‘Take care of them’
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VOL. 104 ISSUE: 14
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CORRECTION
In the Nov. 07 issue of the Ball State Daily News, the photo caption on pg. 08 should say “shooting guard,” not “shotguard.” On pg. 09, Lilly Sylvester’s first name should be spelled Lilly, not Lily.
To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
Trump appoints key cabinet members
Nov. 13: President-elect Donald Trump has filled key positions in his second-term cabinet, putting an emphasis on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign, according to the Associated Press (AP). Trump has filled 15 positions as of Nov. 13, including Elise Stefanik as United Nations ambassador and Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Trump also appointed Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense. Hegseth, co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend,” developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show, according to AP.
Age verification for porn sites leads to lawsuit
Nov. 12: Indiana lawmakers approved Senate Enrolled Act 17, requiring pornography websites to verify user ages, earlier this year, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle. The companies said it would be costly to implement and violate First Amendment and privacy rights. Eleven adult content companies and a trade organization say the state of Indiana’s discovery requests in an age verification lawsuit are “invasive” and “harassing,” prompting Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office to dismiss the allegations of overreach as “outlandish.” The nearly dozen plaintiffs, which include Pornhub’s parent company Aylo, want a federal judge to pause discovery until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on a similar case or to extend deadlines several months.
Cruz elected to AVCA Board of Directors
Nov. 9: Ball State men’s volleyball head coach Donan Cruz was elected as one of eight Division 1 head coaches on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Board of Directors. The AVCA was founded in 1981 with the mission to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development. Cruz started as the Cardinal’s head coach in 2022, leading Ball State to both Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) regular season and tournament titles that season and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, earning him AVCA National Coach of the Year honors.
TNS, PHOTO PROVIDED
INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE, PHOTO PROVIDED
AMBER PIETZ, DN
‘Incredible learning experience’
State
Indiana
to have first execution since 2009
Indiana’s first execution since 2009, set for Dec. 18, will exclude media witnesses, according to Indiana Capitol Chronicle. Joseph Corcoran, convicted of four 1997 murders, will receive a pentobarbital injection. Critics argue media presence ensures transparency and accountability.
Local
Childern’s art exhibition opening
Minnetrista Museums and Gardens is opening an innovative exhibition Nov. 16 in partnership with Ball State University’s School of Art featuring glasswork that is inspired by designs from students and children in the Muncie community. The exhibition will be open through Feb. 9, according to a press release.
National
A record 13 women will be governors
Professor Caitlyn Placek receives the Fulbright Scholar Award for research examining how different populations treat addiction. 04
The election of Republican Kelly Ayotte as New Hampshire’s governor means 13 women will serve as a state’s chief executive next year, breaking the record of 12 set after the 2022 elections. 18 states have never had a woman in the governor’s office, according to the Associated Press.
Ball State professor Caitlyn Placek poses for a photo Nov. 5 outside the Burkhardt Building on Ball State’s campus. Placek’s research project focused on women and their recovery journey through addiction and educated others on the topic of struggle with addiction and motherhood. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Maya Kim Reporter
Older Hoosiers are left vulnerable after
the
end of the COVID-19 Medicaid protocol.
and didn’t reapply. As of October, 13,598 Hoosiers were on the waitlist to get their Medicaid approved, according to the Indiana FSSA website.
It has been almost four years since the COVID-19 pandemic sent the world into a frenzy. Yet, some are still feeling the long-term effects of COVID-19, specifically older adults who require assisted living or specialized care.
People who need financial aid to live in assisted living homes typically apply for Medicaid and get approval. For people who rely on Medicaid to stay in assisted living, reapplying each year is the only way to continue their stay.
However, when the U.S. was in a declared state of emergency during the pandemic, people with Medicaid didn’t need to reapply. Now, four years post-pandemic, older Hoosiers must return to the traditional process of reapplying for Medicaid, according to Indiana Medicaid for Members.
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) made a budgeting error earlier this year, resulting in a $1 billion shortfall in funds for Medicaid, according to the Associated Press.
Due to the budget shortfall, the FSSA created a waiting list for people needing Medicaid to release funds slowly. However, many of those on Medicaid were unaware of the reapproval process
who are struggling with this issue, but methods of improvisation won’t hold up long-term.
Many residents in Indiana do not have family, so they’re letting themselves deteriorate. And yes, they’ll pass — sad but true.”
-
JOE COLLINS, Silver Birch Living executive director
Joe Collins, executive director of Silver Birch Living, an assisted living community for older people in Muncie, said the FSSA approves around 800 people on the waitlist per month. This means some people wait an entire year to get their Medicaid approved. Collins said his staff is working with Silver Birch residents
“We work with [the residents] as much as we can,” Collins said. “We’ll make these allowances for you until you can get your Medicaid waiver back. But, ultimately, if they can’t get it back in place, no waiver, unfortunately [means] businesses can’t absorb.”
Collins said there has been a 48 percent reduction in resident admissions per month from April to August of this year. About 10 Silver Birch residents are expecting to lose their waivers in the next six months, and 50 residents have lost their waivers and cannot pay.
Under the current structure of the Medicaid waitlist, there will be people who go without muchneeded care for months. Their options are either to wait or potentially go into debt and pay more than they would in assisted living by choosing to go to a nursing home. Collins said those who will wait have a higher fatality rate as they become more susceptible to injury.
“Many residents in Indiana do not have family, so they’re letting themselves deteriorate. And yes, they’ll pass — sad but true,” he said.
Collins also said multiple older adults are dealing with debilitating health issues that would be well cared for in a place like Silver Birch. However, these people cannot access assisted living services due to being stuck on the Medicaid waitlist.
Roni W. has been living at Silver Birch for five weeks and had her Medicaid approved earlier this year, but an unexpected illness forced her to go to the hospital. After her hospital visit, Roni was put right back on the Medicaid waitlist, where she had to go 60 days without another trip to the hospital.
Silver Birch resident Joyce H. talks to a reporter in her living space Oct. 15 at Silver Birch Living in Muncie, Ind. Those living in assisted living housing have to reapply to Medicaid yearly to stay at the facilities. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Call your state representatives, speak with the FSSA and express why it needs to be taken care of. These are the people in their golden years … We should be trying to take care of them in the ways that we can.”
- AMBER GREENE, Communications director for the
Roni’s family and the staff at Silver Birch helped her reapply for Medicaid.
“I’m 73, and here I am. Not in a million years did I ever think I would be in this position where I would have to apply for Medicaid [and] have that special kind of help,” Roni said.
Silver Birch resident Joyce H. has not had trouble receiving Medicaid this year but knows of many other residents who have. Joyce has been at Silver Birch for over a year and said the Silver Birch staff has been available to assist her 24/7.
“I know a couple of the residents have confided in me that because their waiver hasn’t come through; they have spent the money they had saved,” Joyce said. “Now, it’s causing them to have a little bit of debt, and they’re concerned about it.”
In September, Silver Birch celebrated Assisted Living Week, where residents and staff reflected on the facility’s history during each decade of its service.
During this time of reflection, staff members heard residents voice concerns about potentially losing their Medicaid coverage. Silver Birch asked residents if they were interested in having a protest to voice their concerns to the public. Many of the residents wanted to be involved.
To Collin’s surprise, the protest gained attention from the local and state governments.
“The mayor’s office came and did a photo shoot and posted on their Facebook page,” Collins said. “We actually had the senator for our local district and the state representative both reach out to us to talk to [residents and staff] about what our concerns [were]. It did open eyes, and that was the intent.”
Collins said he wanted to make it clear the protest’s objective was not to highlight how the Medicaid waitlist is impacting the profit of assisted living homes. Rather, he said the protest was to bring awareness to the Hoosiers who are vulnerable within the system.
The protest served as an opportunity for older adults at Silver Birch to have their voices heard. Amber Greene, communications director for the city of Muncie, is the granddaughter of one of the residents at Silver Birch and took photos of the protest.
“My situation is unique because I work for the city, and I also have family that lives [at Silver Birch],” Greene said. “But if those two things were not part of my life, I don’t know that I would know about [this issue].”
city of Muncie
While local officials did take the time to listen and understand protestors’ concerns, the local government is powerless in this situation since Medicaid is a federally run program.
Collins and Greene agreed that a surefire way to ignite change is to reach out to state representatives about the issue.
“Call your state representatives, speak with the FSSA and express why it needs to be taken care of,” Greene said. “These are the people in their golden years … We should be trying to take care of them in the ways that we can.”
Roni said she feels for those who are still on the Medicaid waitlist. She talked about how Silver Birch improved her quality of life in many ways.
“I’m just so sad for [the people on the waitlist] because they could be enjoying their life,” Roni said. “We have all kinds of activities that we do and movies that we watch and things that we mingle with that makes [life] enjoyable. I feel so bad that they have to wait and be processed in a not-so-nice way.”
Contact Maya Kim via email at mayabethkim@ bus.edu, or on X @MayaKim03.
I’m 73, and here I am. Not in a million years did I ever think I would be in this position where I would have to apply for Medicaid [and] have that special kind of help.”
- RONI W., Silver Birch resident
More than
13,000
Hoosiers are on the waitlist for Medicaid.
Front of Silver Birch assisted living community Oct. 15 in Muncie. About 10 Silver Birch residents are expecting to lose their waivers in the next six months, and 50 residents have lost their waivers and cannot pay. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Silver Birch resident Roni W. poses for a photo in her apartment Oct. 15 at Silver Birch Living in Muncie, Ind. Roni was put back on the Medicaid waitlist after being approved due to a hospital visit. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Professor Caitlyn Placek’s cross-cultural research project examined
how different populations treat addiction.
Linnea Sundquist Reporter
Caitlyn (Caity) Placek, professor of anthropology at Ball State University, recently received the Fulbright Global Scholar award. According to Fulbright’s website, the award allows U.S. academics and professionals to engage in multicountry, trans-regional projects.
Placek’s research project, “The Impacts of Cultural Models of Addiction and Motherhood: A Cross-Cultural Study,” focused on women and their recovery journey through addiction and educated others on the topic of struggle with addiction and motherhood.
Department Chair of Anthropology Robert Phillips said via email that the award is “very prestigious.” According to the program’s website, each applicant needs approval from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the Department of State and the countries the applicant will conduct research in before applying and qualifying for the grant.
Placek has been teaching at Ball State University since 2017. She teaches courses in biological anthropology, medical anthropology, women and gender studies, as well as international women’s issues.
Placek said she’s very passionate about women’s rights; how to better understand addiction; and how addiction affects people of different genders, races and ethnicities.
“One better way to serve people is to understand other models of care,” Placek said. “Going to other international settings helps us to understand what those models of care are and ways they’ve solved these issues.”
She said earning the grant contributed significantly to the quality of research she was able to conduct and gave her an “incredible learning experience.” The primary goal of her project was to understand why those models and connotations associated with addiction prevent women from seeking help.
“Typically, when we think of addiction, we have some type of model in our minds of what that looks like,” Placek said. “What are the models of these factors within women’s minds, and how does that impact their ability to seek recovery?”
The United States has a growing opioid crisis, according to the State Health Access Data Assistance Center. Although overdose-related deaths are decreasing across the country, Placek said many people are still in need of support — whether they’re in active addiction or various stages of recovery.
Placek said recovering from addiction is different for everybody, and many people think the only ways to recover from addiction are abstinence or attaining social capital. She said recovery is based on a continuum, and culture and gender influence the way people recover from addiction.
“I think having an open mind and taking a
The final results will help [us] better understand how cultural models of addiction and motherhood affect the lives of women, regardless of geographic location.”
- ROBERT PHILLIPS, Department chair of anthropology at Ball State University
person-centered approach is a huge takeaway that I’d want from this research,” Placek said.
While the purpose of this research was very important to Placek and her colleagues, the travel aspect of the research was essential as well. She traveled to multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada.
“Even though it was a challenging experience, it was really rewarding because so many stepped up to the plate to help,” Susan Robson, a collaborator of Placek and her project, said.
Robson described Placek as “a joy to work with” and hopes to work with her on more projects in the future.
“Caity embraced her fieldwork in the northeast with passion,” Robson said. “We felt she immersed herself in the women’s recovery community.”
Phillips emphasized how Placek brings her broad expertise to the field of anthropology, specifically in the medical anthropology area, focusing on public and global health. He touched on how the research she conducted was “so astounding” and “brought
great focus to the department of anthropology.” Phillips said this study will impact people’s lives all over the world.
“The final results will help better understand how cultural models of addiction and motherhood affect the lives of women, regardless of geographic location,” he said.
The results of the research project have impacted many aspects of Placek’s life and teaching style. She said she uses her research project as an example for students when it comes time to help them understand the human decision-making process, particularly surrounding health topics.
Those interested in learning more about Placek’s cross-cultural research or offered curriculum can stop by her office in the Burkhardt Building, Room 307, or email her at cplacek@bsu.edu.
Those looking to study abroad and interested in learning about Ball State’s study abroad opportunities to conduct research and explore their career paths can visit the university’s study abroad website or visit its office in the Student Center. Applications are now open for the summer semester and close as early as Feb. 1.
Contact Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea. sundquist@bsu.edu.
Ball State professor of anthropology Caitlyn Placek poses for portrait Nov. 5 in Burkhardt Building on Ball State’s campus. Placek has been a Ball State professor since 2017. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Hitting
Basketball
Hardwood the Hitting Hardwood the
Delaware County high schools prepare for the upcoming boys basketball season.
Ball State men’s and women’s basketball both picked up wins Nov. 8. The men’s team topped Franklin College 87-60, and junior Jermahri Hill and seniors Payton Sparks and Mickey Pearson Jr. led the way with 17 points each. The women’s squad beat in-state rival Indiana University Indy 89-63. Senior Ally Becki led the charge with 21 points.
Football
Women’s Volleyball Ball State sweeps home games
Cardinals lose in overtime to Buffalo Ledbetter chosen as MAC Defensive Player
Ball State football lost to Buffalo in overtime Nov. 12. The Cardinals lost, but offensive production was at a season-high with 520 yards and 48 points. Redshirt freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Ball State’s next game is at home against Bowling Green Nov. 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Freshman Sophie Ledbetter was named the Mid-American Conference’s (MAC) Defensive Player of the Week. In back-to-back sweeps over Toledo Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, Ledbetter led the Cardinals with 34 digs (14 and 20). The performance helped the red and white capture a program record with 16-straight set wins on the road.
Wes-Del senior Josiah Love attempts a free throw Nov. 22, 2023, in a game against Cambridge City Lincoln at Wes-Del Junior/Senior High School. Love averaged 15.5 points per game and shot 33 percent from the 3-point line last winter. ZACH CARTER, DN
The eight Delaware County boys basketball teams prep for the upcoming season.
Zach Carter, Logan Connor, David Moore
Sports Editor, Associate Sports Editors
The 2024-25 Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) boys basketball season is set to get underway and the eight Delaware County teams are looking to take the court.
Wapahani Raiders
The Wapahani Raiders’ 2023-24 campaign ended one win short of a state title as the red and black fell in the 2A IHSAA State Championship game. To head coach Matt Luce, it was a special season.
“What a wonderful run and team we had last year,” Luce said. “It just builds a lot of pride in our team and in our program. Not that we didn’t have that pride before, but it just created memories that will last a lifetime.”
The Raiders come into the new season with some returners and some changes. The biggest will be that Delaware County’s all-time leading scorer, Isaac Andrews, won’t be part of the roster, as he graduated after last season.
But while the Raiders’ No. 1 weapon for the last four years is no longer in Selma, Wapahani has multiple key pieces coming back. One of those is junior Camden Bell, who averaged 12.6 points and 2.4 assists per game as a sophomore.
“We really have got three guys [who] have played major minutes for the Wapahani Raiders throughout the last two or three years,” Luce said. “Guys like Camden Bell, [senior] Nate Luce and [junior] Eli Andrews, that’s a wonderful start. But at the same time, we weren’t a one-man show or a two-man show last year.”
The Raiders will start their season with a home game against Muncie Central Nov. 26. The game will start at 7:30 p.m.
Delta Eagles
For the last two years, the Delta Eagles had a core of five players who became the blue and gold’s goto group. However, all of those players, including D’Amare Hood, Jackson Wors and Jayden Furney, graduated last year. Now, it’s up to a new set of Eagles to make their mark.
“I really like our senior group,” Delta head coach Mark Detweiler said. “I think they come in with a nice edge about them mentally. They’re a confident group.”
In its last two seasons, Delta boys basketball has ended its tournament run one game away from a state finals appearance. Detweiler believes the team won’t be pressured by those accomplishments.
“Let’s face it, kids have such a short-term memory anyway,” he said. “I think those are always good things to talk about, and they are always good stories for [the media] to write about.”
The senior group will include Bronson Edwards and Jordan Furney, two players who saw limited minutes last season due to the senior-heavy core.
“They want to kind of carve out their own identity, too,” Detweiler said. “… It’s hard to do with what we’ve done the last couple of years.”
Though the challenge for the Eagles will be setting a consistent starting five, it’s something both coaches and players are eager to begin.
The Eagles will tip off their season when they host Connersville Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Daleville Broncos
After an up-and-down season, Daleville finished just a tick above .500 with a first-round sectional loss in 2024. A new year for the Broncos means a lot of new faces on the court, as they graduated five seniors, including the top two scorers from last year for the black and gold.
“This team is probably going to see more change than any other years that I’ve been here,” Daleville head coach Ashley Fouch said. “The expectation for us is staying the same, and we’re going to take advantage of our speed and the ‘all grit, no quit’ mindset that’s been instilled into our culture the last three seasons.”
Many of those faces have not seen varsity up to this point in their careers. Despite the lack of on-court experience, Fouch thinks there will be some surprises about what they bring to this Bronco team.
Some of those new faces include seniors Cooper Sexton, Mekhi Snyder and Hunter Suchyna, as well as juniors Bryson Sigler, Logan Parker and Caleb Aikin
Senior point guard Noah Colvin is one of the returners with a plethora of varsity experience this season and will take a large chunk of the leadership role, Fouch said.
“He’s always been the high energy, ‘I’m never going to quit’ point guard for us,” Fouch said. “I think, this year, his step is to be more poised, and we’re looking for that a lot from him, and I think he’s ready to do that.”
Daleville will open their 2024-25 campaign Nov. 22 with a road matchup against Morristown. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Cowan Blackhawks
The Blackhawks season came to a close last year in the sectional championship game. The end of their season was the last for the seven seniors on their roster. Cowan relied heavily on the seniority of their squad last year with their top six scorers leaving the program.
“We’re going to have to find guys that step up and take a leadership role and have a big hand in scoring,” Cowan head coach Aaron Groves said. Losing that many players opens up opportunities for new faces to make their mark the next season, which is exactly what the black and yellow are hoping will come to fruition in 2024, Groves said.
Wapahani junior guard Camden Bell throws his hands up for a foul call against Brownstown Central March 30 during IHSAA State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Bell had five personal fouls in the game. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Safe Space
for Readers’
Ink Drinkers Anonymous bookstore celebrates two years as a locally owned business in downtown Muncie.
The Three Musketeers Public Safety Day
Tickets for The Three Musketeers at the University Theatre are available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office. General public tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Tickets for students, staff, faculty and seniors are $15 in advance or $17 at the door. Showings will be Nov. 1516 and 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 17 and 24 at 2:30 p.m.
The Muncie Children’s Museum is hosting a Public Safety Day event Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a law enforcement meet and greet, a fire truck show and extinguisher training, and a variety of other general public safety activities, storm, firearm, and body and media safety. Admission to the museum will also be free that day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for all visitors.
Remedy Band Dance
The Muncie Delaware County Senior Citizens Center is hosting the Remedy Band Dance Nov. 22 from 7 to 10 p.m. Remedy Band will be playing ’70s and ’80s music, and you must be 18 or older to attend. Tickets are a $10 donation to the senior citizens center and can be purchased in advance, on the phone or online, or at the door.
A book is photographed on display at Ink Drinkers Anonymous Oct. 23 in downtown Muncie, Ind. The book “Dear Brother” by Alison McGhee is about siblings and their evolving relationship. ELLA HOWELL, DN
Mindful Meditations
A place to try Transcendental Meditation has opened in Muncie.
Shelby Anderson Reporter
People work to nd strategies to cope with the stress life brings through exercise, music, journaling and more. A place in Muncie opened its doors to provide more resources to relieve stress.
Transcendental Meditation started a nationwide campaign to help cities learn Transcendental Meditation (TM). e location they started in Muncie is called Meditate Muncie.
Vicki Peterson is a certi ed TM instructor who moved to Muncie 50 years ago with her husband for his medical residency. Peterson has been practicing meditation since she was 22 years old. Now, in 2024, she teaches meditation at Meditate Muncie.
TM is a type of meditation that allows the mind to go deeper in thought. Peterson said peoples’ minds are always looking for more.
She used a simile to compare the mind to an ocean, explaining how the levels of the ocean correspond with the human mind.
She said the surface level of the ocean is wavy like the surface level of the mind. e lower levels of the ocean get quieter and quieter, and so does the mind.
“It just leaves all the activity behind, and it’s just inner stillness — pure consciousness — just the source of thought is not thought. It’s consciousness,” Peterson said.
Peterson nds meditation can help relieve some of the worries and stress in the world right now.
“Every place on the planet has its own little special collection of stresses that are unique to that area. But we live on a planet that is su ering
right now, and so that causes our nervous systems to be uncomfortable,” Peterson said.
One bene t meditation is supposed to provoke is rest to the mind and body. According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, stress can be taken away which helps calm the nervous system.
Peterson encourages college kids to try meditation due to the changes they’re going through as they transition to the new environment of campus life.
has been practicing TM for years, said the history of the practice is rich and “easy” to connect with.
“Once you connect into it, it is a very simple process to complete,” Ochs said.
TM was rst taught by Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. According to his website, he embarked on a world tour in 1958 to ful ll a vision to “end human su ering” by sharing the Transcendental Meditation technique with the world.
The beauty is your mind is going to wander, [and] that’s OK. The point is that you take that time to be quiet the best you can.”
- BROOKE OCHS, Nurse practitioner who does Transcendental Meditation
“[College students are] using their nervous system to learn. ey’re away from home, and they’re making all kinds of life decisions, and they’re learning how to be themselves. And for all of that, you need to have the best possible nervous system,” Peterson said.
According to Mayo Clinic, other bene ts of meditation include stress reduction, boosted creativity, enhanced focus and self-discovery.
Nurse practitioner Brooke Ochs, who
And according to Meditation Lifestyle, when Yogi was in America, he taught the Beatles how to meditate. e band apparently spent several weeks studying with Maharishi in a retreat in Rishikesh, India.
Ochs said TM is “life-changing,” and her life has improved as a result from it.
“My relationships have improved, my mental health has improved [and] my ability to connect with people has improved,” Ochs said.
Ochs explained a TM session typically lasts 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the a ernoon. A TM instructor will say a mantra, “ a word or saying that you repeat multiple times that takes you deeper into consciousness,” Ochs said. Och recommends just taking a few minutes every day to sit quietly and let your mind wander. “ e beauty is your mind is going to wander, [and] that’s OK. e point is that you take that time to be quiet the best you can,” Ochs said.
Advisory board member for Meditate Muncie Heather Collins has been practicing meditation for 10 years and said those in the community should give it a try.
“We live in a society that’s very outward, and our energy is taken outward. Meditation is the practice of going inward,” Collins said.
Collins explained the number one thing to know about how the process works is that it should be “e ortless.”
Collins also explained how going to an inperson session at a TM center is more bene cial than doing something online. Additionally, sessions on platforms like YouTube might not have the same bene ts as in person.
“ e legitimacy of something you might nd online or on YouTube might not have the bene ts that are proven within Transcendental Meditation,” Collins said.
To nd a TM instructor, head to the TM website or visit Meditate Muncie. Its o ce is located at 4006 W. Jackson Street in Muncie, Indiana. Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
Katherine Hill News Editor
The business began out of owner Keeley Malone’s passion
As a child, Riley Schwarzkopf would never go to bed after her parents tucked her in and turned out the light. She’d nestle under the covers with a flashlight and a picture book for long hours. Her imagination was just beginning to stir in the stillness of nightfall.
Waking up the next morning, her bedroom floor would be covered in books that had fallen from her top bunk — much to the dismay of her parents.
“I genuinely can’t remember a time when [reading’s] not been important in my life. I’ve gotten in trouble a lot of times for reading when I wasn’t supposed to,” Schwarzkopf, a second-year English student at Ball State University, said.
Ink Drinkers Anonymous (IDA) is a place for people like her.
The locally owned bookstore in downtown Muncie has been operational for two years and is “a lifelong dream” of owner and self-proclaimed book lover Keeley Malone.
In May 2022, Malone sat at the kitchen table with her mom while the business was still in its idea phase.
At one time, Malone said, “Oh, if I open a bookstore one day, this is what I would do.” Her mom replied, “If it’s something you want to do, do it. Otherwise, figure out what you want to do.”
Malone began researching how to start a business that same month.
Ink Drinkers Anonymous was not the original name of the business.
“We had initially decided on ‘One More Chapter,’” Malone said.
But during those same kitchen table conversations, she talked with her mom about how she imagined hosting book clubs for circles of customers amid warm, ambient lighting.
‘“Ink drinker’ is the French term for ‘bookworm,’” Malone said. “Anonymous” then came to the title
because “I wanted [the bookstore] to feel like a safe space for readers, to not feel judged by what they read [or] how much they read.”
Judgment for the love of books is a feeling Schwarzkopf knows all too well.
“I spent pretty much all of my high school career in the library,” she said. “Librarians knew me by name. It was pretty embarrassing looking back, [but] I loved going there.”
State University, has dedicated her life to making sure her students and children of the surrounding Muncie area feel represented in the literature they are exposed to.
“I fundamentally believe storytelling can save our lives, and each of us deserves to see ourselves in the books we read … [because] if you can’t see it, you can’t be it,” she said. “This is the reason I became a writer.”
- RILEY SCHWARZKOPF, Second-year English student
Malone also spent afternoons as a student in her school library, working as a middle schooler — an entrepreneurial start that propelled her business venture and fueled her passion for reading. This passion was steadfast enough to keep her afloat while she started the business with a mere $20 in her bank account.
She started IDA to highlight authors who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. She wanted to see more representation in the bookstores she visited, as written in her business profile.
“It’s nice to feel represented in the characters and books that you read,” Malone said, noting the representative experience through literary characters is not something she had growing up as a Black woman.
Jill Christman, an English professor at Ball
Christman leads the “Writer-in-Residence” program at Ball State, which she founded in 2021. The program connects published authors, some of whom are Ball State alumni, including 2021’s featured writer, Ashley C. Ford, and this year’s Hena Khan — with kids in the community, sending them home with copies of the author’s work.
“The idea is that if we put books in kids’ hands and then bring them the author to inspire them to read those books, we can change relationships to reading,” Christman said.
When it comes time to purchase an author’s work to give away as part of the program, Christman works closely with IDA to fulfill her orders.
“Those moments where [kids] line up and [are given] the first book they’ve ever had signed by an author or kids who have never seen themselves as
KEELEY MALONE
authors realize that’s a possibility for them, that’s what I’m in it for,” she said.
Amid finals season — when every essay she writes for class feels like it’s being tossed into the void — Schwarzkopf said she reads as a form of escapism to combat nihilism and finds the experience to be cathartic every time.
“When I read a story of any genre, there’s always going to be some sort of forward momentum. Every action means something … which is not always a guarantee in real life,” she said.
Schwarzkopf also said the experiences she gains from reading continue to make her a more empathetic person.
“Finding joy or fulfillment in reading through the lives of people has a lot more merit than [what] escapism lends itself to because what you’re doing by escaping into the life of another person is sharing [their] struggles.”
Empathy is a key component of her unrelenting love of literature.
“The fact that you can insert yourself into the mind of an author means, regardless of where you are or who you are, you can understand a life you’ve never even lived,” Schwarzkopf said. IDA is moving locations over the holiday season from High Street to Patterson Block. The move is something Malone never imagined when first starting the business in her bedroom.
“I started with nothing and have just kind of pieced everything together bit by bit,” she said.
Book lovers, like Malone, who are in search of their next read to curl up with for the holidays can visit IDA at its current location through Dec. 20, according to the company’s website. The business is open Tuesday 3-6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday 3-7:30 p.m. and Saturday 12-6 p.m. Readers may still purchase books while the business is in transition and pick them up at the Patterson Block location, opening Jan. 4.
Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine. hill@bsu.edu.
2006
A Father and Son
Life without my father highlighted the importance of role models in my life.
Zach and his dad fishing
Zach and his mom at a Delta High School football game
Cincinnati Reds game
Andrew and Tara Carter pose with baby Zach
Zach and his grandfather, Edward
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
ZACH CARTER, PHOTOS PROVIDED
Zach and his uncle, Dustin
Zach Carter is a third-year journalism major and writes “Carter’s Comments” for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
There are times when music does something to you. Whether it makes you want to dance, sing along or cry — music can move you. The latter was true for me this summer when country singer Luke Combs released his album “Fathers and Sons” June 14, two days before Father’s Day.
The 12-track record focuses on the relationships — as you can probably guess — between a father and a son.
While some might be able to enjoy what Combs sings about, I had mixed feelings. For one, I love the compilation of songs. It is in my top five country albums ever released.
But when it arrived, I cried after listening to it as it came the day after the 18th anniversary of my father’s passing.
It’s not that my dad’s death haunts me. He died when I was two years old. Growing up, it was just normal not having him around. I know that is not something most people can relate to, but it became my reality early in my life.
My dad was 19 years old when he died in a car accident. My mom, who was only 20 years old at the time, was thrown into the world of being a single mother. Sometimes, I put myself in her situation and think about what I would’ve done.
My parents had me at the end of high school. I know I am definitely not ready to be a parent at the age of 21, you throw in my dad’s passing and everything goes to hell.
My mom, Tara, is a very open person. She’s never been afraid to talk about what it was like knowing it was just going to be her raising me.
But it’s sometimes hard for me to hear her talk about it.
I know this isn’t true, but sometimes I feel like I held her back from accomplishing goals and doing things she wanted in life. I understand it’s not my fault my dad passed away. Life can just be shit sometimes. How my mom handled the situation made it seem that it wasn’t such a bad thing. She took care of me in every
way. From making sure I had clothes on my back to playing with action figures and Hot Wheels, she was the best mom a kid could ask for.
I don’t tell her how much I love her enough, and it’s something I’m trying to get better at.
While my mom did everything in her power to do things that a father would do, I was lucky to have other people in my life who cared about me.
Beyond my amazing mother was a set of grandparents who made sure I had everything. My father’s parents — Chris and Sonya — were always there and still are to this day.
There is one thing his passing did for me and I will always remember it: Appreciate the people in your life because they won’t always be around.”
I could call them needing anything, and I would have their support. My grandma Marsha was the person in my family who could do no wrong. From being a support system for my mom to always being the relative who I could talk with for hours, she was the best, and I miss her every day.
But a boy needs a father figure.
I can’t lie. When I talk about this, sometimes my emotional state changes. My grandpa Ed is the person I consider the closest to being a dad to me. He and I disagree on things like politics, and that has always been fun, but he’s my guy.
Growing up without my father, I used to believe I would be a terrible dad. My grandpa Ed is one of the reasons I don’t think that anymore. From taking me
fishing, teaching me what hard work is and influencing how I live my life, he was the dad I always wanted.
Even though I’m older now, his love is still the most I feel other than my mom’s. From reading everything I’ve ever written, attending all of my high school golf matches and being more than just my “papaw,” I can’t thank him enough for filling that void.
The last person who has helped me with the situation is my uncle Dustin, my dad’s younger brother. Even though he is my uncle, we’re close enough in age that we are like siblings. We used to wrestle and bicker when I was younger, which is where I get my sarcasm and sometimes joking mood from.
While I will never understand what it’s like to lose a brother at such a young age, he has grown to see the terrible moment the same way I do. When people ask us about him, we’re honest — sometimes too honest. But I am not a person to hide things. If I think about it, there’s a good chance I’ll say it
I don’t know if my dad knows what I’m up to or if he knows where my life is going. I’m not going to hypothesize about what happens after death, but I hope he knows I miss him every day. I think about having kids one day and the fact they might not have a grandpa like I did, and that hurts.
In Combs’ album, the one that eats me up is “In Case I Ain’t Around.” In the song, a father is writing a list of things to do just in case he isn’t around for a long time. I wished my dad could have done that. I would love to see his take on this journey and what I need to do to enjoy it. While I didn’t get that and never will, there is one thing his passing did for me, and I will always remember it: Appreciate the people in your life because they won’t always be around.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu. edu or on X @ZachCarter85.
Sports Editor, “Carter’s Comments”
Zach Carter
BASKETBALL
Continued from Page 08
“They haven’t had the limelight on them before,” Groves said. “So, it’ll be interesting how that works out and how they handle being in that position.”
Some players Groves will rely on to play heavier minutes are the three returning lettermen from last season: senior forward Gentry Groves and sophomore guards Brody Clifford and Noah Sours. Cowan will begin their season Nov. 22, as they host Traders Point Christian. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Muncie Central Bearcats
Muncie Central has struggled to find consistency the last three seasons, trading winning and losing seasons during that time. The hope for the Bearcats is to flip the script on that trend by implementing a new system.
“[We’re] still getting the system in and trying to really tweak it to fit our players,” Ullom said. “So, I’ve been growing and learning it just like they have. But we are really pretty excited about our guys that we’re going to have for four years.”
Despite losing seniors, the Bearcats have some players they feel can fill those leadership roles, Ullom said. One of them being senior LJ Strange.
In addition to the senior leadership the purple and white will get from Strange, he is one of few seniors returning with playing experience. With that in mind, Ullom will need other players who know the system well to step up.
“We’ve got a couple of juniors in Shamar Taylor and Landon Wells [who] we’re really hoping can be the vocal leaders,” Ullom said. “Shamar has stepped into that this fall, and those two guys are probably the vocal leaders.”
This year, the Bearcats will play some underclassmen at the varsity level, which hasn’t been something they’ve needed to adjust to in the past.
“We’ll play some freshmen and sophomores at the varsity level,” Ullom said. “So, we need to grow up quickly. If we compete in every game — win, lose or draw — but care about how we are playing, care about our effort on every play … We could be in a whole lot of these games that maybe we haven’t been in the last few years.”
Muncie Central will open its season on the road as the Bearcats travel to Connersville Nov. 23. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m.
Muncie Burris Owls
Losing 19 of their 24 games and dropping eight of their last nine games was not the way head coach Blair Broussard hoped the 2023-24 Owls’
season would go.
Burris comes into this winter with a new mindset. Shaking off last season’s woes and turning the page to a new chapter was a point of emphasis in the offseason, Broussard said.
“Last year was heavily focused on changing the culture of the entire program,” he said. “We tore the entire structure down and began the entire rebuilding process at ground level. We’ve got a foundation laid now that we are ready to start building on for this year.”
Losing leading scorer and captain Asher Donahue was a major hit, but the Owls are hopeful they can put together a full team effort this season to replace the bulk of his contributions.
“We’ve got players who are with us this year [and] are capable of filling the void of Asher in regards to play on the floor,” Broussard said. “Where losing Asher hurts us most is now looking for someone to step up and be the leader on the floor.”
Muncie Burris will begin its season Dec. 3 when they travel to Frankton. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Wes-Del Warriors
Wes-Del basketball has been a consistent .500 team since 2016-17 when they won 17 games.
The Warriors and head coach Josh Burkett want to continue to build on their success and the
I
really like our senior group. I think they come in with a nice edge about them mentally. They’re a confident group.”
-
MARK
DETWEILER,
Delta head coach
program under his system.
“Year one with me as the coach, we were laying the foundation for new expectations on and off the court,” Burkett said. “Our efficiency is much better, and they know the expectations we have for them on and off the court, so we are already ahead of where we were this time last year from a mentality standpoint.”
The Warriors retained leading scorer, senior Josiah Love, who averaged 15.5 points per game last winter. Love led the way from deep and shot 33 percent from the 3-point line.
“Having Josiah back for his senior season is huge for us. His production on the court is something we will strongly benefit from,” Burkett said. “He has continued to develop his game and has bought into coach [Brandon] Van Matre’s weight room program, and the results clearly show.”
Not only did Burkett say he was glad to have Love back, but having his other seniors, Grayson Mealy and Gabe Becerra, will be an instrumental asset for the Warriors.
Wes-Del will begin its season Nov. 27 with an away contest with Cambridge City Lincoln at 7:30 p.m.
Yorktown Tigers
The Yorktown Tigers’ 2023-24 season was one of high and low swings — one that was as high as a Delaware County championship win over rival Delta and as low as winning only one Hoosier Heritage Conference game.
Although they lost their leading scorer and some of their offensive production, head coach Matt Moulton said he has his team ready to compete.
“I learned early in my coaching tenure not to dwell so much on what we lost or what we don’t have,” he said. “Just focus on the players we do have, and every returning player is expected to maximize his potential and be dangerous at the offensive end of the floor.”
Moulton sees his program the same top-tobottom. To him, every player has made jumps throughout the offseason, and he is eager to see the competition his team will bring to the hardwood.
Yorktown will begin the season Nov. 27 when they travel to the 2024 4A regional runner-up in Kokomo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85, David Moore via email at david.moore@bsu.edu or on X @gingninj63, and Logan Connor via email at logan.connor@bsu.edu or on X @_loganconnor.
Wapahani head coach Matt Luce talks to the team from the sideline against Brownstown Central March 30 at IHSAA State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Wapahani lost to Brownstown Central 55-36. AMBER PIETZ, DN
Crossword & Sudoku
26 Mountain range from Kazakhstan to the Arctic Ocean 27 Inflict upon
29 Fire residue
32 National park in Alberta
33 On in years
34 Perfectly timed
35 Tubular pasta
36 Start, as a golf round
37 Petty quarrels
39 Cat’s noise
40 Armed conflict
44 Alley-__
45 Keyboard shortcut starter
46 Cola brand
47 “That’s it for me!”
48 Calm periods
“Halo” star Schreiber
8 In favor of 9 __ urchin
10 Pink cocktail, familiarly
11 Last part of a play, perhaps 12 MacGowan of the Pogues
13 Accept, as a coupon 18 A pop
21 Card with no face or number
22 Savory quality
23 Renewable energy source
24 Catherine’s “Schitt’s Creek” role
49 Pharmaceutical giant Eli __
50 Proposal
51 Posh
55 Onetime Swedish automaker
57 NNE opposite
58 French yes
59 Do __ disturb
60 Media that’s burned before reading
61 “Listen up!”
BALL BEARINGS THE CIVIL ISSUE
DELAWARE COUNTY’S
