Ball State Daily News Vol. 103 Issue: 26

Ball State’s First Ladies

First women in Hall of Fame

Women Behind the Poppies

JESSICA

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Ball State partners with NASA Putin secures 5th term

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.

April 8: Ball State University announced March 19 that it will be partnering with NASA to broadcast the upcoming total solar eclipse live. The coverage for the event will begin April 8 at 1 p.m. and run until 4 p.m. on NASA+, NASA TV, NASA.gov, the NASA app and on NASA’s YouTube page. The broadcast feed will switch

Softball takes on Kent State at home

March 22-23: Ball State returns to the softball field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex for a three-game series with Kent State. This is the second Mid-American Conference series for the Cardinals and the first for the Golden Flashes. The first game is set for March 22 and will start at Noon. The doubleheader March 23 is set to start at 1 p.m.

VOL. 103 ISSUE: 26

CONTACT THE DN

Newsroom: 765-285-8245

Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com

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

March 18: Russian President Vladimir Putin secured a fifth straight term March 18 in a landslide victory. Putin recorded a record number of votes, but regardless of the magnitude of his victory, Russians protested outside polling locations. The election was not observed by independent monitoring organizations, making it vulnerable to manipulation.

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CORRECTION

In the March 14 edition of the Daily News, the photo in the top right corner of pg. 10 is incorrect. The correct caption reads “Junior forward Basheer Jihad puts the ball up for two against Miami Feb. 17 at Millett Hall. Jihad had 18 total points in the game. Andrew Berger, DN”

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

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THIS WEEK: We will see a very windy week with some small chances of rain this weekend. Friday is the highest temperature for the week. Lows will get down to below freezing for several days.

Waking Up with Cardinal Weather is Ball State University’s first and only morning mobile show focused on getting your ready for the day through local news, weather and lifestyle trends. Waking Up with Cardinal Weather airs every Friday morning at 8 a.m. at @cardinalwx live on Facebook.

ELLA HOWELL, DN

KATE TILBURY, DN

Elia Stowers, Weather forecaster, Benny Weather Group

just “Not “Not wives.”

How the rich history of Ball State’s First Ladies has impacted campus and the Muncie community.

04

AP: Appeals court halts Texas immigration law

A three-judge panel on the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to place a Texas law on hold March 19. The law gives police the power to arrest migrants who are suspected of illegally crossing the border. This decision comes just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court voted for Texas to begin enforcing the measure.

Gov. Holcomb vetoes antisemitism compromise SB 1002

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed SB 1002, a bill aimed at defining antisemitism and specifying state public policy March 18. The bill looked to refine state policies to define educational opportunities as ones free of religious discrimination. Additionally, it would’ve clarified in the policy that antisemitism is discrimination.

National State State

Indiana state Senator dies

Indiana Sen. Jean Breaux, a Democrat from Indianapolis District 34, died Wednesday, according to her caucus — just two days after she issued a public farewell. Breaux stepped down after a months-long absence from the Statehouse two days before passing, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. She is survived by her mother, former Sen. Bille Breaux and other family.

First Lady of Ball State Jennifer Mearns poses for a photo on the main staircase of Bracken House March 14. Mearns said she sees her role as First Lady as both being an ambassador to the University and a role to support her husband and the community. OLIVIA GROUND, DN

Jennifer Mearns reflects on her impact in the role as Ball State’s First Lady.

Katherine Hill Associate News Editor

Behind the cardinal red front door of Bracken House, Ball State University’s President Geoffrey Mearns and First Lady Jennifer Mearns reside. Generations of family photos cover the walls and every room has an artifact, wallpaper decal, memory or story waiting to be shared.

A crackling fireplace exudes the same warmth and hospitality embodied by the pair.

While Geoffrey walks down campus paths and is easily recognized by students eager to give him a high-five, the work that Jennifer does might be lesser-known.

She had her own insight on her role and what it entails for students, staff and Ball State community members alike.

“I see it as [being] an ambassador for the university to support both my husband in his position, but to [also] do what I can to engage with the university community [and] the Muncie community,” Jennifer said.

With this ambassadorship, Jennifer follows a long lineage of first ladies before her. However, Ball State is not unfamiliar with female presidents.

Jo Ann Gora was president of the university from 2004-2014, heavily promoting Ball State’s architecture program into the well-known branch of study that it is today.

Since Gora, Jennifer pointed out that the role of the university first lady was modernized to that of a first spouse. She said this role gives the Ball State community a new outlook on the president. “It humanizes the president to have a spouse [who can] show a different side of them. I think that’s true in any kind of visible

public position,” she said. “It’s a little window into the person that’s different [from who] you see every day.”

Upon stepping into the role of first lady in May 2017, Jennifer worked closely with her husband’s team to get an impression of how she could be of most help to him and the university.

To achieve community engagement, Jennifer said open communication is vital, a lesson she learned in her first career as a communications marketer.

“I always try to be a direct communicator; kind, but direct,” she said. “I am who I am, and I don’t want to project anything other than that.”

Direct communication allows her and the president to best understand the needs of the surrounding community. Additionally, this helps create an understanding of the university and organizations who wish to be potential Ball State partners.

I see it as [being] an ambassador for the university to support both my husband in his position, but to [also] do what I can to engage with the university community [and] the Muncie community.”

- JENNIFER MEARNS, First Lady of Ball State University

The team, which she affectionately calls “The A Team,” manages her engagements and community involvements — something she and the president take very seriously.

“When my husband was considering coming here, what I saw as one of the key opportunities was the opportunity for the university to be more involved in community engagement,” she said.

Past Ball State Presidents and their First Women

William Wood Parsons (1918-1921)

Wife: Harriet Emily Wilkes Parsons

Linneaus Neal Hines (1921-1924)

Wife: Bertha Georgia (Wiggs) Hines

Benjamin Jackson Burris (1924-1927)

Wife: Ethel Pearl Burris

Lemuel Arthur Pittenger (1927-1942)

Wife: Bertha Pittenger

Winfred Ethestal Wagoner (1943-1945)

Wife: Glossie Wagoner

John Richard Emens (1945-1968)

Wife: Aline B. Emens

John J. Pruis (1968-1978)

Wife: Angeline R. Pruis

Richard W. Burkhardt (1978-1979)

Wife: Dorothy Burkhardt

Jerry Anderson (1979-1981)

Wife: Betty Lou Anderson

Robert P. Bell (1981-1984)

Wife: Margaret Strattan Bell

John E. Worthen (1984-2000)

Wife: Sandra Worthen

Blaine A. Brownell (2000-2004)

Wife: Mardi Brownell

Beverly J. Pitts (January-August 2004)

First female interim president.

Jo Ann M. Gora (2004-2014)

Husband: Roy Budd

First female non-interim president.

Paul W. Ferguson (2014-2016)

Wife: Grace Ferguson

Terry S. King (2016-17)

Wife: Not married

“What’s really rewarding [is] being an anchor but also a spider web [that] can be involved in so many areas [of] the community and supporting other organizations,” Jennifer said.

The Muncie community holds a special place in the hearts of both Mearns,’ but she said Ball State students are the driving force behind every one of their initiatives.

“Every semester, I meet with some students one-on-one, offer to mentor them, to be accessible and available to students [who] have questions,” Jennifer said. “I want to be a welcoming, connecting presence.”

She said helping others feel welcomed and accepted by the community is the most important thing to them.

“I think we’re both very down-to-earth people and we want people to feel comfortable [and] that we’re approachable,” Jennifer said.

Geoffrey and Jennifer Mearns are the current-serving first couple of Ball State, but the university has a rich leadership history.

Digital Managing Editor Olivia Ground contributed to this piece.

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

Delaware senator Joseph Biden Jr. speaks to Ball State University President John Worthen and Sandra Worthen. Biden served in Delaware’s senate at the same time Sandra served as a Delaware Congresswoman in the 1970s. BALL STATE REPOSITORY, PHOTO PROVIDED

MEGHAN HOLT, DN DESIGN

Source: Karen Vincent

DNSports

THE FIRST WOMEN INDUCTED INTO BALL STATE’S HALL OF FAME WERE INDUCTED IN 1996, 20 YEARS AFTER ITS CREATION. IN

silver medal at the 1983 Olympic Festival.

Bernie Coffman

The first Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame class was inducted in 1976. It was 20 years later that women were in an induction class. The women of this class consisted of Brooke Gabris, Jean Arrasmith, Emma Jones, Eileen Keener, Bonita Neal, Bernie Coffman and Beth Sova.

All of these women had incredible achievements. From being named Ball State’s female athlete of the decade by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to being Ball State’s first female MAC individual champion to receiving

Bernie Coffman started playing softball at the age of 10. She engaged in a lot of sports and activities throughout her childhood, including gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, tap dancing and ballet.

“Growing up, I played every sport,” Coffman said. “Senior year I just focused on volleyball and softball. I focused on pitching, hoping I could get a scholarship because my parents couldn’t afford to pay for college.”

Coffman’s hard work paid off when she was

offered a scholarship to play for Ball State.

In her freshman year, Coffman started out playing third base, and halfway through the season, she was put in as a pitcher.

“I pitched in some games. I wasn’t their starting pitcher, but the goal, for me personally, was to become the starting pitcher that year,” Coffman said. “So by the end of [my freshman] year, I was throwing more games, and then the next year I was the starting pitcher.”

At the end of her freshman year, Coffman received the Most Valuable Player award from Ball State.

Women’s Basketball Baseball

Ball State hosts Belmont in WBIT Cardinals travel to Toledo

After falling in the second round of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament to Kent State, Ball State women’s basketball will host Belmont in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT). This is the very first WBIT, a NCAA-run tournament. The game will be in Worthen Arena March 21 at 4 p.m.

Ball State baseball will head to Toledo March 22-24 to take on the Rockets in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. On March 22, the game will start at 3 p.m. For the March 23 game, it is slated to have its first pitch at 1 p.m. On Sunday, the final game in the series, will take place at 1 p.m. Currently, Ball State sits in ninth place in the MAC with a 1-5 record.

Gymnastics

Ball State hosts MAC Championships

Just one week after being named regular season champions, Ball State gymnastics will host the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships March 23. The Cardinals have a 14-4 record overall, and they are 5-1 in the MAC. Ball State is also undefeated in Worthen Arena this season (3-0). The competition will begin at 2 p.m.

Lauren Graham Reporter

a

Bernie Coffman concentrates as she pitches in her softball game in 1989. Coffman was named Ball State’s Female Athlete of the Decade by the MAC in 1990. BERNIE COFFMAN,PHOTOS PROVIDED OLIVIA GROUND, DN ILLUSTRATION; THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN DESIGNED USING ASSETS FROM FREEPIK.COM was named Athlete

‘

I NEVER WANT TO BE DONE’

While multiple former Cardinals have reached women’s professional sports, current Ball State athletes aim for the goal.

Zach Carter Associate Sports Editor

A Sports Illustrated post from March 9 shared news that Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark passed former Davidson men’s basketball — and current Golden State Warriors guard — Stephen Curry for the most 3-pointers made in a Division I basketball season. The first comment shot down this accomplishment because Curry played in the men’s league while Clark played in the women’s game, claiming the two were not on equal ground.

During International Women’s Day March 9, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) released a graphic to celebrate the occasion. The first comment read: “Who cares, the creator of Dragon Ball [Z] died today.”

It doesn’t matter what women’s league it is or what sport, a comment like the examples mentioned can often be found. How do the athletes who partake in the game feel? How do they handle the seemingly unfair and hateful criticism?

“As women in any industry, we know that we have to work harder, and we have to do better,” Stephanie White said. “The people making those comments — the guys who play at the YMCA or who may have played high school basketball — we understand where that comes from and the insecurity that it comes from.”

‘Cautiously Optimistic’

White, the head coach of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun – and 2023 Coach of the Year – grew up in the Hoosier state and was surrounded by basketball.

“There weren’t really opportunities [for women] when I was young to play professional basketball, so it wasn’t on my radar at all,” White said. “I think I was in the fifth grade when I said I wanted to play college basketball.”

She completed the goal by heading to Purdue University. In White’s junior season with the Boilermakers, the newly founded WNBA just wrapped its debut season.

“I’m not sure if I really grasped what the WNBA would become, but I certainly knew that there was a possibility for me to continue playing for a little while longer,” White said. “Like everybody else, it was ‘OK, is this going to be sustainable?’”

After a four-year career with the black and gold – in which she averaged double-digit points in every season, led them to the 1999 NCAA National Championship and was named the 1999 Big Ten Player of the Year– the guard was drafted by the Charlotte Sting with the No. 21 pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft.

Stephanie White watches the game against Illinois State Dec. 2, 2003, at Worthen Arena. White was an assistant coach for Ball State during the 2003-2004 season.

PROVIDED

To this day, White still remembers walking into places like the LA Forum and Madison Square Garden for the first time.

“Those were just some of the places that I had watched iconic games growing up,” she said. “I was playing in those arenas, and it was a surreal experience.”

After her first season in the league, an expansion draft was held due to multiple new teams being added to the organization. This allowed the Indiana Fever to acquire White.

“To be able to play at the next level in my home state and to be a part of the first team of the Indiana Fever, it was just awesome,” White said. “[For my family ] to be able to continue to watch me at the next level in my home state was pretty awesome.”

After five years of playing in the WNBA, White was offered to be an assistant coach for then Ball State women’s basketball head coach Tracey Roller. Once accepting the position, she tore her ACL.

“I had to rehab that whole year, but I remember the first time I stepped foot on the floor [as a coach],” she said. “I knew that coaching was what I wanted to do.”

After one season with Ball State, White made stops at Kansas State and Toledo as an assistant. However, she returned to the Fever as an assistant coach in 2011 and was a part of the 2012 WNBA Championship team.

“It was a lot like winning the national championship. It’s everything that you dream of as a kid: shooting in your backyard, counting down and trying to shoot the shot to win a championship,” White said. “For me, having come in and being a part of the franchise and having been a part of a lot of years where we weren’t very good, winning the championship was satisfying.”

During her four years with the Cardinals, Clephane averaged 11.8 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. When her senior season was dwindling, the idea of leaving basketball behind was one she could not fathom. After thinking about the professional game, she dove right in.

She received help from Ball State head coach Brady Sallee and associate head coach Audrey McDonald-Spencer. The pair helped Clephane attend a combine and find an agent. Once she received an offer from the Keiler Thunder in Australia, she was ready to begin her next basketball adventure.

During her time with Melbourne’s Big V Competition affiliate, Clephane realized how good the competition was, which only drove her to improve.

“It kind of took me by surprise because, obviously, I knew the competition was gonna be good,” she said. “But it was really, really good. From the very first game, I realized it was going to be a battle, but it was a lot of fun.”

However, when she went to Switzerland to play in the SB League, there were some tall tasks.

“That was pretty insane because my coach didn’t speak any English,” Clephane said. “The players didn’t speak much English, and I was under the impression there’d be some form of that. There wasn’t, and I can’t speak French, so it was really hard and isolating over there.”

While she had to jump through some hoops, the experience taught her an important lesson.

“I think it showed me how self-sufficient I can be,” she said. “Going to a different country, starting fresh and being able to carry on my basketball career somewhere else, it just shows me that I can really do whatever I set my mind to.”

To Clephane, the support and notoriety of

EVERY YEAR, IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE APPARENT THAT WOMEN’S SPORTS ARE HERE TO STAY. IT’S ENTERTAINING AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING ON BOARD... WHATEVER YOUR OPINION IS, PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO HAVE AN OPINION.”

- ANNA CLEPHANE, Former Ball State women’s basketball player

Since the accomplishment, White was the Fever’s head coach for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, leading the team to another WNBA Finals appearance. After a five-year head coaching stint at the University of Vanderbilt, she returned to the league in 2023 as the head coach of the Sun.

In her time with basketball, White believes the sports world has been more accepting of her peers than when she started.

“We know the people who do what we do, like the male athletes, who train the way we train,” White said. “We put our livelihoods on the line every time we train, so they get it. When you have allies that get it, it makes the trolls go off to the wayside.”

‘It was crazy’

While White’s professional career began 25 years ago, others just left the starting line. Former Ball State women’s basketball player Anna Clephane most recently began playing in Australia and Switzerland last year after leaving Muncie in the spring of 2023.

where I could go pro.”

Professional softball is bigger than some might think. In the United States, leagues like Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) are more popular. Yet, there are other leagues in places like China, and Timmons is not worried about traveling.

While Timmons is in no rush to go pro and plans on returning to Ball State for her fifth year, others are starting to take steps for their possibilities after college.

“I will take that opportunity and run with it,” Ball State women’s volleyball junior Megan Wielonski said. “Whether that’s with Team USA, which would be crazy cool, but I think playing professional volleyball here in the States would be awesome.”

Earlier this year, Wielonski attended the United States national team’s open tryouts February 23-25. During the event, she worked with other collegiate volleyball players from around the country who played in conferences like the Big Ten.

Redshirt senior Anna Clephane tries for a layup in a MAC Tournament Semi-final game against Bowling Green March 10, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cardinals went on to lose 70-61. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Redshirt-sophomore McKayla Timmons throws a ball in a game against Notre Dame April 4, 2023, at Melissa Cook Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Timmons went 0 - for - 3 at the plate. BRAYDEN GOINS, DN

It wasn’t until 1996 that women were inducted into

Ball State’s Hall of Fame.

1996

Continued from Page 05

After college, Coffman started working in hospitals analyzing data for them.

Coffman co-founded her own data analytics company, Sixth Sense, which does analytics for smaller hospitals across the country.

Coffman said she is able to do work remotely, which benefits her because she’s able to watch her children’s baseball games and tennis matches.

Coffman is still active in the sports community.

“[Right after college,] I ran my own pitching business for 10 years,” Coffman said. “Now I’m doing pickleball, and I walk three to five miles a day…I try to stay very active. I liked volleyball a lot, so I played volleyball leagues. I don’t do that anymore… I don’t want to injure myself. I ran a marathon, so it’s been a lot of running… I did triathlons for a while.”

Brooke (Bauer) Gabris

Brooke Gabris focused on both gymnastics and diving when she was in high school.

Gabris also said she participated in slow-pitch softball, rollerblading and skateboarding.

“I didn’t do winter sports because I was always in a competitive season,” Gabris said.“When I got to high school I decided the seasons didn’t overlap, so I could do both.”

Gabris said although she was very busy attending classes, studying, going to practices and competing at meets, her diving coach, Laura Siebold-Caudill, worked around Gabris’ schedule to provide her with some extra support.

Gabris emphasized that Siebold-Caudill greatly impacted her while she competed at Ball State. She said her most memorable interaction with Siebold-Caudill was before her last dive in a meet at Northern Illinois. She said the stakes were high, and she had the potential to take the lead with a great dive.

“I just remember having a conversation on the deck with Laura. What it was all about, I have no idea, but her enthusiasm just radiates,” Gabris said. “I really appreciate that she spent so much time with me, but her enthusiasm radiated confidence and her willingness to do the extra practices with me.”

Gabris went on to coach a year at Illinois State University for its women’s diving team. Then, she coached men’s and women’s diving at Kenyon College before coaching and teaching at Hinsdale South High School for a year.

Then, for the next 15 years or so, Gabris taught and coached diving for Libertyville High School. She then moved on to coach diving and teach at Vernon Hills High School.

Bonita (Harrington) Neal

Bonita Neal began practicing her high jump in her physical education class in elementary school.

“[In elementary school,] we didn’t have a high jump pit,” Neal said. “We had Styrofoam in these big nets and sand. Not the pit like you normally see

in the track; it was kind of dangerous when you think about that.”

Once she got to high school, she continued to compete in the high jump, but she also competed in some relays for track as well as volleyball and basketball.

“We’re talking 40-some years ago… [and women’s sports] weren’t as prominent,” Neal said. “My older brother used to laugh at me — laugh at the way I would jump into the pit and all of that. And I was like, ‘OK, that’s fine. I’ll show you one day.’”

Neal was offered an athletic scholarship to Ball State after being the reigning city champion in the high jump for her entire high school career.

My older brother used to laugh at me — laugh at the way I would jump into the pit and all of that. And I was like, ‘OK, that’s fine. I’ll show you one day.”

- BONITA NEAL, High jumper

Neal said her first two years competing at Ball State were average. She gave herself her junior year to do the best she could in order to see if she wanted to stick with the high jump.

Her junior year, 1983, was the year she placed fourth in the NCAA championship and her first year as an All-American.

Neal also competed in the 1983 Olympic Festival at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She went on to receive a silver medal for her performance there.

“It was a surreal experience,” Neal said.

She also recorded a personal record of 6-feet-1 and ¼ inches, but, at the time of this achievement, Neal wasn’t representing Ball State. The highest recorded jump for Neal in Ball State history was 6-foot ½ inch in 1984.

Neal majored in Special Education at Ball State. She student-taught at a local school while at Ball State and, following her graduation, went back to work for the school until the students she had taught graduated.

Neal then worked at Purdue University for four years as a youth educator who worked with urban programming and 4-H.

After her fourth year, she got her counseling license and took a job as a counselor in her current Indianapolis school district. She worked there for more than 30 years and retired in the spring of 2022, but she still works part-time at Lawrence Central and Lawrence North High School.

1996 HoF

Coffman, Gabris and Neal all emphasized that it was an honor to be inducted into Ball State’s Hall of Fame.

first [women to be inducted], it was exciting. Just that they even thought about and picked me, that was cool. I was honored and humbled by it.”

Coffman spoke about how when she was playing softball at Ball State, her team didn’t have a scoreboard on their field. So, one of her professors donated an electronic scoreboard for the softball team.

“That was probably the most equitable thing that I remember. It was a really neat experience,” Coffman said.

Gabris emphasized how much she has seen women’s sports progress throughout her life; from playing to coaching.

“In my early days, getting into high school, [women’s sports] did not have the established leagues,” Gabris said. “The guys always had their conferences, we didn’t have all that, we didn’t necessarily have all the sports. We didn’t have all the teachings. So then fast forward, I became a physical education teacher and health teacher and a diving coach at high school level [for] 35 years, and I watched how the equity came through.”

Contact Lauren Graham via email lauren. graham@bsu.edu.

A collage of Brooke Gabris diving into the water in 1984. Gabris went on to coach diving at Illinois State University, Kenyon College, Hinsdale South High School, Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High School. BALL STATE DIGITAL MEDIA REPOSITORY, PHOTO PROVIDED

Bonita Neal speaking at the Hall of Fame ceremony April 14,1996. BONITA NEAL, PHOTO PROVIDED

the

Muncie’s Scenes Women Behind

Courtney Jarrett and the Muncie Notable Women Project preserve the memory of women in Muncie’s history.

12

Muncie Friends Church’s Quaker Women’s Circle is hosting a bake sale March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The four-hour event will sell homemade snacks and baked goods to prepare for the Easter season and to welcome spring. The event is open to the public at the church, 418 W. Adams St., Muncie, Indiana.

‘Quaker Bakery’ over the weekend Easter Egg Hunt at Minnetrista

There will be an Easter egg hunt and sale for glass eggs at Minnetrista March 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Oakhurst Gardens. The event is free, but if you don’t want to hunt for an egg, one can be purchased at the Ed Center for $20. The glass eggs are a part of their annual spring glass sale in partnership with the Ball State University Glass Guild.

Community Community Campus

Student production at Cave Theatre

“Don’t Unlock the Door,” a mystery play written by Craig Sodora and directed by Erin Takahashi, will be performed at Cave Studio Theatre March 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. and March 23-24 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door, available throught the College of Fine Arts Box Office, tix.com or 765285-8749.

A mockup of Courtney Jarrett’s book “Muncie Women A-Z”. Jarrett designed the cover herself.

COURTNEY JARRETT, GRAPHIC PROVIDED; MEGHAN HOLT, DN DESIGN; THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN DESIGNED USING ASSETS FROM FREEPIK.COM

BEYOND THE BADGE

Take an inside look at the history of Girl Scouts and the scouts who made history.

In March

1912 1912

Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girls Scouts in Savannah, Georgia

Famous Girl Scouts

Take a look at some of the notable Girl Scouts in history.

Athletes

Billie Jean King

Serena Williams

Venus Williams

Journalists

Robin Roberts

Barbara Walters

Judy Woodruff

National Leaders

Madeleine Albright*

Jill Biden

Laura Bush

Hillary Clinton*

Nikki Haley

Condoleezza Rice*

*every female Secretary of State in U.S. History is a Girl Scout Alum

Musicians

18 girls were in the first Girl Scout troop

Actors

Kristen Bell

Carrie Fisher

Keke Palmer

Gwyneth Paltrow

Reese Witherspoon

Mariah Carey

Kelly Clarkson

Queen Latifah

Madonna

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Businesswomen/ Entrepreneurs

Mary Barra

Pamela Bell

Sarah Kauss

I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful,considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place and be a sister to every Girl Scout.”

- GIRL SCOUT LAW

Martha Stewart

Through the Years

1944

The United States launched a “Liberty Ship” named the SS Juliette Low.

1948

The United States Post Office releases a three-cent stamp to honor Juliette Gordon Low.

Sarah Kauss owners were

Elementary schools in Savannah, Ga., Arlington, Ill. and Anaheim, Calif., are named in her honor

The Georgia State Capitol creates a bust of her in her honor.

53%

A timeline of Juliette Gordon Low’s honors and impact as the founder of Girl Scouts.

1954 1974 1979 1983

Gordon Low is inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

President Ronald Reagan named a federal building complex in Savannah in honor of her*

*only the second structure in the United States named after a woman

Girl Scout Ranks

There are more than Girl Scout alumni

Daisies

Kindergarten and first grade

Brownies

Gordon Low is inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement.

Second and third grade

Juniors

Fourth and fifth grade

Cadettes

Sixth through eighth grade

1992 2005 2012

Gordon Low is honored with a historical marker in the Points of Light monument in Washington, D.C.

Gordon Low is posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

In August

1912

1912

the first Girl Scout troop in Indiana was organized in Crothersville, a town in Jackson County

Seniors

Ninth and 10th grade

Ambassadors

11th and 12th grade

Many women in Muncie’s history have been important to the community–

Courtney

Arianna Lessner Reporter

Jarrett and the Notable Women of Muncie and Delaware County Project aim to solidify their impact in writing.

They’re integral to our society — mothers, wives, sisters, friends. Women do important things every day, just like everyone else.

Unfortunately, women often fall through the cracks when it comes to recognition. Courtney Jarrett is trying to change that with “Muncie Women: A to Z,” her new children’s book about important past and present women in the Muncie community.

Jarrett, a history major at Ball State University in 2004, was learning for the first time about women who often did important things behind the scenes without recognition, and it frustrated her.

“When I came to college, I didn’t really know anything about [women and gender studies]. I didn’t know the word ‘feminism’ until that point,” Jarrett said. “I’ve learned about a lot of presidents and a lot of wars and random people, but it was just a little bit disheartening to me that it took until being a junior in college before I got to know [about these women].”

Now the director of Ball State Disability Services and an affiliate faculty member of the women, gender and African American studies department, Jarrett is now in a position where she can make sure other children do not grow up unaware as she did. Though it proved to be difficult, she chose to write stories of notable women in the form of a children’s book to teach kids about the same kind of women in their own community.

Jarrett used this opportunity to give recognition to the women who built the Muncie community

The underlying theme of the book is that none of these women really sought out to [have] celebrity status.”

- COURTNEY JARRETT, Author of “Muncie Women: A to Z”

and those who currently support it. “Muncie Women: A to Z” tells the story of 26 women in Muncie’s history, both past and present, who have impacted the community in some way.

“I have a different woman that I’ve written about whose last name corresponds with one of the letters of the alphabet,” she said. “I want the women to be recognized and known for the work that they’re doing to make Muncie and Delaware County and Ball State, in some instances, a better place to be and live,” Jarrett said.

The small things people do for others can be just as impactful as the large things that make people go down in history. Those who built communities, both literally and figuratively, affect daily lives. Unfortunately, credit isn’t always given where credit is due, which Jarrett aims to change with her book.

Director of Ball State Disability Services Courtney Jarrett poses for a photo Feb. 29 at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Jarrett is the author of “Muncie Women: A to Z,” a children’s book about important past and present women in the Muncie community. MYA CATALINE, DN

“The underlying theme of the book is that none of these women really sought out to [have] celebrity status,” she said. “They’re really just quietly volunteering or doing work in our community that supports other people and raises awareness and does all kinds of things, and that’s just as important as somebody who is President of the United States or won a big battle.”

For example, Elizabeth Agnew, who teaches religious studies at Ball State, worked in Middle Eastern countries. She helped spread awareness about women’s issues and religious freedom in places where this education is rare to come by. Specifically, she encourages student engagement with the Islamic Center of Muncie and works with the Ball State Center for Peace and Conflict Studies.

“Building bridges that connect academic and community learning has been a valuable aspect of my work at Ball State — for me and for the students with whom I’ve worked,” Agnew said via email.

Christy Blanche not only owns Aw Yeah Comics, a comic store on Charles Street but writes comics and graphic novels herself, in addition to interviewing all kinds of celebrities at Comic-Con. She was even friends with Stan Lee.

As role models, Blanche looked up to Princess

Leia, Ellen Ripley and Diana Prince. Even though fictional, these women had a large impact on her — not larger than her mother’s, though, who supported Blanche’s dreams and always believed in her.

“It’s an amazing honor [to be featured in ‘Muncie Women: A to Z’]. It means even more now that I have grandchildren that I adore, and they can read it,” Blanche said via email. “I hope somehow it may inspire them or at least make them proud.”

You can read American history, like Pearl Harbor, big events from history, and then you find out about these women from Muncie who were in these big events.”

- MELISSA GENTRY, Co-founder of Notable Women of Muncie and Delaware County Project

A poster of the history of women in a timeline Feb. 29 at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Jarrett had a variety of women’s history posters displayed around her office. MYA CATALINE, DN

Jarrett even leaves space for the women we don’t know about, give recognition to or who she did not have the space to write about. “Jane X” is left as a placeholder to draw attention to the women who are lost to history, which we will never know about because those who lived at their time did not think they were significant enough to immortalize.

Unfortunately, this mindset still plagues women’s minds.

“I can’t tell you how many times I heard, ‘Why me? Why are you picking me?’” Jarrett recalled. “For that reason — that you think that the things you do every day aren’t important or meaningful.”

This mindset may be passed on to future generations as well if the lack of representation for women in the media continues.

According to humanium.org, the way children perceive the world is largely affected by the media they consume. They learn to understand their reality by the way it is represented in the media. If children never see people who look or act like them in the media, they may see themselves in a more negative light.

“For instance, research shows that a lack of representation in media can lead to negative psychological outcomes for those with identities that are underrepresented or negatively portrayed,” humanium.org shows.

Not only does Jarrett make information available about the women in Muncie, but by aiming this book toward children, she also provides a way for young girls all over Delaware County to see themselves as impactful women from their own hometown.

“In our world, we seem to hear a lot about male accomplishments, so I do think it’s very important for books like this to exist,” Blanche said via email. “Especially in that these are local women that these children can meet or possibly even know already!”

Contact Arianna Lessner with comments at arianna.lessner@ bsu.edu.

About a Black child who wears their hair naturally.

About a young, transgender boy.

About a deaf girl and her deaf grandmother.

About a young Native American girl.

About a biracial girl who learns about her Japanese culture.

About a young boy with a stutter.

A mockup of Courtney Jarrett’s book “Muncie Women A-Z. Jarrett designed the cover herself. COURTNEY JARRETT, GRAPHIC.

JESSICA

Keeping with Tradition

Keeping with Tradition

The American Legion Auxiliary has carried on traditions and values of founding members for over a century.

Ella Howell Associate Lifestyles Editor and Copy Editor

During World War I, women in the United States stepped up to fill the gaps from those who left to fight for their country. Upon their loved one’s return, the motivation to continue the support for their country and their veterans didn’t diminish.

Shortly after the creation of the American Legion in 1919, the decision was made to implement a sister organization known as the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA).

Today, the ALA has its own identity, separate from the legion, expanding its reach by working alongside American Legion members to serve each other and their community, according to its website.

American Legions are referred to as posts, while ALA groups are units. Unit 19 is the local Muncie ALA, and the American Legion, where they meet, is post 19.

The two organizations have different charters, and resources are separate. But this individualization isn’t the only thing that has changed in the ALA in the past century.

The ALA was a female-only group for 100 years. In 2019, the decision was made to allow men to join, but with a few stipulations: only male spouses of veterans or service members are eligible to join, if they served from April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, or after Dec. 7, 1941, according to the ALA guidelines.

Unit 19 was established for local women and daughters of legion members March 1926, according to the Ball State University archives, and currently has almost 100 members, ranging from age 2 to their oldest active member, who’s in her 80s.

Because it is a more recent addition to eligibility, unit 19 doesn’t have any official male members yet.

Carol Skeel has been a member of the ALA for 21 years and holds multiple leadership positions with the local unit.

so we take our profits, and we will help our veterans if they need transportation, if they need help with utility bills or if they need help with any of the necessities of life,” Skeel said.

One tradition the organization has carried on since 1924 is its poppy distribution. At the end of World War I, poppies began to thrive. It is assumed that this is a result of the lime from the rubble of war enriching the soil.

The red poppy became the symbol of “blood shed by those who fought and those who continue to fight for our country.” This is a result of the poem “In Flanders Field,” which was written on the frontline to honor soldiers who died in battle, according to the ALA.

When somebody is out, we’re there. It doesn’t matter what it is, where it’s at.”

- KARLA SMITH, ALA member of 22 years.

Members don’t sell the poppies, but many choose to exchange donations for the red flowers.

“May is National Poppy Month, and we set them out all year round in little poppy jars,” Skeel said. “We set them out and take donations, which go in the poppy fund, and it’s only to help veterans and veterans’ families.”

A lot of the funds raised go toward the veterans hospitals, the Marion Veterans Affair (VA) and the Richmond VA.

“All of the auxiliaries do this, but we take a lot of our funds and we get them Christmas presents for the veterans, we do goodie carts for the veterans, anything that a veteran might need. The government, a lot of times, doesn’t provide certain things,” Skeel said.

“Of course, the ALA is [patriotic], but a lot of us are extremely patriotic. We love our country, and we try to do everything for the soldiers who protect our country,” Skeel said.

ALA Unit 19 does a lot of fundraising to support veterans and their families. They host events like monthly dinners and raffles to make extra money.

“We’re not for profit,

Kay Jones has been a member of the ALA for 20 years. Her late husband, David Jones, was a Ball State University graduate and a member of the Air Force and American Legion.

“It’s very much not just patriotic, but it becomes a part of your life. It really does,” Jones said.

Karla Smith comes from a military family and has been an ALA member for 22 years.

“When somebody is out, we’re there. It doesn’t matter what it is [or] where it’s at. I was at my brother’s death bed arranging a funeral dinner for

another member’s father, so you do what you have to do when you have to do it,” Smith said.

All three women feel at home within the 104-year-old operation. They look at ALA Unit 19 as a family. They support both veterans and their fellow members in the work they do, emulating the women who established the organization.

Skeel appreciates the “extreme” sense of family and the opportunity to support those who have sacrificed so much for their country.

“Our family has had some bad times, some people passed away, some people are very ill, but we all pull together and help the other people,” Skeel said.

Some veterans and veterans’ families in the organization don’t have a family, which can be especially diffi cult around holidays. No American Legion or Auxiliary member has to

spend them alone.

“Probably 30 percent of our members have no family. We are their family,” Smith said. “I can guarantee you, they may not come, but every veteran here who doesn’t have a family is invited to one of our houses for a meal.”

The women of ALA Unit 19 sacrifice their time, money and energy to show their support for veterans.

“I think it’s family, I think it’s patriotism,” Smith said. “We all support our military, we all support our veterans and we all support each other.”

While the ALA has adapted to resemble more modern practices, the women of unit 19 share the same love for their country and dedication to veterans as the women who came before them. Contact Ella Howell with comments at ella. howell@bsu.edu.

The sign by the entrance of the American Legion March 14 in Muncie, Indiana. The women of the American Legion Auxiliary also meet at post 19. ELLA HOWELL, DN

Members of the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), Karla Smith (left), Carol Skeel (middle) and Kay Jones (right) pose for a photo March 11 at the American Legion. All three women have been members of the ALA for over 20 years. ELLA HOWELL, DN

KYLIE CLAYTON, DN ILLUSTRATION

The path of the ERA is full of obstacles, but its supporters refuse to give up on equality.

Scarlet Gallagher

“Sprouting Thoughts”

Scarlet Gallagher is a first-year international business major and writes “Sprouting Thoughts” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

I don’t have enough fingers to count how many times I’ve heard someone claim that there is already gender equality for women. Unfortunately, true gender equality doesn’t exist in the United States and many other places in the world. Change is needed, and one way of achieving change comes in the form of a proposed constitutional amendment.

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has a long and complicated history. The amendment was first introduced to Congress in 1923, and the first version of it was written by Alice Paul — a suffragist and women’s rights activist, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

Columnist,

MEGHAN HOLT, DN ILLUSTRATION

The ERA has had the long-lasting purpose of constitutionalizing gender equality. It would ensure the rights of more than 167.5 million American women, as well as nonbinary, transgender and gendernonconforming individuals.

In 2022, the Archivist of the United States, David S. Ferriero, found himself in the middle of a heated disagreement between supporters and opponents of the ERA over the publication of the amendment. As Archivist, it was his responsibility to publish and certify amendments once they were ratified.

Supporters of the ERA believed it had met the qualifications to be published while its opponents felt it had not. In an interview with C-Span, Ferriero took the side of those in opposition to the ERA’s publication, stating, “The time limit has expired … so that’s a constitutional question.” It was a question he felt he couldn’t answer.

U.S. Archivist Ferriero, who retired in early 2022, was succeeded by Colleen Shogan, who became the first woman to be appointed to the position, according to the National Archives. She echoed her predecessor’s stance on the ERA during her nomination hearing, deeming it outside of the role of an Archivist and stating she would not publish the amendment until the constitutional issues were resolved.

In the time since its first introduction, the ERA has yet to become part of United States law. It has faced opposition on several fronts — from both men and women — and it wasn’t successfully approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate until the 1970s.

After being approved, the ERA still needed ratification by the states. For a constitutional amendment to be ratified, three-fourths of the U.S. (38 states) are required to ratify it into the Constitution.

Up until 1977, only 35 states had approved the amendment. In 1978, Congress voted to extend the deadline until mid-1982.

However, no more states voted “yes” in the years to follow. There has been a continued push for the 15 remaining states to ratify the ERA. Article V of the Constitution does not give Congress the power to impose time limits on ratification, which supporters of the ERA believed meant the ratification requirements would still be met if 38 states voted yes.

It wasn’t until January 15, 2020, that the 38th state, Virginia, finally ratified the amendment.

The 38-state requirement had been met. However, political opponents of the ERA have used the limit — among other concerns — as their main point of focus in refusing to publish the amendment.

There has been pushback to the ERA since its conception, with groups like “STOP ERA” mobilizing to oppose it. According to the Bill of Rights Institute, the group claimed the amendment would destroy protections for women regarding issues like alimony and

child custody and was concerned with how the ERA would disrupt the “family unit” and other traditional hierarchies in society.

As another form of fear-mongering, “STOP ERA” also used the military draft as a scare tactic and claimed women would be drafted if the ERA passed.

In reality, the Constitution itself does nothing to prevent women from being included in the draft — it only briefly mentions conscription, not specifying any ages or genders prohibited from it. Additionally, adding women to the draft has almost happened on several occasions, including during World War II, according to the Selective Service System.

This means there should still be 38 states that have ratified the amendment, which means it should meet the requirement for constitutional ratification.

The ERA is a very important piece of legislation — one still needed today. Having equality under the law nationwide would be a powerful step toward removing the barriers at hand. Protecting women legally will lead to further social change and gender equality.

Women still face discrimination men don’t have to worry about or even realize exists.

The ERA has been pushed back for more than a century. But the continuance of gender inequality clearly shows why legislation like this is so crucial.

It comes to light in many forms: dismissal of serious health issues and pain as hysteria or being overdramatic, low representation in politics and leadership roles in the workplace, occupational segregation discouraging women from working in many fields and industries, and social expectations for women to carry additional burdens like housework and childcare that are not seen as a man’s responsibility.

According to the Pew Research Center, women make up only 28 percent of the current 118th Congress session members, and it is at the highest percentage in history. Women and their interests are not equally represented in the federal government.

Women are also discouraged from working in some fields entirely. According to the American Association of University Women, gendered expectations and stereotypes influence children from the time they start school, influencing what classes, extracurriculars, and eventually college majors and careers they choose. It is easy to think of examples of stereotypical male and female jobs — fireman, policeman, salesman, chairman, maid, nanny, washerwoman, midwife.

Since this is the case, it is better to ensure equal legal protection for all genders than to hesitate on account of the draft.

There is another complication to the ERA’s ratification.

Five of the 38 states that ratified it have since voted to withdraw their ratification of the amendment. While it’s a problem still being considered, there was a legal precedent established during the ratification of the 14th Amendment that determined an attempt to withdraw ratification is not legally valid, according to the Alice Paul Institute’s ERA website.

Article V of the Constitution only mentions the power of ratification the states hold but says nothing about the power to rescind ratification. In previous cases, states attempting to rescind ratification were dismissed.

The history of the Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment is first introduced to Congress by Kansas Senator Charles Curtis and Kansas Representative Daniel R. Anthony, Jr.

The ERA is approved without amendments by the House of Representatives.

The National Organization for Women (NOW) pursues an extension of the ratification deadline.

The social expectations outside of work differ as well. According to a Sage Publications journal article, “Although women’s housework hours have declined in recent years, women continue to do more housework in most households, even those where women’s earnings are the same as or greater than their husbands.”

I have heard men praised as if they have done something incredible just for doing something women are often expected to do.

Most medical research has historically been done solely on men, with the results being assumed to also apply to women, according to a women’s health report published in the National Library of Medicine.

This has led to inaccurate diagnoses and the mishandling of health issues, which can sometimes prove fatal. Research on everything from medication side effects and dosage levels to seatbelts in cars is skewed toward male subjects, placing women at higher risk of harm.

4See COEQUALITY, 18

The ERA is approved without changes by the Senate, and a sevenyear deadline is set for ratification.

The first congressionally funded National Women’s Conference takes place, and delegates from all 50 states call for the ratification of the ERA.

The House of Representatives approves the deadline extension for the ERA in August, followed by the Senate in October. The new deadline is set for June 30, 1982. 12 rescission bills opponents of the ERA attempt to pass are defeated.

The ERA is reintroduced in Congress but fails to pass in the House of Representatives.

The extended deadline for the ERA arrives, and the ERA is three states short of ratification.

The ERA is reintroduced into each session of Congress and ends up held in committee, so the bill dies each time.

The ERA Coalition urges the Archivist to publish the ERA.

Phyllis Schafly establishes STOP ERA.

of things SWING Back in the

Softball hosted Ohio in its home opener while baseball hosted its second series of the season against Bowling Green.

NEVER DONE

Continued from Page 07

Even if she wasn’t to make the team, the tryout gave her a pretty good perspective on what pro volleyball looks like. With the announcement of the Professional Volleyball Federation — which will have an Indianapolis-based team in 2025 — chances for athletes like Wielonski grow every year.

“It just continues to spark a lot of interest from a lot of people around here,” she said. “Volleyball is super prominent here, so I think if that opportunity were to arise, it would be just even cooler to go on to play in this area.”

Even though White, Clephane, Timmons and Wielonski are at different stages of their athletic careers, they all have the same advice for someone who wants to go pro.

“The sky’s the limit,” Clephane said. “You can really do whatever you set your heart out to do. There’s no restrictions if you just try your hardest.”

Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.

COEQUALITY

Continued from Page 17

The 2022 KFF Women’s Health Survey found that 29 percent of women from age 18 to 64 who saw a healthcare provider in the past two years reported their concerns were dismissed by their doctor.

Women are told they are overbearing, dramatic and hysterical. Assumptions are made about their health. It shouldn’t take years of pain and neardeath experiences to receive treatment.

It’s immensely important to realize how significant the ERA is to a great multitude of facets of life. It can prevent discrimination in employment and the medical community, as well as squash stereotypes women oftentimes face.

Decisions need to be formally made by the Supreme Court and Congress about the validity of the time limit and the recessions — both still controversial in their constitutionality and with conflicting historical precedents.

More than a century of work has already been put into the current ERA, and restarting the process could require another century of it.

The ERA has been pushed back for more than a century. But the continuance of gender inequality clearly shows why legislation like this is so crucial.

The path forward to greater gender equality will need to ensure the enshrinement of equal rights, protecting them from future attacks.

Contact Scarlet Gallagher with comments at samantha.gallagher@bsu.edu.

Graduate student infield Haley Wynn is circled by the Cardinals during a game against Ohio March 16 at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Wynn helped the Cardinals earn three points with teammates on bases in the sixth inning. KATE TILBURY, DN

Sophomore outfield Ashlee Lovett sprints off of home base to first base for a walk against Ohio March 16 at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Lovett singled to center field during the fourth inning. KATE TILBURY, DN

Junior pitcher Lucas Letsinger pitches to Bowling Green March 15 at First Merchants Ball Park Complex. Letsinger was the second pitcher used for Ball State during the game against Bowling Green. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN

Senior outfielder Nick Gregory celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against Bowling Green March 15 at First Merchants Ball Park Complex. Gregory hit his home run in the sixth inning. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN

Crossword & Sudoku

ACROSS

1 Caught wind of

6 Helpless?

10 French friends

14 Get along

15 Rotten to the core

16 Fender flaw

17 Tap options?

19 Disney princess whose gown is adorned with snowflakes

20 “I’m so dumb!”

21 Lessen, as pressure

23 Slumber party wear, for short

25 Poker options?

28 Time-stamp component

30 Like oyster shooters

31 90 degrees from sur

32 Start of many long weekends

35 Academic figure

37 Flower options?

41 German automaker once owned by General Motors

42 Emotional baggage

45 Hawk’s claw

49 __ Speedwagon

51 Upgrade a gravel driveway, say

52 Mouth options?

56 SoCal airport

57 Big citrus

58 Lipstick mishap

60 Luminescence

61 Boxing options?

66 Forearm bone

67 Field of study

68 Huevos rancheros condiment

69 Overly inquisitive

70 Baking amt.

71 Fix, as text

DOWN

1 Scoffer’s laugh

2 Psychoanalysis subject

3 Like one who can really draw a crowd?

4 Audition (for)

5 “Tree of Smoke” novelist Johnson

6 Pie chart slice

7 Ab __: from the beginning

8 Short, for short

9 Of yesteryear

10 “__ Fideles”

11 Wild brawls

12 Slight

13 Rice, in some cuisine

18 “I’m so dumb!”

22 Mortal lover of Aphrodite and Persephone

23 Common email attachment

24 Preserves preserver

26 Imitates a penguin

SOLUTIONS FOR MARCH 14

27 Wowed

29 Part of a 35-Across’s address

33 Lacking a musical key

34 Terrier’s bark

36 “Midsommar“ filmmaker Aster

38 Unhip type

39 Uncanny ability, for short 40 Job for an actor playing identical twins, say

43 “Hadestown” Tony nominee Noblezada

44 Possible reason for an R rating

45 1986 movie partly filmed at San Diego’s Air Station Miramar

46 “The Trials of __“: Rick Riordan series based on Greek myths

47 Small citrus

48 Like freeway ramps

50 ”Nice burn!”

53 Greet silently

54 Actress Thurman

55 On edge

59 “Ferrari” actor Driver

62 Scepter top

63 Director Anderson

64 Gp. featured in 45-Down 65 Skosh