ANDREW BERGER, DN
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Court denies Trump’s sentencing request
Jan. 7: A New York appeals court denied President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay sentencing in his hush-money case. According to the Associated Press (AP), the sentence remains set for Jan. 10, but Trump can still seek intervention from higher courts. His lawyer argued presidential immunity should apply during the transition, but the court rejected this since there was no precedent. Convicted of falsifying business records, Trump faces sentencing days before his inauguration. The trial judge indicateds no jail time is expected, but he will potentially receive “unconditional discharge,” according to AP.
Cold blasts could indicate global warming
Jan. 7: Freezing air normally trapped in the Arctic has been pushing into the United States, causing low temperatures across the Midwest and nearby regions, according to the Associated Press (AP). This cold wave, linked to a stretched polar vortex, occurs when Arctic air shifts southward. Some places may experience below-zero temperatures, causing increased frostbite risk due to strong winds. Experts say these events are happening more often because “the Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world.” According to AP, intense cold blasts like this can still linger for days or weeks despite recent winters that have been warmer.
Sparks hits thousand-career-point mark
Jan. 7: In Ball State University’s fi nal non-conference game of the season against Anderson University, senior Payton Sparks hit a career milestone during the fi nal stretch of his college basketball career. Ball State was able to pull out a win, and Sparks reached 1,000 career points during the game. The senior center also made 23 points and 16 rebounds against the Ravens. After a short stint with Indiana University, Sparks returned to Muncie to fi nish his career as a Cardinal this 2024-25 season.
OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/TNS
ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
ANDREW BERGER, DN
2024 Hoosier Survey Results
The 2024 Hoosier Survey by Ball State’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs identifies Indiana residents’ top policy priorities in the new year.
68% 62% 45% of Hoosiers marked healthcare as a “very important” issue. of Hoosiers favor both recreational and medicinal legalization. of Hoosiers favor allowing teachers to carry guns in schools.
Source: 2024 Hoosier Survey Results, conducted by Ball State’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs and published Dec. 5 by the University’s news center.
Healthcare Access
Staff Reports
Ball State University’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs conducts a yearly, nonpartisan, state-wide policy study to gauge public opinion on key social and political issues.
The 2024 results, conducted Nov. 6 and 7, included responses from 615 Indiana adults. It revealed the top three policy priorities heading into the new year as school safety, public safety and healthcare, according to Ball State’s News Center, which published the findings in a Dec. 5 report.
In the report summary, Kevin Smith, interim director of the Bowen Center for Public Affairs and associate dean of the University’s College of Sciences and Humanities, identified those top three chosen policy priorities as “critical priorities that cross political lines.” Smith also said the survey, as a whole, “provides an essential look at the issues that matter most to Indiana residents … a valuable tool for guiding policymakers by reflecting the voices and concerns of everyday Indiana citizens.”
School Safety and Public Safety
Nearly 70 percent of respondents identified school safety as a “very important” priority, while public safety also ranked among the top issues across all demographics and political affiliations.
“School safety is a concern that resonates universally,” Smith said. “These findings indicate Hoosiers want to ensure their communities and schools are secure, regardless of political differences.”
Healthcare ranked as a leading issue for Hoosiers, with 68 percent marking it as “very important.” Concerns over affordability, accessibility and transparency remain central themes in the public discourse.
Only 20 percent of respondents felt healthcare providers often or always explain the costs associated with appointments and procedures. One in three reported that providers explain whether appointments or procedures are covered by insurance.
“Ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare is consistently referenced as a priority, highlighting the challenges many Indiana residents face,” Smith said. “This data underscores the need for bipartisan efforts to address healthcare concerns effectively.”
Marijuana Legalization
Support for marijuana legalization remains robust. 62 percent of Hoosiers favor recreational and medicinal legalization, and an additional 25 percent support medicinal-only legalization, which Smith noted is a reflection of national trends.
Abortion
More than 80 percent of respondents believe abortion should be legal in cases involving threats to the mother’s life, rape, incest or lethal fetal anomalies.
However, opinions diverge by trimester: twothirds support abortion rights in the first trimester, while the majority oppose them in later stages.
“The nuances in abortion views reflect Hoosiers’ thoughtful struggle to apply their personal values to public policy concerns,” Smith said. “Hoosiers generally support exceptions, but there is growing consensus for restrictions as pregnancies progress.”
Gun Policy
58 percent of respondents oppose carrying concealed firearms without a permit, and 59 percent support banning assault weapons. Meanwhile, 45 percent favor allowing teachers to carry guns in schools, compared to the 36 percent that oppose it.
“Public opinion on guns reflects both safety concerns and respect for Second Amendment rights,” Smith said. “Striking a balance here is a critical consideration for policymakers.”
Immigration
While 70 percent view undocumented immigration as a serious problem for Indiana, opinions on legal immigration are evenly split: 50 percent favor maintaining or increasing current levels, and 50 percent advocate reducing or halting it entirely. These views often align with political affiliation.
“Immigration remains a divisive issue, but the survey highlights areas of potential consensus, especially regarding undocumented immigration,” Smith said.
Contact the Daily News via email at editor@ bsudailynews.com
President Joe Biden signed broadly bipartisan legislation that would expand Social Security benefits for more than 2 million Americans, including retired teachers and public employees, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle. The Jan. 5 ceremony marked one of the last times Biden will sign major legislation into law as president.
Record high school graduation rate
Newly released data from Indiana’s Department of Education shows the 2024 high school graduation rate was 90.23 percent, but minority and low-income students across the state continue to lag behind their peers, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle. Lawmakers continue to strive to reduce the amount of students needing waivers.
National State Campus Bill expands Social Security benefits
TikTok users to participate in a study
According to a Jan. 7 statement from Ball State’s Communications Center, the university is conducting a research study to investigate TikTok addiction among American youth, exploring the relationship between TikTok usage and mental health. To partake in the study, one must be 18 years or older, use TikTok regularly and be willing to engage in the online survey.
A Century of Life
With Jan. 9 being a National Day in Mourning, let’s look at the life of Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th and longest-living president.
Oct. 1, 1924
James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. is born to a family of peanut farmers in Plains, Georgia.
September 1984
The Carters begin volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and establish The Carter Project. For over 35 years, The Carter Project has helped the nonprofit build 4,447 homes across 14 countries.
July 7, 1946
Carter marries Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, a farmer’s daughter, in their mutual hometown of Plains, Georgia.
1982
After Carter’s re-election defeat, he co-founds the Carter Center with his wife Rosalynn in Atlanta. The center’s mission has been to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world, according to the Carter Center website.
Jan. 20, 1977
Carter, while governor of Georgia, runs and is elected as the 39th president of the United States.
Nov. 4, 1980
Carter loses re-election to Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6 percent of the popular vote to 41.7 percent for Carter and 6.7 percent to independent John Anderson.
Dec. 10, 2002
Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize “for his untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”
July 7, 2023
The Carters celebrate 77 years of marriage — the longest of any First Couple in U.S. history. Rosalynn died the following November at age 96.
Dec. 29, 2024
Carter dies at home nearly three months after turning 100. He was the first former U.S. president to turn a century old.
Katherine Hill News Editor
DNSports
‘THE NEXT ‘THE NEXT TO CARRY TO CARRY THE TORCH’ THE TORCH’
Wapahani junior Camden Bell wants to be remembered like other former Raiders.
Women’s Basketball Becki named MAC Player of the Week
Ball State senior Ally Becki was named the Mid-American Conference’s (MAC) Player of the Week for her efforts against MAC opponents Miami (OH) and Central Michigan. In those games, she averaged 21.0 points per game and 3.0 steals per game. This is the eighth time she has earned the honor in her career.
Men’s Volleyball
Rogers wins MIVA Player of the Week
Ball State junior outside hitter Patrick Rogers was named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association’s (MIVA) Offensive Player of the Week. In Ball State’s two wins over Wabash College and Trine University, Rogers led the Cardinals with 15 kills and averaged 3 kills per set. He also had five aces and three blocks.
Gymnastics
Ruthberg named MAC Gymnast of the Week
Graduate student all-around specialist Hannah Ruthberg was named the Mid-American Conference’s (MAC) Gymnast of the Week after her performances at Missouri’s Beauty and the Beast night, where she placed second. This is the third time Ruthberg has earned the award. She scored 39.075, the best by any MAC athlete and 22nd best in the nation in the all-around.
Sophomore guard Camden Bell drives to the hoop against Brownstown Central March 30, 2024, at IHSAA State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
ANDREW BERGER, DN
Junior Camden Bell wants to make a name for himself at Wapahani.
Zach Carter Sports Editor
Last season, the Wapahani boys’ basketball team was surrounded by storylines. From going on a state tournament run that ended at the Class 2A State Championship game to then-senior Isaac Andrews breaking the school and Delaware County all-time scoring record, things were happening around the small town of Selma, Indiana.
While all that was going on, another story was
just beginning.
When the 2024-25 season started last November, the Raiders opened the year with a 51-27 victory over Muncie Central. After topping the Bearcats, then-sophomore and current junior Camden Bell answered a question about Andrews’ departure from the program.
However, he wasn’t worried about chasing the basketball legacy of Andrews, his second cousin and current Indiana Wesleyan basketball player.
Bell just wants to be remembered.
“I hope I can be the first Camden Bell,” he said.
“Isaac [Andrews] was a great player, and I hope
I
hope I can be the first Camden Bell. Isaac [Andrews] was a great player, and I hope people
can look at me as good as he was.”
- CAMDEN BELL, Wapahani junior boys’ basketball player
people can look at me as good as he was.”
Wapahani head coach Matt Luce thinks he’s already on his way to achieving his own name on the court.
“What we stressed to Grant Evans in 2014 and Isaac Andrews in 2024 was not the matter of points, rebounds or assists. It’s how many wins you get,” Luce said. “And these guys we got in high school right now are setting all-time win records and championship records.”
‘Feels like a privilege’
It all started when Bell was in second grade. His father, Brian, played basketball in high school and passed the game down to Camden, who admitted he wasn’t very good when he started.
“I couldn’t even dribble the ball, to be honest,” Camden said. “It was bad, but I enjoyed working on it, and it’s just stuck with me ever since.”
After growing up playing on a Little Tikes mini-basketball goal, the Bell family moved from Pendleton Heights to Selma. After starting school in Selma, Camden watched the high school program, and he knew that to play for Luce and the Raiders, he had to give it his all.
As he committed himself to practicing every day, Luce watched Camden when he was young. He was excited to see what he brought to the court.
“The beauty of Camden Bell is his desire to be good, his work ethic, his ability to be coached and just the fact that he wants to continue to get better day in and day out,” Luce said. “From being a third and fourth grader when I first met him in our youth league … It was more about him being ultra-competitive. Camden was always one of those kids that took it out on himself and demanded excellence.”
But while he worked so hard to improve, Camden sometimes overworked himself and tried to put the weight of everything on his shoulders. While he had to battle through it — and sometimes still does — Luce said his maturity has helped him learn that basketball is a team sport.
“He’s a kid that had to improve, not only fundamentally but also from an attitude standpoint,” Luce said. “He was so hard on himself and wanted to be good but just wasn’t sure how to go about that … He accepted coaching and accepted leadership and just kept getting better. Now, you see what you get.”
Wapahani junior Camden Bell holds the ball Dec. 20, 2024, against Wes-Del at Wapahani High School in Selma, Ind. Wapahani defeated Wes-Del 74-35. ZACH CARTER, DN
When he arrived at the high school level, it didn’t take long for him to see the court. Actually, he saw the court from the beginning of the season, playing in every game on the Raiders’ schedule. He averaged 5.1 points per game and had a season high of 16 points against Burris Jan. 7, 2023.
While he felt the pressure to come in and compete, he said it wasn’t as bad as some might think.
“There’s a little pressure just because the program’s good and everybody knows about it, but it almost feels like a privilege, too,” Camden said. But as a freshman, he had to adjust to the next level of basketball. For him, it was Andrews and then-senior and current Marian University basketball player Aidan Franks, who showed Bell’s freshman class what to do and how to handle expectations.
Though he was only a sophomore at the time, Camden said the pair took it upon themselves to be the leaders the younger Raiders needed.
“They were the two upperclassmen and two leading scorers, and seeing just how they approached the game and all the different ways that you could look at it,” Camden said. “I got to be with Isaac [Andrews] for another year and see that, and he was one of the main ones I really looked up to to improve my game.”
‘Live in the moment’
While his freshman year saw the Raiders make a run to semi-state and win 25 consecutive games, Bell wasn’t necessarily expecting what the basketball gods had in store for him as a sophomore. To him, he said it was “definitely” one of the craziest things he’s ever experienced.
Including Andrews’ hunt for the school and county scoring record, the Raiders were picked as one of the top teams in Class 2A. After ending their season two games away from the state finals the previous season, the team wanted to climb the mountain once again, but this time, get to the peak.
During the year, Bell averaged 12.6 points per game and led the team with a 51 percent field-goal percentage. Wapahani won 26 games, and after Andrews broke the county scoring record in the second game of sectional play, Bell wanted to do the best he could.
“You are impressed when 16 and 17-year-old kids, in front of 3,000 people, can make the right play, but also, more importantly, be unselfish and not make it about them,” Luce said. “... [Bell] lets the game come to him, and he realizes he has to make the others around him better.”
In the state tournament, he averaged 8.5 points per game and dropped 22 in the regional championship game. To Andrews, his teammate unlocked a new level throughout the run.
“One thing he brings is that intensity,” Andrews said. “I remember there was a game where we were up 20 at half, and he came in all mad because they scored more points than we would have liked. It just showed how he cared about us playing to our fullest potential.”
But while he was great on the court, he could flip a switch from being game-ready to the glue guy off the court.
“My favorite part of having Cam as a teammate was just his personality,” Andrews said. “His intensity on the court but also being able to be a fun person to be around off the court. There were a lot of good laughs from all the time that we spent
together off of the court.”
After the Raiders became sectional and regional champions, a tornado hit the small town of Selma days before their semi-state matchup with Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian. At that point, it wasn’t about Wapahani basketball; it was about representing the community.
“When you come out and play in front of your home crowd every Friday night, you want to come back and play every day,” Camden said. “At half of our away games, we have more people there with red and white on than the home team does.”
Though multiple residents lost homes and had property damage after the storm, the fans still drove two hours to Lafayette Jefferson High School, the site of the game, and carried on the tradition of showing up for the Raiders.
After four quarters and one period of overtime, Wapahhani captured the title — the program’s first semi-state championship — and received a state finals berth at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. When it was the team’s turn to hit the court, Bell took in the moment the best he could.
“When you really get there and you warm up and you run out and play on an NBA floor, it’s completely different than anything you’ve ever felt,” Camden said.
While the Raiders fell in the title game to Brownstown Central, Camden looked at the game for what it was. It didn’t take away from the season or his success, but it was an opportunity and an
event that he’ll never forget.
“Most people in their whole lives will never get the chance to go play in a state championship game,” he said. “It was an amazing opportunity, and I just learned to live in the moment and not take it for granted because you never know if you’ll get back there.”
‘All the tools and the potential needed’
Coming into this season, Bell continued to practice like Andrews showed him. Add in the Raiders’ goal of making another run in the state tournament, it gave him even more motivation to get better.
“When you’re in here and nobody else is, and you know that it’s eight o’clock at night and nobody else in the surrounding schools is in the gym, it just gives you an edge,” Camden said. “You feel like you’ve got something that nobody else has, and it helps you get confident.”
But while Wapahani was one of the top teams in its class last year, it started the 2024-25 campaign — and remains — as the No. 1 team in Class 2A across the state. Though he’s only a junior, Luce said Bell’s leadership has been consistent as he knows he needs to be a guy the program can count on.
“When the season started, our team, our players and our coaches knew what Camden Bell could do from an offensive and defensive standpoint,” Luce said. “But when you look around [at who all]
graduated, all of these guys knew they had to take another step.”
Camden believes the team is what makes this year’s group special, but he’s been a big part. Ten games in, he’s averaging 21.4 points per game and has a 60 percent 3-point percentage.
While he wants to be remembered, he echoed what his coach said about the Raiders who do get honored and respected. It’s not about points, rebounds or assists. It’s about winning games and doing it the right way.
“I know there’ve been a lot of great players that have come through this program and played at high levels in college and stuff,” Bell said. “I just want to stand out because there are so many legacies [that have] been made here. When [people] talk about Isaac [Andrews] and Grant [Evans] and all of them, you could put my name in there, too. I just want to be looked at how those dudes are looked at.”
Andrews said that will be a really good possibility.
“The hard part about it is being able to win and to be a leader that your teammates want to follow,” Andrews said. “He has all the tools and the potential needed. He’s put himself in a great position to be the next to carry the torch, and I think he can. I’m just excited to see him continue to develop.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
Sophomore guard Camden Bell hugs senior guard Isaac Andrews after the loss against Brownstown Central March 30, 2024, at IHSAA State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Wapahani lost to Brownstown Central 55-36. AMBER PIETZ, DN
Cardinals Fall in MAC Home Opener
Ball State broke a four-game win streak with 80-72 loss to Miami (OH).
Zach Carter Sports Editor
After the Ball State Cardinals and Miami Redhawks met in Worthen Arena the evening of Jan. 7 for the latest installment of the battle of the Redbirds, Ball State men’s basketball head coach Michael Lewis was happy with his team’s effort. But even with the red and white’s positive spirits, some defensive miscues by the Cardinals allowed Miami to take the 80-72 victory.
“[I’m] disappointed with our attention to detail defensively in the second half,” Lewis said. “Some things that we had in the game really broke down … like all good teams do. They took advantage of it.”
[I’m] disappointed with our attention to detail defensively in the second half. Some things that we had in the game really broke down … like all good teams do. They took advantage of it.”
- MICHAEL LEWIS
Ball State men’s basketball head coach
Though the Cardinals had more success on defense in the second half, the Redhawks’ offense continued to battle in the paint as they won that fight with 42 paint points to the Cardinals’ 36.
Leading the way for the Cardinals was senior center Payton Sparks with a double-double consisting of 20 points and 16 rebounds. But at the free-throw line, he was 4-for-10.
“I’ve been working on it with coach, too, but I just wasn’t hitting free throws today,” Sparks said. “I gotta be better.”
Junior guard Jemahri Hill also had 20 points. Redshirt senior forward Mickey Pearson Jr. followed with 12, while graduate student forward Jeremiah Hernandez continued his solid play with 11 points. To Hernandez, it’s been all about his attitude.
“I think everything physically is there, but me and the coaches had to get back on the same page today,” Hernandez said. “I could have competed better and cleaned it up a little bit. But I just thank coach for not giving up on me … I just want to continue doing what I’m doing, and next game, turn it up even more.
Ball State will look to find the win column when they take on Bowling Green at home Jan. 12 at 2 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
Ball State head coach Michael Lewis yells for his team to move against Miami (OH) Jan. 1 at Worthen Arena. Ball State fell 80-72 against the Redhawks. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Senior center Payton Sparks puts the ball up for two against Miami (OH) Jan. 1 at Worthen Arena. The first half of play ended with Redhawks leading by 38-33. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Ball State junior guard Jermarhi Hill jumps for a layup against Miami (OH) Jan. 1 at Worthen Arena. Hill had four personal fouls in the game. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Ball State’s campus was covered in a blanket of snow after a regional winter storm. 14
Community
The Muncie Children’s Museum is hosting a health fair Jan. 25 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. The Ball State College of Health, the Interprofessional Community Clinic and East Central Indiana Area Health Education Center will provide activities, health, and wellness screenings and community resources regarding health. Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Community
Community vaccination event
Open Door Health Services has four free vaccination events in the remainder of January. The event is open to the public and includes free flu shots and COVID-19 vaccinations with no appointment necessary. Those being vaccinated must be at least 5 years old, and insurance will be billed for vaccines when applicable. Details regarding location and times of the events can be found online on Open Doors’ website.
Campus Free and local health fair
Classroom discussion for educators
As a part of the upcoming facultyled professional development series “Welcoming All Voices: Fostering Cultural and Intellectual Diversity,” David Roof will be speaking to his fellow Ball State faculty regarding productive classroom dialogue and inclusive conversation in diverse educational settings. The seminar is available for RSVP and will be held Jan. 16 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in room 301 in the student center.
Ball State’s campus covered in snow after winter weather came through Muncie to begin the 2025 semester Jan. 8 at Ball State University. ANDREW BERGER, DN
How to prevent SEASONAL DEPRESSION
services for students. Students can schedule an appointment with a counselor online via the counseling center website.
SEASONAL DEPRESSION
Winter months bring shorter days, and seasonal depression becomes more common.
Shelby Anderson Reporter
With the shift in season, one’s mood can start to change with the weather. There are a few different ways to battle seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Associate Director for Prevention and Wellness Aubrey Driscoll defines SAD as a type of depression that “occurs typically during certain seasons of the year.” She said it occurs most during winter months.
Driscoll and the Ball State Counseling Center gave some tips and tricks on how to stay happy during the later months and how to cope with SAD.
Therapy sessions
Driscoll said sometimes when people get emotions associated with SAD, they tend to isolate themselves from others, making it harder to get the help they may need. When we talk it out with others, it helps us not withdraw from those who care, Driscoll said.
“Leaning on [those around us] can be helpful,” Driscoll said. Ball State University also offers free and confidential counseling
According to VeryWell Health, therapy can have many benefits. One of the benefits is an improvement in communication skills, sleep and physical well-being.
There are also many different types of therapy, including individual and group therapies, but all have varied benefits, according to VeryWell Health.
Light therapy
Since days are shorter and we’re exposed to less sunlight during winter months, Driscoll recommends light therapy.
Light therapy works by sitting in front of a lamp or other light source and receiving the benefits as if it were sunlight. According to Mayo Clinic, light therapy is a way to get an extra bit of “sunlight” during the later months.
Driscoll recommends those wanting to try light therapy should talk to their health provider to make sure there isn’t any reason why an individual should avoid this.
“Light boxes are designed to deliver a therapeutic dose of bright light to treat symptoms of SAD,” she said.
On and off-campus resources
Ball State offers counseling services free for students, as well as a relaxation room on the third floor of Lucina Hall. The room has massage chairs and coloring sheets and is open for students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To reach Ball State’s counseling center, visit its website to get more information about the services the center provides.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.
Ball State third-year journalism major Madelyn Bracken lays surrounded by motorsport memorabilia Jan. 8 in the Art and Journalism Building. Bracken became hooked on
college. TITUS SLAUGHTER, DN
Both on and off track, women in the world of motorsports are viewed differently.
Madelyn Bracken
Madelyn Bracken is a third-year journalism major and writes “Back Between Villages” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the paper.
Growing up in Indiana surrounded me with two things: racing and basketball. Originally, neither mattered to me. At the end of my sophomore year of college, I saw a clip of former Formula 1 (F1) World Drivers Champion Sebastian Vettel bowing to his winning Red Bull race car in 2013 on my Instagram feed, following a slew of videos infiltrating my Tik Tok for you page. From there, I was hooked.
From a young age, I could not like things a “normal” amount. When I like something, I dive in head first, drowning myself in the history and current news.
F1 was no different.
I didn’t stop with F1. I discovered all the feeder series; legends like Aryton Senna and Michael Schumacher, as well as current drivers like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris; MotoGP; NASCAR; and most importantly, my home state’s beloved Indycar.
I loved the sights and sounds, the speed, the history and the stories. I learned as much as I could about as many series as I could. It came to a point where I had nowhere to share my knowledge and feelings. That’s when I created my TikTok account.
I began my account in July 2024 after following a slew of other F1 content creators and watching them get invited to the Grand Prix and meet their favorite drivers. I wanted to join these conversations, but upon doing so, I quickly realized I had to earn my place.
The more I talked about motorsports on and off social media, the more comments I got about women in motorsports. I was being tested by other racing fans — who were usually men — asking me to explain racing terms they assumed I did not know. I remember when I was first asked what a drag reduction system (DRS) is. I was even asked if I actually watched the races or if I just was a fan of the sport’s “hot drivers.”
As I started to build my community and talk to more women through my account, I discovered what I had already assumed was true: This is a universal experience.
Comment after comment under videos of men tearing down women for enjoying a sport these men claimed as their own. One of the most angering posts I saw was a photo thread containing “all the ways women will ruin the sport,” with the final slide reading “#banfangirls.”
I remember my heart sinking. This community that I was so excited to be a part of clearly did not welcome me or other women. The comments were full of men agreeing and adding to all the ways women ruin “their” sport.
According to RTR Sports marketing, 70 percent of the followers on the official F1 account were female. The CEO of Formula One Group, Stefano Domenicali said that in 2022, 40 percent of F1 fans were female. Motorsports travel company Grand Prix Grand Tours reports that 50 percent of their client base are women.
The fanbase is seeing growth in all areas, not just off the track and on social media. In 2019, women made up 20 percent of Grand Prix attendees. And in the past four years, that number has grown to almost a third, according to the F1 Academy.
The emergence of things like the F1 Academy, a single-seater spec series featuring young female racers aged 16-25, has brought more
attention to women in the sport from both a fan and athlete standpoint. While the women of the F1 Academy are incredibly inspiring young women — and the director of the academy, Susie Wolff, has driven in F1 — the academy poses a few problems.
It supports limited race weekends, unlike F2 and F3 — all of which are feeder series of young drivers trying to make their way to the top. F2 and F3 consist of only young men. Combined, the two series support 15 race weekends, with F3 competing in a few less than F2.
The academy only supports six.
Car specs and requirements are vastly different from their F2 and F3 counterparts, comparable due to the similar age and level of driving. The F1 Academy drives a Tatuus F4-T421 chassis, the same spec as the Formula 4 Junior series car. It is slower and an overall inequivalent car to its male counterparts in F2 and F3.
This sport is as much mine as any other person. The opinion of these people can no longer hold me back.”
While this may seem a nitpick of the series, the reality is that F2 and F3 drivers, due to their car’s ability, are more prepared to test and drive in F1. The same cannot be said for F1 Academy drivers, many of which end up testing in Formula E, Hypercar, or other single- and double-seater series.
Female drivers like Chloe Chambers and Bianca Bustamante both participated in the 2024 F1 Academy season. Both are set to return but are working on their careers in the off-season. Both Bustamante and Chambers will test in Formula E — Bustamante testing with NEOM McLaren and Chambers testing with Andretti Formula E. Chambers has also participated in the IMSA series and recently signed with the Red Bull Ford Academy for the 2025 season. This is an important step as Red Bull has been the dominant team in F1 for years, especially with the addition of Max Verstappen. Their programs are most likely to push drivers to F1, featuring drivers like Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson.
However, this possibility for success should be extended to each of the drivers in the academy, just as much as the drivers in F2 and F3. These differences can discourage young fans and cause frustration in the community due to inequalities.
There have also been problems with female influencers being
Check out Madelyn Bracken’s TikTok!
invited to races and giving female fans a bad name. Under the Liberty Media Group, there has been an influx of influencers invited to Grand Prix races to advertise the sport, but many fans view it in a negative light.
These influencers have often posted about just being there for “hot drivers,” which has heightened the stereotype of a female fan. Many female content creators stepped out, fighting the stereotype and urging F1 and Liberty Media to invite people who truly care about the sport to races.
As a female who creates motorsport content, this was something I felt strongly about. I felt like I had to watch what I posted to make sure I didn’t get comments about only watching based on the attractiveness of drivers or not understanding the sport.
But monitoring my content did nothing to stop the stereotype. That’s when I decided I needed to stop caring. I love this sport, all of its series, the highest highs and lowest lows. So, why let someone take that from me?
This sport is as much mine as any other person. The opinion of these people can no longer hold me back. In moments of doubt, I remember the words of one of my biggest inspirations in the world of motorsport, sports journalist and F1 commentator Laura Winter.
“To the women and girls in motorsport, to the huge and growing number of female fans, it seems to be a good time to remind you, that we are here to stay and we are right where we belong,” Winter said.
I am right where I belong.
Contact Madelyn Bracken via email at madelyn.bracken@bsu. edu or on X @madelyn_bracken
Columnist, “Back Between Villages”
Ball State third-year journalism major Madelyn Bracken poses for a photo in a motorsport hat Jan. 8 at the Art and Journalism Building. Bracken runs a TikTok account where she discusses her love of the sport. TITUS SLAUGHTER, DN
Blankets of Snow
A major winter storm hit Indiana, leaving parts of the state with several inches of snow.
Ball State students walk to class facing the cold of a fresh snow storm Jan. 8 at Ball State University. ANDREW BERGER, DN
RIGHT: Frog Baby is photographed surrounded by snow Jan. 8 at Ball State University. ANDREW BERGER, DN
BELOW: The frogs of Frog Baby Fountian are photographed covered in snow Jan. 8 at Ball State University. ANDEW BERGER, DN
A Ball State student walks past the Robert Bell Building bundled up due to cold temperatures Jan. 8 at Ball State Unversity. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Crossword & Sudoku
12 Flight selection
Slant
Awestruck 23 French deity 25 “Love It or List It” channel 26 Pepsi or Coke 27 Way off
28 “Heavens to Betsy!”
29 Bird on Mexico’s flag
30 Triage ctrs.
31 Toys to play around with? 34 Beaver’s construction 36 French fashion magazine
co-star Cary
Spaces
Bundle of hay
Latin shorthand in a bibliography
Consumes
Thoroughfare without tolls
Knight’s title
Befitting an offspring
Upper limbs 8 Corp. leader 9 Pt. of SASE 10 Enraging, with “off” 11 Show respect, in a way
Map line 38 Some beers 41 Not doing much
Con artist 46 Come forth
Greek goddesses of vengeance 48 Actress Drescher
51 “Chicago” actor Richard
52 In the past 54 Simplicity
55 “__ boy!”: “Well done!”
56 “More or __”
59 Bookmarked link
60 “Yep” opposite 61 Report card no.
