ONE GOAL TWO TEAMS,
Ball State’s basketball teams are getting ready to start the 2024-25 season with championship goals in mind.
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
ANDREW BERGER, DN
MYA CATALINE, DN
BRAYDEN GOINS, DN
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VOL. 104 ISSUE: 12
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CORRECTION
In the Oct. 24 issue of the Ball State Daily News, the bottom left photo on pg. 11 has an incorrect tense in the second sentence on Willie Snead. Snead was signed by the Browns in 2014. On pg. 19, the location for “Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.” is incorrectly listed as Schafer Theater. The play took place at Strother Theater.
To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
4-DAY WEATHER FORECAST
Noah Gordon, Weather forecaster, Benny Weather Group
Happy Halloween Happy Halloween
The Daily News design staff has hidden six ghosts throughout the paper this week in the spirit of Halloween. See if you can find them all!
Indianapolis doctor has license suspended
Oct 26. Attorney General Todd Rokita secured a suspension of the medical license of an Indianapolis doctor, Scott Mimms, after he was charged with 114 counts of violating laws regulating his medical practice and control substance prescribing, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General. According to the press release, “The Indiana Medical Licensing Board found that Dr. Mimms failed to exercise reasonable care and diligence; unlawfully prescribed Schedule II controlled substances for weight loss; and administered anesthesia in a facility without the proper accreditation to do so and without any additional providers trained in anesthesia present at the time of the surgeries.”
Cross country MAC Championship
Nov. 2: Ball State is set to host the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship race Nov. 2 on its home course. During the team’s last outing at Bowling Green State University during the Falcon Invitational Oct. 18, the Cardinals placed fifth amongst 12 teams and finished the meet with a total of 102 points. Senior Carly Spletzer is leading the Cardinals with consistent sub-20-minute performances. At the Joe Piane Invite Oct. 4 at Notre Dame, Spletzer ran a 17.48.8-minute 5k, which was nearly a minute faster than her prior performance during the team’s season opener. This is the first time Ball State has hosted the MAC Championship race since 2011.
BRENDEN ROWAN, JESSICA BERGFORS, JULAIN BONNER DN ILLUSTRATION
COMPETITIVE, PHYSICAL, TOUGH BASKETBALL
Soccer
Ball State will end its 2024 campaign when the red and white face Toledo Oct. 31. The Cardinals will not advance since they sit as the No. 11 team in the conference with a 2-6-2 MAC record and a 7-8-2 overall record. Toledo is tied for the No. 8 team and a win could help them make the MAC Championship.
Women’s Volleyball
Buckley Offensive Player of the Week
Junior opposite Madison Buckley earned the honors after leading all Mid-American Conference (MAC) players with a .595 attack percentage in two matches against Northern Illinois. Ball State swept both matches 3-0, propelling itself to a 7-4 conference record, 14-8 overall. The Cardinals are back in action Nov. 1 in Worthen Arena against Eastern Michigan.
Men’s Tennis Cardinals end season against Toledo
Ball State ends fall play for year
The Cardinals closed out their fall season last weekend as the red and white competed in the Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship. Seniors Peter Petrovic and Ian Brady won their flights throughout the three-day tournament. The Cardinals return to action next year when they face Michigan Jan. 11 at 5 p.m.
Ball State men’s basketball is gearing up for its 202425 campaign and has its sight set on a conference championship.
Zach Carter, Derran Cobb, David Moore Sports Editor, Associate Sports Editors
Coming off a 15-16 overall record and a 7-11 record in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Ball State men’s basketball is looking for better results in the 2024-25 season. Ranked as the No. 7 MAC team in the preseason rankings, they have their eyes set on competing in the conference tournament at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
Though six Cardinals are returning from last year, seven new names will wear a Ball State uniform this season as four transfers and three freshmen have made their way to Muncie. Throw in former Cardinal and MAC Freshman Player of the Year Payton Sparks, who returned after one season at Indiana University, and the roster looks vastly different from 10 months ago. The new Ball State squad only has one goal: Do whatever it takes to win.
“We’re going to have a good basketball team,” Lewis said. “I [talked about] the pieces, but can we get them to fit together? That’s my job, and their job is to make a few individual sacrifices in order to do so.”
‘You got to adapt to every day’
Although Lewis has been critical of it at times, he knows the landscape of college sports is rapidly changing — and he must too.
“I think you got to adapt to every day,” Lewis said. “I think college athletics is changing daily. There’s been some conferences out west that have gained and lost institutions each day.”
With UMass Amherst joining the MAC in less than 12 months, the former Indiana guard and third-year Cardinals’ coach believes the conference has to embrace the change and find where each program can improve.
“Not only as a coach, but I think your institution, your athletic department, you have to have some
very forward-thinking ideas,” Lewis said. “You can’t sit back and be like, ‘Hey, it’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out.’ I think we all know what kind of direction it’s going and how it may play out ... What are we doing to stay out in front of it? What are we doing across the country at each institution, to continue to develop resources to continue to try to be as competitive as you possibly can?”
But while he’s looked across college basketball to find ideas for improvement, Lewis thinks the competitive angle begins inside a program and depends on the players.
Throughout last season, the Cardinals struggled in multiple areas. Injuries, oncourt mistakes and even distractions , like former Cardinal Jarron “Boogie” Coleman leaving late in the off-season, led to poor results. The latter is something Lewis wants to correct, even if the issues were “outside of his control.”
‘I know how we run this program’
The Cardinals will see six players return to the team in the upcoming campaign, garnering them a lot of experience and knowledge of what Lewis wants the team to be this coming season. That vision is to allow his older players to take charge of the team.
Having as many returners as the Cardinals do, there are multiple players to lean on to step into that role. Redshirt senior Mickey Pearson Jr., sophomore Mason Jones and Sparks are a few key pieces returning for Ball State.
We’re going to have a good basketball team. I [talked about] the pieces, but can we get them to fit together? That’s my job, and their job is to make a few individual sacrifices in order to do so.”
- MICHAEL LEWIS, Head coach
“I did not handle those [moments] particularly well,” Lewis said. “When your leading scorer walks out the door and transfers to Nebraska in August, I knew we weren’t who we needed to be to be competitive. I allowed some of that frustration to boil over.”
“I know what to expect with college basketball,” Pearson Jr. said. “ I know what to expect from coach Lewis, so it’s just about trying to get guys in the right places, talking to them and being more vocal than I’ve been.”
Jones, while only being a sophomore, is taking the challenge of becoming a mentor to heart while also knowing there’s still much for him to learn.
“I learned a lot from [my first] season,” Jones said. “I’ve continued to try to learn from them, as well kept being a sponge. But I feel like I have a leadership role as well along with the other guys. I know how we run this program and what’s expected of us.”
Last season the Cardinals were missing a big piece of their backcourt in graduate student Ethan Britain-Watts. A season-ending leg injury last year forced the Indianapolis native to use a medical redshirt after his surgery.
“It feels very good to be back,” Britain-Watts said. “I just want to get better and do what I can to contribute to on-the-court things right now.”
Britain-Watts wasn’t the only Cardinal to suffer injuries last season with redshirt senior Ben Hendriks battling through a multitude of them. Watching Hendriks fight through injuries and continuing to produce for Ball State has been a motivation for Britain-Watts coming into this year. With the backcourt regaining crucial players, the Cardinals’ frontcourt has gained some additions of its own. Seniors Hendriks, Sparks and sophomore Zane Doughty will be a focal point on the court this season.
Each individual is coming back from different backgrounds, with Doughty finishing his freshman season, Sparks transferring back home, and Hendriks having battled injuries all through last season.
The addition of Sparks this season has come with an “iron sharpens iron” mentality. For Doughty and Hendriks, going against him daily in practice presents challenges.
“I’ve had to get tougher down [in the paint],” Hendriks said. “Playing the best in the league, that’s going to help you out. That way I get better, and naturally, he’ll get better as well.”
Sparks’ return to the Cardinals was a decision made to come back to what he knew best.
“I wanted to finish my career off the right way,” Sparks said. “Coming back to a familiar place, having fun my senior year, playing with good guys and coach Lewis again, and where my family can come to all my games too. It’s just a really good feeling.”
Lewis loves the experience on the Cardinals roster but also knows it can take time for that leadership to be fully embraced.
Head coach Michael Lewis gives a pep talk during a game against Bowling Green Jan. 30, 2023, at Worthen Arena. Ball State went 15-16 (7-11 Mid-American Conference) in the 2023-24 season. ANDREW BERGER, DN
‘They should understand what it takes to win and lose at this level’
Lewis went into the transfer portal seeking athletes who would fit right into his culture. He said in the current era of college sports, getting those experienced players is something coaches must do.
“We’ve got 17 [and] 18 year olds coming in competing against 22 [and] 23 year olds that have all that experience,” he said. “That’s something that we sought out in recruiting. Those guys that fit in very well.”
He added that on top of the experience those older players offer, their leadership will be important to the success of the team.
Redshirt freshman Kentucky transfer Joey Hart said the number one reason he chose Ball State over other schools once entering the portal was Lewis.
“It was easy because coach [Lewis] is super tough, and you have to be tough just like him,” Hart said.
Hart appeared in just seven games in Lexington before redshirting the rest of the season. In high school, he was an Indiana All-Star and IndyStar Mr. Basketball finalist his senior year. He averaged 23.6 points per game, shooting around 40 percent from the perimeter and leading Linton-Stockton to the class-2A state finals.
Graduate student and Southern Indiana transfer Jeremiah Hernandez echoed the fact that Lewis was the main driving force behind his commitment. He said the culture Lewis has been creating for the past two years attracted him to the team.
“He has brought in [the right] people, and it speaks to how they recruit too. People with good character, and the team has a lot of good guys,” he said. “It’s easy to buy in when you have guys with you that also want to buy in.”
Hernandez began his collegiate career at Kent
State where he logged minutes in 52 games and six starts over two seasons after redshirting his freshman year. In his time with the Golden Flashes, he averaged 3.2 points per game.
It was in Evansville that he had his best production. As a redshirt senior, Hernandez averaged a team-high 17.2 points per game, ranking fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) — earning him a First Team All-OVC selection. That season he scored 25 points or more in seven games and set a school record for free throws, sinking 16-out-of-16 against Little Rock.
He said he’ll take all of his past experiences and use them as fuel for his final year of college basketball.
“I just want to use everything I’ve learned from up to this point to win games and bring Ball State to the MAC Championship,” he said.
Junior Portland transfer Juanse Gorosito expressed that he is most excited to be playing in a good conference, but he also explained that Lewis’ culture is what enticed him. Gorosito played in 66 games at Portland, starting 29 of them. He averaged 8.6 points per game shooting 35 percent from the perimeter.
Another Cardinal pickup is junior guard Jermahri Hill, who transferred from South Plains College. In his time with the Texans, Hill started 33 of 35 games, averaging 14.3 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists – leading South Plains to the Elite Eight of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division-I Tournament with a 32-3 record.
Ball State opens up its 2024-25 campaign Nov. 4 against Georgia State in Atlanta as part of the MAC-SBC (Sun Belt Conference) challenge.
Contact the Sports Section via email at sports@ bsudailynews.com or on X @dn_sports.
Ball State women’s basketball
Elijah Poe, Logan Connor Reporter, Associate Sports Editor
There is an elephant in the room for the Ball State women’s basketball program. Head coach Brady Sallee knows it’s the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship.
Alongside Sallee, the Cardinals have one end goal: win the MAC Championship and play in the NCAA National Tournament.
Sallee said he believes the 2024-25 squad could be the most physical team he has coached and feels comfortable with their ability to be physical.
“We lost a lot, but we gained a lot too,” senior Ally Becki said. “It’s been good. We’ve been competing a lot, and it is bringing out more competitiveness.”
New Faces
Ball State lost multiple players to the transfer portal, but its biggest loss was Nyla Hampton, the 2024 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Although the Cardinals lost key players, Ball State added four transfers.
When Sallee evaluated his team’s two major losses of the past season — Toledo and Kent State — the Cardinals got beat in the paint. So, Sallee said he tried to gain size in the transfer portal by picking up centers Maliyah “MJ” Johnson from Texas A&M and Tessa Towers from Wisconsin. The Cardinals also picked up a forward in Elise Stuck from the University of Michigan.
“Their size jumps off the paper,” Sallee said. “That has been just what the doctor has ordered.”
Sallee said he quickly figured out just how versatile the transfers really are and said that it
brings a spark.
Senior Marie Kiefer said the added size brings a better presence by making it easier to rebound, box out and work together as a unit in the paint. She said the offense has changed slightly with the added size but is still quick in transitions and can get the ball moving.
The final transfer, Lachelle Austin, a 5-foot-7-inch senior transferred from MAC foe Eastern Michigan, comes to Muncie familiar with Sallee’s program.
“Every time [Eastern Michigan] played [Ball State], it was a hassle. We were fighting for our lives, so I knew I wanted to be a part of something where I can grow and also win games,” Austin said.
It is no secret the Cardinals had an explosive offense last season; the offense was ranked No. 38 in the NCAA rankings with points per game.
One of the things that excited Sallee most in the preseason was transfers being able to play in the Ball State system and running a similar offense to last year.
“It is a very hard offense to guard,” Johnson said. “… With the way the game has changed overall, it prepares us not only just now but if we want to play pro basketball.”
‘The Core Four’
The Cardinals are in the final year of “The Core Four” — those being Becki, Keifer, senior Alex Richard and senior Madelyn Bischoff.
When Becki, Bischoff and Kiefer first got to Ball State, they were coming in post-COVID-19. Sallee said that the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) era was just getting rolling and players were leaving programs left and right.
Senior center Payton Sparks goes up for a basket in a MAC Tournament Quarterfinal game against Ohio at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse March 9, 2023, in Cleveland. Sparks returns to Ball State this season still being No. 3 in BSU history in scoring as a freshman. JACY BRADLEY, DN
Senior Madelyn Bischoff dribbles the ball downcourt against Kent State March 15 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. Bischoff was named Academic All-MAC athlete for the 2023-2024 season. MYA CATALINE, DN
BASKETBALL
Continued from Page 05
Becki, Bischoff and Kiefer never left. The trio also added Butler transfer Richard just a year later.
“Those guys stayed true to Ball State,” Sallee said. “They stayed true to the program … If you could hang banners in the gym for loyalty, those kids would be no-brainers for what they did to this program.”
Becki said it is hard to think about the possibility of a last time with her teammates.
“[I am] just trying to take every day one step at a time and just soak it all in,” Becki said. “It has been a long four years but a quick four years at the same time.”
The bond for the group goes beyond the court. “It is sad because this could be our last year of living all together, always practicing every day [and] seeing each other every day,” Kiefer said. “It is just crazy.”
Bischoff, alongside her teammates, said it has been surreal to be in her senior season.
“I swear I was just a freshman,” Bischoff said. “… I remember sophomore year thinking. “Two more years — that is so long.” And now I am here, and it’s like, ‘Where did that time go?’”
They have been working toward one goal together since they came to campus: a MAC Championship win.
“This is our last time. There is not another chance,” Richard said. “Being able to stay motivated and keep that as our goal is going to get us far.”
The loyalty aspect drives Sallee to deliver a longawaited trophy at the end of the season.
“They’ve won and done that part of it. Now, there is just one prize left to take care of them. We certainly all want that,” he said.
Other Returners
Apart from The Core Four and the new transfers, the Cardinals also returned sophomores Hailey and Olivia Smith, sophomore Ashlynn Brooke and junior Sydney Bolden.
Bolden said the new additions fit nicely with the returnees.
“It’s the best thing ever,” she said. “We see somebody go hard, [and] that makes you want to go even harder, so it’s a competitive thing. I would say it helps a lot, mentally, and they’re going to have your back regardless.”
Olivia said she is excited to compete with her twin sister, Hailey, for another season.
Brooke was injured late in the season last year with a knee injury. Sallee said she has been practicing but is not fully competitive as she is still in rehab.
Sallee said the Cardinals plan to address how she is progressing and will eventually have to decide if it is worth taking a redshirt year.
“We have to do the best for her, regardless of what we need or don’t need,” Sallee said.
New Kids on the Block
The Cardinals added two freshmen, Zuri Ransom and Grace Kingery.
“They are good,” Sallee said. “As hard as it might be for a freshman to crack this lineup, those
On
paper, [fans] have a chance to watch, not just a really good MAC team, they have a chance to watch one of the best in the country this year with our program.”
- BRADY SALLEE,
Head coach
two are talented enough. They are going to have to play and get minutes.”
Sallee said Ransom is a do-it-all guard and plays most like former All-MAC Toledo guard Quinesha Lockett.
Sallee said Kingery has been what he expected her to be: a flat-out shotmaker.
“She may be the most coachable kid on the team,” Sallee said. “… Right now, she is a kid that can stretch the defense, will get it off anywhere and gets it off quick.”
Sallee said he has been thrilled with the young freshman adjusting to college basketball with high skill levels.
Scheduling
Sallee said scheduling for non-conference was a challenge this offseason. Some of the teams they reached out to didn’t want to add Ball State to their schedules.
Sallee said the non-conference slate is full of strong teams this year. The Battle 4 Atlantis Nov. 23-25 will kick off the season.
“What we’re doing in the Bahamas, starting off with North Carolina … That’s kind of the creme de la creme of tournaments,” Sallee said.
Sallee said that through scheduling tougher opponents, he hopes to build a stronger team going into the postseason. He said the Cardinals want to play tougher opponents and compete with more Power 4 teams.
“These kids — Ally, Maddie, Marie and Alex’s final year — plus all these kids that have transferred in here, they don’t want to just come and play a bunch of patsies, you know, they want to play at a certain level,” Sallee said.
With some things surrounding the program being uncertain, Sallee said he is certain about one thing: Fans are going to want to be a part of this program.
“I mentioned those four seniors that are returning; those four kids have stayed loyal to this community in this university and this program, and they deserve the community coming out and showing that love back,” he said. “… On paper, [fans] have a chance to watch, not just a really good MAC team, they have a chance to watch one of the best in the country this year with our program.”
The Cardinals open up their season Nov. 4 in Worthen Arena against Old Dominion with the tip set for 6:30 p.m.
Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu. edu or on X @ElijahPoe4.
Contact Logan Connor via email at logan. connor@bsu.edu or on X @_loganconnor.
Senior Alex Richard pushes the basket against Kent State March 15 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. Richard scored a combined 35 points in the Cardinals last two conference games of the regular season in 2023-24.
ANDREW BERGER, DN
Senior Marie Kiefer attempts to save the ball in a game against Akron in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals March 8, 2023, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. Kiefer started in all 34 games for the Cardinals during the 2023-2024 season.
AMBER PIETZ, DN
gather for third debate Indiana Governor candidates
Candidates gathered in the state’s capital to showcase key campaign points in the final debate ahead of Election Day 2024. 10
National Native villages in Alaska face voting barriers
Residents of Alaska’s far-flung native villages are not guaranteed the ability to cast a ballot ahead of Election Day 2024, according to the Associated Press. A shuttered polling station represents the latest example of voting challenges in Alaska’s remote villages.
State
Indiana voucher expansion shifts private school funding
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, a new report from FutureEd shows that Indiana’s expanded private school voucher system has inspired similar efforts in other states. Now, taxpayer funds for private education total $4 billion for 569,000 students in eight states, with more states set to follow by 2025.
State
Lawmakers consider attorney pension upgrades
Indiana prosecutors and public defenders urge lawmakers to boost pensions to address attorney shortages. According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, attorneys highlight that low pay and heavy caseloads push prosecutors to the private sector while others advocate for including public defenders in the retirement fund.
Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick (left) speaks as Republican candidate Sen. Mike Braun (middle) and Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater listen during a debate for Indiana governor, hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission at WFYI Oct. 24 in Indianapolis. AP PHOTO/DARRON CUMMINGS, POOL
The History of Halloween
The festivities of the spooky-themed celebration go beyond baskets of candy.
TricK or TreAtinG
TricK or TreAtinG
Trick-or-treating rose in popularity in the 1950s, and it inspired candy companies to market small, individually wrapped candies. Until the mid-20th century, the “treats” children received were not necessarily candy. Things like fruit, nuts, coins and toys were just as likely to be given out.
HalLoweEn’s originS date bacK more tHan
2,000 YeArS 2,000
GodLy sacRifices
During Samhain Eve, Celts often wore costumes to confuse spirits, perhaps to avoid being possessed, and impersonate ancestors during their animal sacrifices to them and the gods. The costumes defied societal “normalcy.”
Trick-or-treating in its early stages meant going to one’s house and engaging in comedic acts in exchange for food or drink.
YeArS
On what we consider Nov. 1, Europe’s Celtic people celebrated their New Year’s Day, called Samhain. On Samhain Eve — what we know as Halloween — spirits were thought to walk the Earth as they traveled to the afterlife.
tHe NatiOnal LibRary of Medicine conCluded
9% of AmericanS beliEve in witChCrafT.
HalLoweEn’s religiOus influEnCes
In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV dubbed Nov. 1 All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Day. The night before Samhain continued to be observed with bonfires, costumes and parades, though under a new name: All Hallows’ Eve — later “Halloween.”
HalLoweEn in tHe United States
European immigrants brought Halloween to the United States. It really took off in the 1800s with an influx of Irish immigration. Anoka, Minnesota, is home to the country’s oldest official Halloween celebration. In 1920, the city began staging a parade and bonfire.
HalLoweEn UrBan LegenDs
HalLoweEn
UrBan
LegenDs
It is commonly believed black cats are sacrificed on Halloween, given their association with bad luck.
There is no evidence that adopting black cats around Halloween poses any greater risk to the pets than adopting them at any other time of the year.”
- FRANCIS BATTISTA, Writer for Best Friends Animal Society
Source:
KATE HILL, CONTRIBUTOR; JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
The candidates enforced their stances on key issues, including education, the economy and abortion.
Olivia Ground, Katherine Hill Digital Managing Editor, News Editor
Closing in on the final week of campaigning before election day, Indiana’s gubernatorial candidates gathered for a third and final debate in Indianapolis.
All three governor candidates were present, including Donald Rainwater (L) — who was not invited to the first debate in early October — Jennifer McCormick (D) and Mike Braun (R).
During the debate, the candidates tackled issues, such as the economy, abortion, education, property taxes and more.
McCormick and Rainwater met with reporters following the debate, while Braun declined the invitation before the debate began, according to the Indiana Debate Commission.
Economy and Property Taxes
McCormick said the economy depends on human capital and related topics like healthcare, reproductive freedoms and the prioritization of education. These topics are about “common sense and balance,” McCormick said. McCormick repeated this key phrase throughout the debate, as it is a key platform point in her “common sense” campaign plan.
Braun cited his 20 years of firsthand experience as a small-town businessman, living “the American dream.” Braun said if a politician has ideas on what to do within their position, it’s “important that [they]’ve lived through it.”
Braun said Indiana has a plethora of economic potential that needs to be spread across all four corners of the state, from small businesses to entrepreneurs.
Rainwater said the reality for many Hoosier families includes sitting down at their kitchen table amongst a pile of bills and high grocery receipts due to the consequences of inflation.
“The reality is we don’t need more jobs,” Rainwater said, citing the state’s current worker shortage data, published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
According to that data, there are 72 workers available for every 100 jobs open. There are 162,000 jobs open and 117,400 unemployed workers.
Rainwater assured Hoosiers he has plans to not only lower property
taxes but to end them altogether, saying that he believes communities have other ways to fund things property taxes contribute to, like firefighters, police and schools.
He did not specify what these sources of alternative funding would be but suggested that communities could stop funding “vanity projects” and brought up “tax increment financing” as a potential solution.
Education and School Choice
Both Braun and Rainwater shared support for school vouchers, which are typically used by wealthy families who eschew public school systems. McCormick has called for a pause on the program and more accountability for schools getting public dollars.
Braun additionally emphasized the idea of career-based training in Indiana to align with the state’s agricultural values and ensure employment rates for ensuing decades.
“We need to align [education] in a way that is data-driven and creating skill training based on high-demand, high-paying jobs,” he said Rainwater said he was “100 percent in favor” of universal school choice but underscored that, in his view, public school systems were a monopoly, “and monopolies traditionally drive down quality and drive up cost.”
Similarly in the realm of education, heated conversation sparked when McCormick criticized Braun’s comments which said McCormick’s only time in public service was during her four years as Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“Shame on you. I was a teacher for 25 years, and if we’re saying that teachers aren’t public service, that sends a true message to Hoosiers of who you are,” McCormick said.
Gun Safety and Policies
All three candidates shared pro-gun points with varying policy plans. McCormick, a self-proclaimed gun owner, asserted that she wants to listen to state police and local law enforcement, continue to enforce red flag laws, and to ensure “get people care when they are vulnerable,” referring to mental health care and resources.
Braun said he also plans to continue enforcing red flag laws to “keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill.” McCormick pointed out that Braun’s running mate, Beckwith, has said in past Facebook posts that Beckwith sees red flag laws as “unconstitutional.”
Rainwater says he is opposed to red flag laws because he does not believe the government has the right to enforce who can and cannot own a gun.
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
Braun doubled down and supported legislation like 2022’s Senate Bill 1, which bans abortion in the state. Braun said legislators had “vetted” the bill and provided “reasonable exceptions.” He called the bill a “good product” and said it reflected the views of the majority of Hoosiers.
McCormick countered, saying the bill was not well vetted and could not have considered the views of Hoosiers because there is not a ballot initiative in Indiana, which she vows to implement.
Rainwater did not provide a clear stance on abortion, but said Hoosiers should “make their voices heard to legislators.”
In a past interview with the Ball State Daily News, Rainwater stated he was a “pro-life libertarian” but believed that medical decisions — including abortions, COVID restrictions and vaccinations — should not be left to the government.
Marijuana Regulation
All three candidates called for the legalization of marijuana in varying degrees.
Braun called for the legalization of medical usage of marijuana, saying he would work with law enforcement and use medical legalization to “see what happens” before deciding on recreational usage.
McCormick pointed to her “common sense cannabis plan,” calling it a bipartisan-approved plan that starts with medical usage legalization, the creation of a cannabis commission and learning from other states to pursue a plan of eventual recreational legalization.
Rainwater said all forms of marijuana usage, medical and recreational, should be “legalized immediately.” He said there is no need for commissions and the “inalienable right to what you put in your body is not up for discussion”
All voting registration deadlines have passed in the state and early voting is already underway. Election Day is Nov. 5.
Contact Olivia Ground and Katherine Hill via email at olivia. ground@bsu.edu or katherine.hill@bsu.edu.
Republican candidate Sen. Mike speaks during a debate for Indiana governor, hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission at WFYI Oct. 24 in Indianapolis. AP PHOTO/DARRON CUMMINGS, POOL
Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater speaks during a debate for Indiana governor, hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission at WFYI Oct. 24 in Indianapolis. AP PHOTO/DARRON CUMMINGS, POOL
Democratic candidate Jennifer McCormick speaks during a debate for Indiana governor, hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission at WFYI Oct. 24 in Indianapolis. AP PHOTO/DARRON CUMMINGS, POOL
Campus
cooking Family-based
Little Chicagos, a new ItalianAmerican restaurant located in downtown Muncie, aims to help the community grow with an emphasis on family and scratch cooking.
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Tables will be set up near the Ned and Gloria Griner Gallery and bookstore Nov. 4 and Nov. 6 through Nov. 8 in the Art and Journalism Building. The Ball State Print Sale will feature prints, stickers and photography created by students. The sale will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all four days and is open to the public.
Community
Muncie Friends Church is hosting the Quaker Bakery Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be “an assortment of delicious food, just in time for your holiday planning,” according to the Muncie even calender. There will be sweets like buckeyes, peppermint bark and fudge; and also more savory items like pot pies, bread, and chicken and noodles. The duration of the event will be four hours and include a cookie walk.
Community Print Sale Quaker Bakery
Mama’s Market
The inaugural Muncie Mama’s Market will be Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Heartland Hall at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. The event is for “moms of all types,” according to the Muncie even calender, but it is inclusive of everyone and open to all ages. Parking is free, and admission is $2 per person to browse the 50+ vendors who have signed up.
Little Chicagos’ co-owner Summer Hellis sits at a table Oct. 16. Hellis worked with co-owner Dan Stackpoole for around 11 years before starting Little Chicagos with him. JEFFREY DREYER, DN
New Italian-American restaurant, Little Chicagos, named after the deep dish style of pizza, operates along Walnut Street in downtown Muncie.
Hannah Amos Reporter
Family is the single word that describes the goal and mission of Little Chicagos. Managed by Aaron and Rhonda Blake, the husband-wife duo aims to create an atmosphere full of family.
They strive to replicate the feeling of being with family, starting with scratch-cooking in a laughter-filled kitchen and extending to the Italian cafe design of the dining room.
“People can just come and have a good time and celebrate with friends and family and forget all the worries in the world and have a little safe place where they can come and get away,” Aaron said.
A goal for Aaron is to provide a family to his employees or customers, especially if they haven’t felt that connection, through the experience Little Chicagos provides.
“That’s another huge reward because that’s a goal that I’ve had … to be able to be the best boss, the best person, [and] give people opportunities to come to work and enjoy themselves — wake up every morning and want to go to work,” Aaron said.
The family Italian-American restaurant was brought to fruition by concept developer and coowner Dan Stackpoole, making Little Chicagos the 25th restaurant he’s owned.
Growing up in Detroit Italian restaurants, Stackpoole has a special connection with the food.
Little Chicagos’ signature pizza, being the namesake of the restaurant, is a Chicago-style deep dish, personal pan pizzas, which Stackpoole has been making for over 25 years.
“It’s all in the name Little Chicagos,” Stackpoole said. “Little Chicago pizzas [are] our forte. It’s what we’re famous for. Instead of waiting 40
been working with co-owner Summer Hellis for around 11 years before starting Little Chicagos.
The Stackpoole-Hellis partnership began with a restaurant in Pendleton, Indiana. They also have a history in Muncie, when they opened their restaurant Osteria 32, a former Italian restaurant that closed five years ago.
Stackpoole and Hellis opened Osteria 32 — with the help of Mike Martin and the Common Market — because they’ve “always wanted to help Muncie grow,” Stackpoole said. Along with the love of food, that’s why they opened Little Chicagos.
Stackpoole was also excited about a downtown space, with the restaurant located on South Walnut Street, due to the growing downtown culture.
Since opening Aug. 15, the restaurant has been busy, due to the trust Stackpoole and Hellis forged with clientele at Osteria 32, as well as with homemade food and the downtown culture.
train and teach them how to run.”
A part of the reason Stackpoole worked with the Blakes to create Little Chicagos was to forge a legacy and to leave something for the Blakes’ children, having a form of the “American Dream.”
now, and the Blakes and the staff continuously growing, the Blakes, as first-time business owners have seen a lot of changes in the restaurant.
[Rhonda] and I just have a family business that the community could come and enjoy and be a place to leave all your life’s worries at the door and enjoy good food.”
- AARON BLAKE, Manager at Little Chicagos
“People really want an independent restaurant option, scratch cooking versus the chain restaurants on McGalliard [Road], and there’s a big, vibrant downtown community in Muncie,” Stackpoole said.
With Stackpoole and Hellis owning multiple restaurants across the state, they’ve adopted a “hands-off owner style,” and Little Chicagos managers, Aaron and Rhonda, are in charge of the restaurant and its 12 employees.
Having met Aaron through a shared love of flying and getting to know each other while repairing a plane together, Stackpoole broached the subject of opening a restaurant in Muncie with Aaron.
Due to a back injury and surgery, as well as having to be on the road for his job, Aaron spoke Rhonda, and the both of them decided it was time to try the restaurant.
“I need people that can manage to run the restaurant without me having to babysit them. I can trust them,” Stackpoole said. “The idea was to come up with a concept that somebody from zero food restaurant experience, I can put them in and
Aaron, originally from Winchester, Indiana, and Rhonda from Selma, Indiana, have a lot of love for Delaware County and positively contributed to their home county, having been active in the community and connecting with people through the schools and churches.
Running the restaurant now, the Blakes have had former teachers, classmates and other community members come to the restaurant giving them and the restaurant an outpour of support.
“They want to see us thrive,” Rhonda said.
Aaron describes his biggest reward — within the span the restaurant has been open — to be their first customers, two Muncie Central high school students walking through downtown seeing what they could get for $20.
“Providing that, it’s not all about the big sales; it’s about just being open to everybody in the community, offering them the highest quality food that you can get anywhere around here and also being staffed with some of the greatest cooks in Muncie,” Aaron said.
To accomplish this, the staff takes time to make the food. Rhonda, who makes the desserts along with other tasks, makes their tiramisu in four days. On average, it takes 30 minutes for customers to get food, though there is work in fine-tuning the restaurant’s processes and crunching the timelines.
“You need to slow down when you come in here,” Stackpoole said. “This is not fast food. We don’t do huge carry-out orders. The customer dining and restaurant takes priority.”
Aaron and Rhonda describe Little Chicagos as a mom-and-pop restaurant, and slowing down contributes to the mom-and-pop feel of the restaurant.
With Little Chicagos being open for a few months
“Seeing it from what it was before, and working through all of the different changes and the different remodeling and different ideas, to just stand back when the dining room is full and everybody has a plate full of food and be like, ‘Wow. We did this from start to finish,’” Rhonda said.
It’s all in the name Little Chicagos. Little Chicago pizzas [are] our forte. It’s what we’re famous for.”
- DAN STACKPOOLE, Concept developer and co-owner of Little Chicagos
Open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., the Blakes want customers to look forward to “a completely out-of-this-town environment,” along with the weekly cannoli flavors Rhonda makes.
“[Rhonda] and I just have a family business that the community could come and enjoy and be a place to leave all your life’s worries at the door and enjoy good food,” Aaron said.
Contact Hannah Amos via email at hannah. amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_Amos_394.
A personal pizza is photographed Oct. 16 at Little Chicagos. The seven-inch pizza is the restaurant’s signature dish. JEFFREY DREYER, DN
Couple Rhonda and Aaron Blake answer interview questions Oct. 16 at Little Chicagos. The restaurant opened Aug. 15.
JEFFREY DREYER, DN
Fur-ocious Fur-ocious Costumes Costumes
Local pets show off their Halloween costumes.
Lego the cat wears a handmade pumpkin hat during Muncie’s Costumed Creature Crawl Oct. 26 in Muncie, Ind. ELENI BOW, DN
Millie the ferret poses for a portrait with her owners, the Bigham family, during Muncie’s Costumed Creature Crawl Oct. 26 in Muncie, Ind. Millie is often described as “a dog in a ferret suit,” the Bigham family said. ELENI BOW, DN
Dog contestants are photographed lined up for each category Oct. 26 at Canan Commons. There were four categories for the costume contest. KATE TILBURY, DN
Ryder the pitbull/dachshund poses for a portrait during Muncie’s Costumed Creature Crawl Oct. 26 in Muncie, Ind. ELENI BOW, DN
Eight-year-old Summer, a Mini Rex domestic rabbit, stays still to be pet Oct. 26 at Kirk’s Bike Shop in Muncie, Ind. Ben Lewandowski brought in Summer for the first year of the parade, but the business participates yearly. KATE TILBURY, DN
Henry the dachshund (left) and 13-year-old Tinkerbell, a poodle mix, (right) are dressed as Dalmatians with their family Oct. 26 in downtown Muncie, Ind. The Kirby family discovered Tinkerbell enjoys life by always trying to taste something. KATE TILBURY, DN
DNOpinion
Helping Haunts
Horror movies have helped me alleviate my anxiety.
Jayden Vaughn
“The Community Chronicle”
Jayden Vaughn is a second-year journalism major and writes “The Community Chronicle” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
Horror movies have been a big part of my life since childhood.
I already started working through the “Halloween” franchise when I was seven years old. By nine, I had finished almost all of the “Scream” movies. These kinds of movies played in my house nonstop while I was growing up. I never needed the excuse of it being around Halloween to turn on a movie that should have given me nightmares. In my house, horror movies are on all year round.
I‘m sure there weren’t a whole lot of kids in my third-grade class who could tell the difference between Michael Myers and Ghostface, much less explain which movies they starred in and what their famous lines were — if they had any, that is.
I lose myself in the mystery of trying to unmask the killer I’ve already met a thousand times before.”
Before I even reached the age of 10, I had already seen my fair share of blood and gore on my television screen. I swear I wasn’t a morbid kid — I just love a good jump scare.
These movies are still a constant in my life. And not only do I enjoy watching them, but I find watching them to be almost therapeutic.
Watching them is an escape from the real world.
Anxiety is something I have dealt with my entire life, but it is something I have only recently been officially diagnosed with.
I knew I hated the feeling in my chest that I got every time a minor inconvenience came up. I hated how I immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario. I’m no stranger to an anxious downward spiral. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve been told to “calm down” or “relax.”
It was liberating to finally be able to put a name to what I had felt for so many years after my diagnosis in 2022. It was freeing to have a doctor tell me something I already knew, just so I knew I wasn’t crazy.
Even with an official diagnosis, I was told I was better off without medication. Actually, I was told to just close my eyes and take deep breaths. That never seemed to help. It didn’t make sense to me then, but it makes more sense now.
I was a teenager in a world where some kids couldn’t be trusted with pills and prescriptions, and my doctor told me it would be best if I found unmedicated methods to help with my anxiety.
It has taken me a long time to find methods that would help soothe my anxiety whenever it flares up and even longer for me to realize that the methods that work for me might not work for everyone else.
Although it may not be for everyone, I have found watching horror movies to be a good way to reduce my anxiety.
Watching horror movies always gives me an excuse to stop the rampant thoughts running through my head.
Watching horror movies gives us a new focal point for all our worries. Coltan Scrivner, a researcher in the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University of Denmark, who studies the psychology of horror and morbid curiosity, discusses this idea in a 2021 article.
Scrivener wrote, “Once the horror film begins, the viewer still feels anxious, but not about something in their life that they can’t control.”
Watching these films allows my brain to stop overthinking and focus entirely on the people running for their lives on the screen. For some reason, all my problems seem to be put on hold. I lose myself in the mystery of trying to unmask the killer I’ve already met a thousand times before.
When we watch something scary, our fight or flight instinct kicks in. However, once that fear subsides, we get a rush of adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine. According to Integrative Psych, the thrill of fear can be exhilarating to some people.
This adrenaline rush can serve as stress relief and temporarily alleviate tension. Horror movies allow us to experience intense emotions in a controlled setting, and the relief that follows can provide a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.
As long as we know we are in control when the scary situation begins and ends, the satisfaction and relief that may come afterward can be worth it.
These positive feelings after watching a scary movie are just another reason why horror movies are a good way to help with anxiety.
Another possible explanation for why we are drawn to horror films is because of the excitation transfer theory. This theory was popularized by Dolf Zillman, a professor of information sciences, communication and psychology at the University of Alabama.
According to this theory, the fear we experience while watching a scary movie will only intensify the positive emotions we feel later on.
There was a night not too long ago when I couldn’t sleep because my anxiety was spiking. It felt like my heart was about to lurch out of my chest. Looking back now, I can’t even recall the origins of my anxiety that night.
What I do remember, however, is how my heartbeat slowed as I watched the opening credits of “The Conjuring.” I remember how after the movie ended, my anxiety was nothing more than an afterthought.
Of course, horror movies may not be for everyone, and that’s OK. There are so many other ways to help your anxiety, and as long as they work for you, that’s all that matters. Anxiety and stress are different for everybody. There isn’t a wrong or right way to deal with it.
For me, sometimes the answer to comfort lies behind a creepy soundtrack, a mask and a dastardly motive that is just waiting to be uncovered.
Contact Jayden Vaughn via email at jayden. vaughn@bsu.edu.
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
Second-year journalism major Jayden Vaughn poses for a photo Oct. 18 in the Art and Journalism building. Vaughn expresses how watching horror movies allows her to target and reduce her anxiety. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
from the Daily News
