s biggest events occurs around Thanksgiving when King takes the group to a soup kitchen. The group works together to feed families, raise money and hand out ‘blessing bags,’ gift bags made by youth.

Concrete Rose will host its annual “Celebrating the Struggle” program Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Center for the Arts where members of the group will participate in spoken word and perform in front of their community.

Aside from its events, the group provides scholarships to every senior in the program at an annual end-of-the-year banquet, regardless of posthigh school ambitions.

“It’s a big deal because they get left behind if [they’re] not going to college, as there aren’t very many resources for [them] available,” King said.

Concrete Rose also frequently partners with Negasi Gardens, an agriculture group run by

Megan Benion. She said her organization looks to promote within the Black community the historic role it has played in agriculture.

She said she likes to split up the word agriculture into ‘agri’ and ‘culture’ to showcase the true importance and meaning behind the word.

Creating better access to quality food for people across the community is something Benion prides herself on. Last year, the group provided Muncie with 6,000 pounds worth of food. Overall, she said the organization looks to create excitement surrounding healthy relationships with food.

“We have been growing on urban sites for the past two years. This past year it has more than doubled, and this year it is on track to triple,” Benion said. “I think it’s important the youth are educated on where our food’s coming from. I think the food system of America is quite messed up.”

With all of these separate, yet unified, endeavors, Hargrave said his experiences with his organization have been more than beneficial. Regardless, he said there is always more to do.

“It’s difficult to see every benefit that is in our hearts to see. In some ways, we have not even started,” Hargrave said. “We are so proud to be Black. I repeat this over and over again —we’re so proud to be Black— if we started telling you about it, you would get proud.”

For those looking to get involved with Real Black Excellence, head to their website or email them with questions at info@realblackexcellence.com.

Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu. edu or on X @thetrinityrea.

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"A Rising Tide Will Raise All Boats" Local Black Chamber of Commerce champions for Black entrepreneurship, fosters community success.

Meghan Braddy Reporter

“A

rising tide will raise all boats,” said LaTasha Mardis, member of the executive committee and executive board as event chair with the Muncie/Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce.

Mardis said the metaphor illustrates the philosophy of the Black Chamber of Commerce: Supporting Black-owned businesses ultimately benefits all businesses and the entire local economy.

Over the past few years, the chamber has been a supporter of growing Black-owned businesses in Muncie, Indiana.

Founded in 2020 by local entrepreneurs, the volunteer-based organization helped establish several “firsts” for Black-owned businesses in the area. This was done through networking opportunities, educational partnerships, and financial support for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

The chamber’s founding vision was based on the growing need for a support system for minority and small businesses in Muncie. By offering networking opportunities and structured support, it has helped elevate these businesses to the next level. This is done through events such as pop-up shops, wine mixers and award dinners that foster networking opprotunities and community support for the owners.

Founding member and membership chair of the chamber, Dafina Kirk, said this is due to the fact that when many businesses first start, they fall into a window of failure.

“A lot of businesses fail during that time frame, or they’re bored, or they just don’t know what to do next,” Kirk said.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20 percent of small businesses tend to fail within the first opening year, with less than 50 percent surviving through year five and only a third making it 10 years.

The chamber remains a source of hope and support for local Black entrepreneurs to help fix this problem by working with businesses to help them succeed.

Providing assistance with paperwork, offering workshops and facilitating partnerships to help businesses grow and learn from each other are just some of the chambers' initiatives that have been done to help them overcome economic barriers and have a goal to promote growth within the community.

“It’s so important for us to have a group that speaks to the needs of the majority of the members being Black or minority because in businesses — unfortunately, as with life — sometimes our skin color in society can have different effects,” founding member and chamber treasurer Bernisa Elliott said.

The chamber’s members and leaders come from various industries and backgrounds, bringing

diverse amount skills and experiences that support the group’s mission.

With such a diversity of skills among its members, the organization is able to provide individuals with alternative mindsets and viewpoints on improving business abilities and enhancing presence among their respective customer bases.

“We essentially all come together and give a framework to folks who may not have had exposure to fill in the blank,” Mardis said.

A considerable part of what the chamber does is putting small businesses or entrepreneurs on the map. It organizes networking events, vendor fairs, workshops on business development and partnerships with various organizations who have sponsored it in the area. This equals to several of the banks and credit unions, the City of Muncie and Ball State University.

While these aren’t categorized as official partnerships, they are organizations that have come on board to help the Black Chamber in its mission of allowing business owners to expand their networks.

“I think the challenge with small businesses is making sure people know you’re here and know what you do,” Mardis said. “It’s no different for the Black Chamber, making sure people who could potentially join the chamber recognize that we’re here and know how we can serve them.”

In 2023, Ivy Tech held a course that helped business owners in Muncie learn how to develop their businesses further. The Black Chamber provided a $500 scholarship for each person who completed the class to help them expand their businesses. Students did not know about the scholarship prior to enrollment.

“There was not a dry eye in the world,” Mardis

“It’s so important for us to have a group that speaks to the needs of the majority of the members being Black or minority because in businesses — unfortunately, as with life — sometimes our skin color in society can have different effects.”

- BERNISA ELLIOTT, Founding member and chamber treasurer

Muncie/Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce members pose for a picture during board training April 24, 2023, at the French Lick Resort. The training helps them learn how to become more impactful in the community when helping minority businesses. BERNISA ELLIOTT, PHOTO PROVIDED

said. “Each person in the room instantly knew what they were going to do with the money.”

Ivy Tech also sponsors the chamber. Corporate sponsorships are primarily how the organization can fund its programming and initiatives, especially since the staff comprises volunteers who otherwise have careers outside the chamber. The chamber seeks grants and sponsorships to support local businesses, provide training and assist with administrative fees.

The Chamber supports various businesses including Grace Beauty College, the first cosmetology and barber school owned by a Black female in central Indiana, and BE’s Beauty, the region’s only Black hair care supply company.

It has also supported businesses like The Bloom Downtown, a venue space offering a collection of eateries and event rentals, one of the most significant presences of a Black-owned business in Muncie.

BE’s Beauty is owned by Elliott. While she was already running her business before the Black Chamber was started, the chamber has supported her efforts to keep it going.

“With me being in business for over 20-some years, I’ve talked to other business owners and some of the customers that are in the chamber,” Elliott said. “The chamber has allowed us to build strong relationships and to get an understanding of working with each other and learning from each other.”

While the primary focus is on supporting Black entrepreneurs, the chamber is open to all who want to join and support its mission.

Within the chamber, there are focused committees for all to join that address the needs of its members beyond just business development.

These committees focus on different areas of the chamber, such as education, special events, religious affairs and membership.

“Black entrepreneurs are intended to be the primary beneficiary of the work that we do, and they have so much history around why that’s important. Black folks have traditionally had systems put in place that have tended to exclude Black people,” Mardis said. “Anybody is welcome to join, and we welcome anybody.”

The chamber’s next membership meeting is Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Fisher Building at Ivy Tech.

There, members will discuss XBE certification, a program recognizing and supporting disadvantaged businesses, opportunities to be a vendor for Ivy Tech and ways to collaborate with the other committees.

For more information on how to get involved with the chamber’s mission, visit the Muncie/ Delaware County Black Chamber of Commerce website or email info@mdcblackchamber.org.

Contact Meghan Braddy with comments via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu or on X @ meghan_braddy.

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Athletics

Ball State athletes on Top 100 Student list

The Passion

In its third year, the Ball State Top 100 student list had seven Cardinal athletes on it. The award recognizes junior and senior undergraduates.

On the list were women’s golfer Payton Bennett, soccer player Lexi Fraley, men’s golfer Ali Khan, softball players Aislinn Morris and McKenna Mulholland, gymnast Grace Sumner and women’s volleyball player Megan Wielonski.

to Serve The commitment of a Ball State Track and Field athlete to help those in need.

Baseball

Ball State opens its season The Cardinals will open their season over the weekend (Feb. 16-18).

The Cardinals will face Lehigh Feb. 16 with the first pitch coming at 1 p.m. For Feb. 17, Ball State will play a doubleheader with the first game being against Iowa at noon, the second game will be against Merrimack at 4 p.m. The Cardinals will close out the weekend against Michigan State Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.

Senior sprinter Alexis Thigpen sprints down the track during a practice Feb. 7 at the Jo Ann Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Thigpen competed in five meets for the 2023 outdoor track and field season. MYA CATALINE, DN Thigpen is a student-athlete on the Cardinal the people living there,” Thigpen said. “All that she track and field team balancing the life of being a did made me the person that I am today. She was Amadou Diallo president, community service chairwoman and a big on making sure everyone felt good.”

Reporter During her sophomore year, Thigpen was role model to her peers.

Thigpen is a 4x400 meter relay All-Mid looking for an outlet to help fulfill her want to help “It was always ingrained [in me] to have compassion towards others, and do for others American Conference (MAC) honoree and four- people. In her search for an opportunity to serve what you would want them to do for you,” senior time Academic All-MAC. She also runs the 400 the community, she found the National Association and 600 meter dash. Outside of her academic and of Colored Women’s Club (NACWC). Founded sprinter Alexis Thigpen said.

Compassion has always been an important athletic work, Thigpen spends most of her time in 1896, the NACWC is the first organization led by black women to uplift women, children and emotion to Thigpen. As a child, Thigpen spent an with her passion — helping others.

Growing up in a Christian home, Thigpen said families. It also promotes the community through abundance of her time with her mother, helping her mother showed her what true kindness meant service, education and promoting racial harmony. serve people in the community.

Initially, she served as the secretary but now “I’m a little bit of an empath. I want to be able by random acts of kindness. Thigpen’s mother also to help people and get them back on their feet,” brought her around anytime she went out into the serves as president. In her position, Thigpen Thigpen said. “Even if it’s just doing the little community to serve, instilling in her the values that oversees the basic operations of the organization when it comes to building relationships, planning deeds that will make their day. I’m just really she has today.

“She always did these acts of service for people, events and connecting with other organizations compassionate, something that the world really she even took me to a homeless shelter to help feed on campus. needs.”

See SERVE, 8

Men’s Basketball

The Cardinals head to Miami (OH) After a week following its loss to Texas State in the MAC-SBC Challenge, Ball State men’s basketball will return to action and head to Miami (OH) Feb. 17. Miami currently sits at 5-6 in the MidAmerican Conference (MAC) where the Cardinals sit at 4-7 heading into the game. The game is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: YORKTOWN BOY’S BASKETBALL DEFEATS MUNCIE CENTRAL

DNBlack History

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SERVE

Continued from Page 07 “She’s definitely very reliable. I help her out, she helps me out,” NACWC Vice President Mikayla Shaffer said. “We make each other laugh. She’s such a great person and an amazing president.”

Shaffer said Thigpen has taken on a role model position with NACWC, teaching her the ins and outs of running the organization.

“She’s definitely prepared me by encouraging me to problem solve, reach out to other chapters or give out information,” Shaffer said. “By trusting me to be her voice and speak on behalf of her, she’s definitely prepared me for next semester when she’s no longer here.”

Thigpen is also a part of another service-based organization, the Delta Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. serving as the community service co-chair. Similar to her first organization, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority also has a large focus on serving people in need in the Black community.

In her role as community service co-chair, Thigpen helps plan out community service events for her sorority.

Her presence has not only impacted and helped the community, but it has had a long-lasting positive effect on her peers.

“Alexis is my sister. Our relationship has grown so much, she’s always positive in everything that she does, she uplifts me,” co-chair Taylor Coleman said.

Sisterhood is extremely important to Thigpen.

She has become a member who has encouraged her sisters through her actions of kindness and her composure.

“She is just a great listener and a communicator as well,” Coleman said. “One day when you’re feeling, down you’re able to talk to her. She’s always in the greatest, loveliest mood, which easily uplifts you. You can just feel her when she walks in the room.”

As a member of these two historically Black organizations, Thigpen is able to have that positive effect on the people around her and continue to build in the community. She said she expresses her love of helping people through community service and the relationships she’s built with the people around her.

“I just admire what my sister does for the community,” Coleman said. “She carries herself so effortlessly and gracefully — you don’t see her complaining. She gets up at six o’clock in the morning to go to workouts, but she still makes time

She’s always in the greatest, loveliest mood which easily uplifts you. You can just feel her when she walks in the room.”

- TAYLOR COLEMAN, Co-chair of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

to prioritize her sisters’ and her other organizations.”

Thigpen has been able to serve the community by working with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Cardinal Kitchen, the Muncie Mission and the Young Women’s Christian Association. Her sorority also holds many events catered to the students at Ball State University, whether it be for educational or entertainment purposes.

The challenge of balancing life as a student athlete, while also being heavily involved around campus and in the community, can be overwhelming.

“It’s quite a bit, and sometimes you get frustrated.

And that’s normal,” Thigpen said.

But she’s not alone when facing this challenge.

The people she works alongside are also there for her when she needs them.

“My sisters in [Delta Sigma Theta] know what I do and what I go through, and me being able to let them know what’s going on helps me,” Thigpen said. “Even with track, too, I always talk to my coaches about things that are coming up and how my life is going, and they’ll adjust to it.”

What sticks out the most about Thigpen is her motivation to serve the community. The reason why she’s joined these organizations and the reason why she goes out her way to make a positive impact on the people around her is greatly fulfilling.

“Honestly, it kind of just makes me smile,” she said. “Just being able to make someone feel good or feel better. Something about it. I don’t know. It just makes my heart beat.”

Contact Amadou Diallo with comments on X @Amadou_Diallo23 or via email at diallo.s.amadou23@gmail.com

Honestly, it kind of just makes me smile.

Just being able to make someone feel good or feel better. Something about it. I don’t know. It just makes my heart beat.”

- ALEXIS THIGPEN, Senior sprinter Senior sprinter Alexis Thigpen prepares to run the first leg of the 4x400 relay race at the IUPUI Invitational Jan. 27 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The 4x400 relay race team placed first overall in the invitational. AMADOU DIALLO, DN

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02.15.24

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30 years after helping lead Ball State men’s basketball to the Sweet 16, Paris McCurdy leads the mission to connect Ball State to Muncie.

Derran Cobb Reporter

Ball State alumnus Paris McCurdy plays with a ball Feb. 7 at Worthen Arena. McCurdy has been in his role as Ball State’s director of community diversity initiatives since 2016. ANDREW BERGER, DN

Deion Sanders. Bo Jackson. Paris McCurdy.

What do all these men have in common?

They all played in two major American sports leagues.

McCurdy, a Ball State alumnus, signed to the NFL’s Denver Broncos training camp roster after playing four seasons of college basketball, his last two with the Cardinals. After being cut, he signed with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings in 1991.

However, McCurdy is probably most remembered for being a leading member of the 1989-90 Ball State men’s basketball team that made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

In the first-round contest against Oregon State, led by future NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, McCurdy finished an and-one layup at the buzzer to tie the game and sank a free throw to take the lead and win the contest.

After a two-point win against Louisville in the round of 32, the Cardinals reached their first and only Sweet 16 in school history. There, they faced the heavily favored University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin’ Rebels. Ball State was able to slow down what is considered one of the best offenses in college basketball history, but with a chance to win the game, Ball State turned the ball over on the final play and lost by two points.

UNLV went on to win the national championship.

McCurdy credits this period of his life and career for his lifelong bond with Muncie. As a kid from Detroit, he felt welcomed in the city. Now, he’s back at Ball State, as the director of community diversity initiatives.

“The excitement that people had for us for what we were accomplishing was special,” McCurdy said. “All the way to this day I still keep in touch with the people I’ve met along the way. I think that was the biggest piece for me.”

[People] want to have an excuse as to why they’re not advancing. You can’t advance or move forward without being exposed to what’s available.”

Then-junior forward Paris McCurdy goes to shoot the ball against Ohio in 1989. McCurdy was a part of the 1989 men’s basketball team that won the Mid-American Conference championship. BALL STATE ATHLETICS, PHOTO PROVIDED

- PARIS MCCURDY, Director of community diversity initiatives

One of the biggest things about me, I really like helping elevate other people. I consider myself selfless because I know how to put myself in the back behind the scenes and help move someone else.”

- PARIS MCCURDY, Director of community diversity initiatives Former Ball State head men’s basketball coach Dick Hunsaker recalled the historical significance of those late ‘80s and early ‘90s teams and cites the love of basketball as fuel.

“Basketball was king in Muncie,” Hunsaker said.

“Every individual on that team was instrumental in the community’s influence and left their mark on the history of Ball State University.”

McCurdy spent around 14 years playing professional basketball in Spain, France, Australia and the United States before retiring from basketball for good in 2005. He initially wanted to get into coaching, but he never finished his degree.

His senior year, McCurdy went to the office of one of his professors to inform him that he would have to miss a good amount of classes due to an upcoming lengthy road trip. He asked what he would have to do to make sure he is up to date on his coursework so he stays on track to graduate.

“You may as well drop my class,” McCurdy remembered the professor responding. “I’ve had your kind before, and you’re not going to pass.”

After telling his coaches what happened, they told him he had to drop the class, because that professor had no chance of passing him, and there was no way they were going to let McCurdy continue to deal with him. Hunsaker said this is a common occurrence even to this day.

“People aren’t willing to look past whatever bias they might have. Sadly, in the world of sport, we think that it’s equal opportunity, but I have seen much prejudice and unfairness and stereotypes throughout my career,” Hunsaker said. “I just think we need to accept people for who they are and put any prejudices behind because diversity is what our world is. We all have our differences.”

He further added that McCurdy dealt with the situation as he always had: with maturity.

“He brings people together and listens, whether he’ll agree or disagree, [he’s] willing to listen to both sides,” Hunsaker said.

11 02.15.24 DNBlack History We need to accept people for who they are and put any prejudices behind because diversity is what our world is.

We all have our differences.”

- DICK HUNSAKER, Former men’s basketball coach McCurdy was always mature beyond his years.

When he was 11-years-old, he and his cousins went to a neighborhood park to shoot around.

His cousins stopped what they were doing to smoke cigarettes they found. To their amusement, McCurdy declined the offer saying, ‘Nah, I’m going to be an athlete.’

He eventually returned to Ball State at the insistence of family and a particular advisor who helped him walk the stage in 2008.

At a summer workout with the Pistons in his hometown of Detroit in the early ‘90s, McCurdy received life-altering advice from NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. During a break, Thomas pulled McCurdy to the side and explained that many professional players will end up blowing their money away and said McCurdy needed to have a stronger mindset.

“He said, ‘[Paris] if you get a chance to make this money, keep this in mind: It’s not about what you got while you’re playing. It’s about what you got when you finish.’” McCurdy said. “That was my focus from that point on.”

Now, McCurdy looks to pay that advice forward.

“Everybody’s not going to make it to the pros,” he said. “Everybody’s not going to go make them big dollars. You’ve got to start thinking like that now. You’ve got to start thinking about, ‘What am I doing four or five years from now? What’s going to happen?’ [College athletes] need somebody in their ear telling them [something] other than what’s happening right now.”

He further added that a lot of people would rather stay in the same spot out of fear of what’s next. “[People] want to have an excuse as to why they’re not advancing,” McCurdy said.“You can’t advance or move forward without being exposed to what’s available.

McCurdy has been in his current role at Ball State since 2016, a position he has happily embraced.

“One of the biggest things about me, I really like helping elevate other people,” McCurdy said.

“I consider myself selfless, because I know how to put myself behind the scenes and help move someone else. It’s said that before you can achieve your success, help somebody else achieve theirs, and things just happen for you.”

In this role, McCurdy acts as a connector between the Muncie and Ball State communities. His office connects the people of the local community with the resources that the university has to offer.

His main goal is to encourage students on campus to give back to the community in the same way the community supports the school. “[Ball State] goes to the people in the community to help them on campus and get to the next level to get out into the world to go do whatever they want to do, but you’re supposed to bring the community with you,” McCurdy said. “How do we help advance the community at the same time?”

Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Dr. Rashida Willard said McCurdy is excellent at what he does, and he carries the mission the office strives for.

“He cares a lot about the work we’re doing.

He cares a lot about the community, and I think that’s why he’s perfect for this role,” Willard said. “He is passionate about connecting the Muncie community to Ball State, especially for those who are underserved and underrepresented in this community.”

Willard explained that the mission of her office is to provide an opportunity for success to everyone and that it should be a task taken on by everybody.

However, the job is an uphill battle.

“I think the biggest challenge we face is the external [discourse] for diversity, equity and inclusion,” Willard said. “It can sometimes be demoralizing. It’s hard to do the work when you know there’s so many people externally against the work. [We] are making sure everybody understands inclusive excellence is everybody’s job, and it’s not just the job of the Office of Inclusive Excellence.”

After spending nearly 30 years away from Ball State, McCurdy expressed his reason for returning was the leadership changes and overall growth in diversity.

McCurdy frequently visits classes on campus to speak about his life and the importance of community connections, much to the delight of the students who have had the pleasure of meeting him.

“I was here during a time when most of the folks that look like us were just athletes, and I’ve had a chance to see the university grow over the years in a positive direction. I saw the direction Ball State wanted to go as an institution, and I thought it would be a good fit for me,” McCurdy said. “I was coming to help share my life and be able to help improve other people.”

Contact Derran Cobb with comments at derran. cobb@bsu.edu or on Twitter @Derran_cobb.

JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION

Then-senior forward Paris McCurdy gets lifted by teammate Chandler Thompson during a game against Oregon State Mar. 15, 1990, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ball State men’s basketball won the Mid-American Conference championship in 1990.

BALL STATE ATHLETICS, PHOTO PROVIDED

Paris McCurdy smiles for a photo Feb. 7 at Worthen Arena. McCurdy played four seasons of college basketball, his last two at Ball State. ANDREW BERGER, DN

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Campus

Theatre and Dance The Spring Cave Theatre series plans to switch between one-act shows Feb. 17 to 24 in the Fine Arts Building Recital Hall. Shows include “The Pink Bedroom,” Every Twenty Minutes,” Abortive” and “Cowboy Mouth.” Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door through the College of Fine Arts box office, tix. com or calling 765-285-8749. For specific details visit Ball State’s online calendar.

Community

The Dream Team

Muncie’s Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Team has been volunteering for the community for over 20 years.

Hannah Amos, Ella Howell Lifestyles Editor, Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor In 1965, thousands of people participated in a march from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery.

Among those who took on the 54-mile protest was Beatrice “Bea” Moten-Foster.

Moten-Foster has a long history in Muncie. After moving to Muncie with her husband, a Ball State University professor, she got to work. While MotenFoster died in 2011, she built a legacy here in Muncie that will continue to be an important contribution to the lives of people who live here. From founding The Muncie Times and establishing organizations like the Muncie Coalition of 100 Women and the first Muncie Black Expo.

Another lasting impact Moten-Foster has had on the community was founding the Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Dream Team in 2003.

The MLK Dream Team focuses on educating

and spreading awareness in Delaware County and Muncie on racial stereotypes and intolerance by providing spaces for conversation.

The team is made up of volunteers, including the officers of the organization.

The chair of the organization, WaTasha Barnes Griffin, is an active member of the community. On top of volunteering on the team, she is the CEO of the Muncie Young Women’s Christian Association (YWC and she works on the Muncie Community Schools (MCS) Board of Trustees.

Barnes Griffin has been the chair of the dream team for two years but has been a member for about five years. She has said it to be “an honor” to lead the organization. While she describes herself as a part of the “younger folks in the organization,” she is very grateful to be able to serve on the committee with them.

“Despite our race, color, beliefs, socioeconomic status … MLK Dream Team wants to be all.

We touch all points of our community,” Barnes Griffin said. “There are a lot of structures and

systems involved in making racism what it is.

So, our work is to be more inclusive, to welcome diversity and belonging.”

Another active member of the community, Susan Fisher, is the secretary of the MLK Dream Team and works at the Muncie Public Library (MPL).

She said the two go hand-in-hand due to the history and educational aspects of both.

Fisher started as a member of the organization during the first year it started. She got “assigned” to the dream team through her MPL work when the team planned the visit of TV Judge Gregory Mathis to Muncie Central High School.

Since Judge Mathis’ visit, Fisher has stayed with the organization, finding value in fostering “civic pride and historical pride” in the Delaware County community.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to come together — people from all walks of life — and work together and have that shared goal,” she said.

Chips that advertise the MLK Dream Team’s Freedom Bus Feb. 3 at Minnetrista. Their Black History Month Kick Off happens annually. ELLA HOWELL, DN

See MLK, 18

Give Kids a Smile Meridian Dental Health Services is offering free dental exams Feb. 19 for kids ages 1 to 14. The exams will be offered at Meridian Dental locations in Anderson, Elwood, Marion, Muncie, Portland and Richmond. Visits will consist of the physical exam, polishing and cleaning, and fluoride application.

Walk-ins are welcome, but space is limited, so appointments are encouraged.

Community

Dan’s Fish Fry The fish fry will be held from 5-8 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Feb. 23 as a fundraiser event for Muncie’s St. Michael Catholic School’s eighth grade trip. The menu for the all-youcan-eat event is chicken or fish with a side of coleslaw or french fries. Adult meals, ages 13 and up, are $12, kids meals are $8 and children under 5 eat for free.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: KAT HAWTHORNE REGAINS CONFIDENCE ONLINE.

DNBlack History

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The

Divine Nine All Nine organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council are active Ball State.

Delta Sigma Theta sorority bake sale March 1974 outside of Emens Auditorium. BALL STATE REPOSITORY, PHOTO PROVIDED Calvin Scott Reporter The Ball State National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is more than just an organization, it is a haven for young men and women to strive to become who they aspire to be.

The NPHC, or the “Divine Nine,” consists of nine fraternities and sororities. Founded May 10, 1930, NPHC organizations are committed to community service, student excellence and inclusive innovation.

Ball State’s demographic is consistently at or above 75 percent white, making it a Predominately White Institution (PWI), according to the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support.

What’s unique about Ball State is all nine organizations have a chapter on campus, with the newest and ninth organization, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. being added in September 2023.

Alpha Phi Alpha Christopher Onyiego, a second-year communications major, crossed (joined) in Fall 2023. Onyiego is a member of the Theta Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the country’s first African American fraternity.

“Being a part of an organization of people who are willing to help, provide service and protect their community as well as bringing young-minded men to become a better version of themselves throughout my fraternity,” Onyiego said.

Onyiego expressed that with a full Divine Nine yard, Ball State’s NPHC will have brand new opportunities to flourish for the future.

“The NPHC will move in a way we have never seen before; definitely a lot of changes throughout the organization and collaboration with other Greeks,” he said.

It just speaks to the principles that were instilled in me as a kid, which is achievement. Our motto is ‘Achievement in every field of human endeavor.’”

- CARSON MEYERS, Kappa Alpha Psi Alpha Kappa Alpha Zaria Purnell is a fifth-year early childhood and elementary education major who crossed in Spring 2021.

Purnell is a third-generation member of the sorority, making her a “legacy.” Alpha Kappa Alpha means the world to Purnell; she is about to graduate this spring, and the sorority’s impact on her life will extend beyond college.

“It’s great for networking, especially coming out of college,” she said. “Usually, we college students don’t know what we’re going to do later on in life, so it’s a good idea to partner with the women in our organization allowing you to see the world differently.”

Having all nine organizations at Ball State is very important to Purnell, as when she came here

for her first year in 2019, it seemed like having all nine would be a long shot.

“Being here for five years and seeing how our National Pan-Hellenic Council can grow so much and do so many amazing things by not only being there for our organizations but being there for each other’s organization is amazing,” Purnell said.

Kappa Alpha Psi Carson Meyers, a fourth-year double majoring in psychology and sociology, crossed in Spring 2023 into the Delta Iota chapter.

Meyers is also a legacy member, with his father and brother being members of Ball State’s chapter.

Even though Meyers has only been a member for a little under a year, the organization has been a part of him his whole life.

“It just speaks to the principles that were instilled in me as a kid, which is achievement. Our motto is ‘Achievement in every field of human endeavor,” Meyers said. “I got to learn what achievement was at a young age, then when I researched what I was interested in, I found that [Kappa Alpha Psi] were interested in achievement too, so it was a common ground for me.”

Meyers finds it exceptional that Ball State is home to all nine organizations of the NPHC, especially since Ball State is a PWI. “I feel like everybody being included is important, everybody being represented is important everywhere, but being at a PWI makes it special,” he said. “Normally, that’s what is expected at HBCUs with their Black organizations. Having all nine organizations at a PWI just speaks to how powerful the Black community here is at Ball State.”

Sigma Gamma Rho Leeyah Griffin, a fourth-year early childhood education major, crossed in Fall 2022.

Being a part of the “Marvelous” Mu Chapter,

Griffin has the opportunity to help communities with the resources they need.

“I grew up in various communities — all predominantly Black — and often, I needed resources from organizations like Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., and now that I am a part of this organization, it feels great giving back to people that were just like me growing up,” she said.

Phi Beta Sigma Anthony Key, a third-year graphic design major with a photography minor crossed in Spring 2022.

Key is a member of Phi Beta Sigma, which is constitutionally bound with the sorority Zeta Phi Beta.

Since joining, he said he has been offered so many opportunities to grow with the NPHC by traveling to conventions.

Key was the parliamentarian of the NPHC executive board for the 2022-23 school year and believes the key for success is unity.

“Having a full yard [all Divine Nine organizations] will bring a lot more unity to the NPHC, it will also allow us to have more projects that will be shared amongst the fraternities and sororities here at Ball State,” he said.

Zeta Phi Beta Zuri Jackson is a fourth-year theater and dance major who crossed in Spring 2023.

Jackson shed light on how her sorority helped her grow into the woman she is today and continues to grow into the best version of herself.

“My chapter, they helped me be better. They helped me evolve. So what they mean to me is evolution,” Jackson said. “It always feels like they’re always there for me, and it also feels like I belong; I am a part of them.”

15 02.15.24 DNBlack History Omega Psi Phi Mark Maxwell Jr., a media design graduate student who received his bachelor’s in interpersonal communications, crossed in Spring 2023.

Like Meyers, Maxwell is a legacy member of his fraternity and the only one in the history of the Upsilon Beta Chapter.

“I was raised around brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., especially our cardinal principles [of] manhood, scholarship, perseverance and uplift were instilled, and it was something I saw in the people that I looked up to as a child being around it my entire life,” he said.

His father crossed at Ball State in 1988, and the bonds his father formed with his fraternity brothers expanded to him. So much so that he views his father’s six line of brothers as uncles.

“It’s always been like family, so this chapter means everything,” Maxwell said.

Going forward, Maxwell shared that having all nine organizations can not only be better for Ball State but better for other colleges and universities in the future.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

“It’s something that is rare, especially if you don’t go to [a] HBCU. I think It’s a blessing.”

“My life has changed for the better since becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta,” Coleman said. “I have gained so many leadership opportunities [and] my communication skills improved. I also learned the true importance of time management.”

I grew up in various communities — all predominantly Black — and often, I needed resources from organizations like Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.” - LEEYAH GRIFFIN, Sigma Gamma Rho

Delta Sigma Theta Taylor Coleman, a third-year psychology major, crossed in Spring 2023.

Delta Sigma Theta is the biggest African American Greek-letter sorority in the world with more than 350,000 women who hold a membership, according to Blackpast.

Coleman said the benefits of being a member are unmatched as it helped her grow as a woman positively going forward through college. ¨The Ball State NPHC will continue to show

unity by uplifting each other, showing how we can all come together to serve our community and be a positive role model to our youth.¨

Iota Phi Theta Simba Hicks, a second-year public relations major minoring in counseling, crossed in Fall 2023. Iota Phi Theta is the most recent addition to the NPHC. Hicks said his fraternity allows him to walk in his own skin without any hesitation and let him be as uniquely himself as possible.

“My fraternity means outlet and a push to be the best man I can possibly be with little confining to a stereotype as possible; I get to really be myself and live my truth,” he said.

Hick also noted that now having all nine organizations, Ball State’s student body has more of a variety of options to choose from if one were to consider joining the NPHC. “It’s nice to see that Black excellence on campus with Black people having different options on what fits them instead of having to settle, but you can really just see all the different personalities that come along in Ball State’s Black community,” he said.

In an effort to bring cultural awareness and diversity to the Ball State’s campus, the NPHC would like to build the NPHC Plaza. This space would heighten the awareness of this diverse and unique council on campus and appeal aesthetically and culturally to prospective students and their families.

For more information on the NPHC head to its Instagram.

Contact Calvin Scott with comments at calvin. Group shot of Delta Sigma Theta sorority members Dec.13, 1966. BALL STATE REPOSITORY, PHOTO PROVIDED scott@bsu.edu or on X @CalvinAJScott.

A History of the Divine Nine ALPHA PHI ALPHA

KAPPA ALPHA PSI

DELTA SIGMA THETA

ZETA PHI BETA

IOTA PHI THETA

Founded 1906 Cornell University BSU: 1973

Founded 1911 Indiana University BSU: 1953

Founded 1913 Howard University BSU: 1953

Founded 1920 Howard University BSU: 1988

Founded 1963 Morgan St. University BSU: 2023

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

OMEGA PSI PHI

PHI BETA SIGMA

SIGMA GAMMA RHO

Founded 1908 Howard University BSU: 1968

Founded 1911 Howard University BSU: 1971

Founded 1914 Howard University BSU: 1979

Founded 1922 Butler University BSU: 1946

1950

1960

1970

BRENDEN ROWAN , DN ILLUSTRATION SOURCE: YES PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BALL STATE UNIVERSITY’S NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL

DNBlack History

02.15.24

FROM TALK TO ACTION MEGHAN HOLT, DN ILLUSTRATION

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF ANIMALS IN ADOLESCENCE

16

17 02.15.24 DNBlack History

Ball State must take proactive steps to prioritize genuine support for students of color, fostering transformative change.

KwaTashea Marfo

Columnist, “Imperfectly Perfect”

KwaTashea Marfo is a third-year public relations major and writes “Imperfectly Perfect” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

Embarking on the journey of higher education — a path often hailed as a pathway to enlightenment and success — entails a concealed objective.

College is commonly referred to as the best years of your life — the period that molds and defines personal identity. Yet, few individuals are prepared for the various identity shifts encountered with each passing semester — akin to an ever-shifting paradigm.

For me, compounding these challenges is the pressure of navigating an environment initially not tailored to address the unique needs of a first-generation African American woman.

This reality is underscored by data from Ball State University’s Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support, which revealed this demographic breakdown as of 2021: 75.6 percent of enrolled students were white, 8.8 percent were African American, 2.1 percent were Asian and 7.2 percent were Hispanic, among other racial groups.

Navigating life as a person of color (POC) within a predominantly white institution (PWI) is like to immersing oneself in a film where the narrative unfolds in first-person perspective — a journey comprehended best by those who have lived it.

To those who haven’t, picture yourself as the protagonist on the silver screen of a theater, encircled by an audience of unfamiliar faces — faces with wandering eyes, hidden perspectives and enigmatic thoughts.

There’s a certain discomfort in being a person of color at a PWI. Amidst the academic landscape, I derive solace from the subtle gestures of camaraderie shared with fellow people of color on campus. These fleeting moments of understanding, expressed through nods and smiles, offer a silent affirmation of our shared identity and presence in an overwhelmingly white environment.

The limited representation of people of color in classes can be disheartening and create barriers to finding shared experiences with non-POC counterparts.

This narrative encapsulates the discomfort experienced by people of color navigating everyday life at a PWI. Within the discourse of diversity, equity and inclusion, it often feels as though we stand alone as sole participants of conversations, bearing the weight of making representation matter with the obligation to signify its importance to our counterparts.

The lack of representation in classrooms serves as a stark reminder for students of color of the barriers that limit our ability to connect with peers who do not share our lived experiences. This responsibility extends beyond academic settings, encompassing interactions within the broader university community as well.

Ball State University’s Inclusive Plan states a commitment “to removing barriers to inclusion and fostering a climate where students, staff and faculty can thrive.” To fulfill this commitment, Ball State has implemented initiatives, such as the Multicultural Center, and supports student-based organizations, including the “big four”: the Black Student Association (BSA), Latinx Student Union (LSU), Asian Student Union (ASU) and Spectrum, Ball State’s oldest LGBTQ+ organization on campus.

While these organizations are frequently recognized for promoting diversity, it is essential to recognize they do not encompass the entirety of diverse experiences on campus.

Promotional efforts should go beyond tokenism and instead highlight the diverse experiences and contributions of all students throughout the academic year, not just during designated times or for certain achievements.

Recognizing this need for broader representation, many students of color have taken the initiative to establish their own student organizations. Groups such as Black Women’s Voice (BWV), Mentally Empowered Men (MEM), and Men and Women of Color (MWOC) offer safe spaces tailored to address the intersectional identities of their members.

These are just many of the few organizations students have organized and founded as a means to fill the void from the lack of resources and representation the university provides.

While providing students with the creative freedom to establish their own safe spaces for discussions and networking can be beneficial, it prompts reflection on the institutional environment.

Why is it incumbent upon students of color to seek comfort beyond the confines of academic settings?

Whether students assume leadership roles on the executive boards of these organizations or simply seek membership, the expectation for students to construct a supportive and nurturing environment for themselves is apparent.

Considering the substantial financial investment made through tuition, program fees and additional expenses, it is reasonable to expect that the university’s efforts to promote inclusivity align directly with the needs of its diverse student body. However, the university’s inclusive initiatives must prioritize the genuine needs of students rather than focusing on perceived standards.

Why is there a mandatory requirement for physical education and fine arts credits, yet classes in multiculturalism, women and gender studies, and African American studies are optional?

Ball State can demonstrate genuine support for its minority population by implementing tangible initiatives that address the specific needs of diverse students. This could involve revising the curriculum to include mandatory courses on multiculturalism, women and gender studies, and African American studies, and ensuring all students engage with these important topics.

Ball State professes a commitment to promoting diversity, yet much of the promotional material features students of color in a manner that can be perceived as tokenism. These students are often highlighted during relevant holidays — like MLK Day, Black History Month or even Hispanic Heritage Month — or celebrated for their achievements, such as making the dean’s list or graduating. More often than not, it’s for the sake of showcasing their ability to fulfill their diversity quota that showcases they “care” about representation and visibility.

What’s more, I wholeheartedly believe if Ball State wanted to make a genuine effort to promote diversity, its efforts would lie beyond promotional efforts.

Their social media pages, such as their Instagram account @ballstateuniversity, should highlight the good, the bad and everything else to acknowledge the imperfection of its inclusivity plan. They should show they are readily working to show a genuine commitment to the students to generate these changes.

As a public relations major, I understand the need to maintain a reputable and clean image. However, for incoming students of color, having readily available resources from the university and the curriculum to support them throughout their collegiate experience is what provides reassurance that Ball State is the right choice.

The most important part of creating change is having those difficult conversations and taking the necessary actions to promote it.

Additionally, promotional efforts should go beyond tokenism and instead highlight the diverse experiences and contributions of all students throughout the academic year, not just during designated times or for certain achievements.

This transparency can help students feel supported and valued, knowing the institution is actively working to address their needs.

Promoting genuine diversity and inclusion requires more than just symbolic gestures. It necessitates concrete actions, open dialogue and a willingness to adapt and evolve. By engaging in difficult conversations and implementing meaningful changes, Ball State can work towards creating a more equitable and supportive college life for every student on campus.

Contact KwaTashea Marfo with comments at kwatashea. marfo@bsu.edu or on X @mkwatashea.

While providing students with the creative freedom to establish their own safe spaces for discussions and networking can be beneficial, it prompts reflection on the institutional environment. Why is it incumbent upon students of color to seek comfort beyond the confines of academic settings?

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MLK

Continued from Page 13 She also noted the importance the team has in all aspects of the Muncie community. The Dream Team includes perspectives of those in MCS and Ball State University, as well as those working in the community.

Barnes Griffin emphasized the importance of the impact the Dream Team has.

“The Dream Team has a special niche, right? It is about advocacy, it is about civil rights education, it is about ensuring that the next generation and the generations to come know their history. Know how history impacts our today,” Barnes Griffin said.

Beth Messner, the assistant secretary, has been a part of the organization since 2004. She fulfills this trifecta of the dream team, connecting the

community through her job at Ball State as a communications studies associate professor.

Messner described the Dream Team as “a small but mighty and very committed” organization. The team also admires the importance of volunteers, something they are always looking for.

Past projects of the non-profit organization are the Freedom Bus and the Walk of Fame, a quartermile walking path in Heekin Park.

The Freedom Bus, nicknamed “Miss Bea” after the founder, is a mobile Civil Rights Movement exhibit.

The path, unveiled in 2011, recognizes historical figures in Delaware County’s history known for breaking down barriers, such as the first Black teachers, police officers and more.

“Miss Bea wanted Dr. [sic] King’s message to continue to prompt peace in our community and to safeguard civil rights. That was the reason that she

started the organization,” Barnes Griffin said.

February is an important time for the MLK Dream Team. They start the month with their annual Black History Month Kick Off event before beginning their scholarship program and Black History Month food drive.

“Dr. [sic] King, while he’s gone, the impact is still lasting. We want our community to always be in remembrance of that, and we want our community to not just keep his dream alive, but to act his hopes and dreams,” Barnes Griffin said.

For more information on the MLK Dream Team go to their Facebook or their website.

Contact Hannah Amos via email at hannah. amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_Amos_394.

Contact Ella Howell with comments at ella. howell@bsu.edu.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATION In an effort to highlight the influence of Black graphic artists in a predominantly white industry, Ball State Daily News visual editor Meghan Holt looked to the work of Aaron Douglas, a Black illustrator and artist who worked during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, to inspire the opinion illustration for this issue.

They were particularly inspired by Douglas’ works Aspiration and the September 1927 cover of The Crisis.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to come together — people from all walks of life — and work together and have that shared goal.”

- SUSAN FISHER, MLK Dream Team Secretary Watasha Barnes Griffin, chair of the MLK Dream Team, and Muncie Mayor, Dan Ridenour, talk before the presentation Feb. 3 in Muncie, Indiana. In addition to the Black History Month Kick Off, the MLK Dream Team puts on a food drive during the month of February. ELLA HOWELL, DN

STRIDES

Continued from Page 04 Education of youth remains a top priority of Muncie’s NAACP. The group fundraises for charity, gives away school supplies in the fall and encourages young people to vote.

The NAACP is for anybody… Discrimination can come in any force.”

- GEORGE FOLEY JR., NAACP Muncie Branch President Muncie’s NAACP Exec Board at the 2018 State Conference October 2018 inside the Horizon Convention Center. In November, George Foley Jr. became the organization’s president. TAILORED TECHNOLOGY, PHOTO PROVIDED

“We’ve done some voter registration events where we’re encouraging people of color to register to vote. We’ve done scholarships for people coming out of high school to college and continuing college students at Ivy Tech and Ball State,” Foley said.

For Clark, the fact that he is able to lead Muncie’s NAACP Youth Council empowers him to “change the Black community one step at a time.”

Adult memberships for Muncie’s NAACP start at $30. Youth memberships (ages 5-18) are $10.

Both are valid for one year and are renewable.

Those interested in joining can contact naacpmunciebranch@gmail.com for a membership application or head to their website (gwfoleyjr. wixsite.com) for more information.

Contact Katherine Hill with comments at katherine.hill@bsu.edu.

BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM Read the full story online.

19 02.15.24

Crossword & Sudoku

ACROSS 1 Yahtzee cubes 5 Load to bear 9 Includes on an email 12 Milky white gem 13 Exactly right 15 Barrister’s field 16 *Device that crushes pungent cloves 18 Unlock, in verse 19 Shared values 20 “Tag, __ it!”

22 Puts on 24 *Go swimming in one’s birthday suit 27 Domino dimple 28 Flexible blackjack card 30 Letters accompanying college apps 31 Maker of Calm + Restore skin care products 33 Sheep sound 34 Threesome 38 Come to a satisfying conclusion, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has 41 Wild guess 42 P-like Greek letter 43 Apple AirPod, e.g.

44 Qatari leader 46 __ deco 47 Some coll. degrees

48 *Perm style popular in the 1980s and early 1990s 52 Olympic sword 54 Vampire teeth 55 Video game pioneer 57 Tot 58 *Very little, informally 64 “World of Dance“ judge, to fans 65 Make a minister 66 Constellation bear 67 << on a remote: Abbr.

68 Rapper Lil Uzi __ 69 Yellowstone grazers

DOWN 1 “Best in Show” animal 2 Hoppy brew letters 3 Sedan, e.g.

4 Astronaut Ochoa who was the first Latina in space 5 Stand against 6 Scandinavian language, to its speakers 7 Native people of Colorado 8 Distress call 9 Sun block?

10 __ pants: warm-weather wear 11 Use a broom 13 PTA meeting place 14 “Bye Bye Bye” boy band

17 “Hard pass” 21 Bivalve in a bed 22 Golfer’s gouge 23 Rossini composition 25 Tehran’s land 26 Less of a mess 27 Bear hands 29 Journalist Katie who guesthosted “Jeopardy!” in 2021 32 Actress Anita of “La Dolce Vita” 33 Sci. course 35 Yeshiva leader 36 Occupied 37 Betting numbers 39 Drive-__ window 40 Trash-talking types 45 Bungle 46 Writing movement rooted in internet culture 48 Jackie O’s son 49 Selassie of Ethiopia 50 Fund 51 Storm-tracking aid 53 Arouse, as interest 56 Author Rand 59 Hip-hop producer Gotti 60 1950s political monogram 61 Bookmarked link 62 Invite (to) 63 Prof’s assistants

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