BallStateDailyNews.com
VOL. 104 ISSUE: 04
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Kate Farr, Editor-in-chief
Trinity Rea, Print Managing
Editor
Olivia Ground, Digital Managing
Editor
Katherine Hill, News Editor
Meghan Braddy, Associate News
Editor
Zach Carter, Sports Editor
David Moore, Associate Sports Editor
Derran Cobb, Associate Sports Editor
Ella Howell, Lifestyles Editor, Copy Editor
Maria Nevins, Video Editor, Podcast Editor
Layla Durocher, Social Media
Editor
Andrew Berger,Photo Editor
Isabella Kemper, Associate
Photo Editor
Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor
Brenden Rowan, Visual Editor
Corey Ohlenkamp, Adviser
CORRECTION
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4-DAY WEATHER
AP: Policy shifts over marijuana could impact presidential election
Sept. 3: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) delayed its decision on reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, setting a Dec. 2 hearing for public comment. Vice President Kamala Harris has backed decriminalizing the drug and said it’s “absurd” to have it in the DEA’s Schedule I category alongside heroin and LSD. Harris once oversaw the enforcement of cannabis laws and opposed legalized recreational use for adults in California during her 2010 run for attorney general. Former President Donald Trump signaled support for a Florida legalization measure on Saturday, following earlier comments that he increasingly agrees that people shouldn’t be jailed for the drug, which is now legal in multiple states, according to the Associated Press (AP).
AP: Shooting at Georgia high school leaves four dead and nine injured
Sept. 4: A shooting took place at Apalachee High School outside of Winder, Georgia, leaving two students and two teachers dead, according to AP. Students fled to the outdoor football stadium as officers made their way into the high school, located about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. According to authorities, a 14-year-old suspect is in custody. At least nine other people were taken to hospitals with injuries. Before this shooting, there had been 29 mass killings in the United States in 2024, according to a database maintained by AP and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
Ball State women’s golf begins first road trip of the 2024 season
Sept. 2-3: Ball State kicked off the 2024-25 season with an appearance in Purdue University’s Boilermaker Classic, where the Cardinals finished in 13th place. Leading the way were sophomore JJ Gregston and junior Jasmine Driscoll, who both recorded 74 in their final rounds. Gregston finished tied for 37th place while junior Sarah Gallager finished tied for 43rd. Third-year head coach Cameron Andry’s squad, aside from incoming freshman Sophie Korthuijs, all has at least one year of experience with Ball State. The Cardinals will return to the course when they host the Brittany Kelly Classic at The Players Club Sep. 16-17.
TNS, PHOTO PROVIDED
TNS, PHOTO PROVIDED ZACH CARTER, DN
‘Medical Intervention’ for a First-class Education
State New all-girls STEM school
Indianapolis’ new Girls IN STEM Academy is now open. The academy is an all-girls charter school focused on science, technology, engineering and math. Partnered with Purdue Polytechnic, Paramount Schools and Girl Scouts, the academy plans on addressing racial disparities and providing a supportive environment for young girls passionate about STEM, according to Indiana Capitol Chronicle.
State
Senator honored with monument
State officials unveiled a monument honoring former Indianapolis mayor and Republican senator Richard “Dick” Lugar Sept. 3. Lugar served in the state senate for 36 years. The monument was placed in Lugar Plaza, outside of the Indianapolis City-County Building. Planning for the monument began with civic leader Jim Morris, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Local
Congressional forum open to the public
The candidate forum for Congressional District Five will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Anderson High School auditorium Sept. 12. Those who cannot attend can listen live on Woof Boom Radio (Anderson 101.1 FM, 1240 AM and Muncie 92.5 FM, 1340 AM). The forum will also be live streamed on social media.
House manager David Martin stands in front of Maplewood Guest House Aug. 30 in Muncie, Ind. When Martin received the position, he applied policies and procedures from the university’s housing model. ANDREW BERGER, DN
More Bang for Your Buck
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is introducing a dollar-for-dollar program, allowing more fruits and veggies to be purchased with food stamps.
Katherine Hill News Editor
Walking through the automatic doors of local grocery stores and supermarkets, one is immediately greeted by attentive employees, cooled by an air-conditioned breeze, and drawn to the array of fruits and vegetables. Despite the abundance, not everyone can afford to browse the produce aisles. For decades, federal nutrition programs — created to provide food assistance to the now nearly 42 million Americans benefiting from the initiatives — made it difficult for households to use food stamps to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is making it easier for people across Indiana to eat healthier by implementing Double Up Indiana — a dollar-for-dollar-like program that offers opportunities for Hoosiers to stretch their dollars and purchase more fruits and veggies with food stamps.
According to its 2021 Annual Impact Report, SNAP has provided 76 million pounds of food across the state since 2009. Those considered “Double Up” shoppers redeemed more than $20 million on healthy food in 2021 across the U.S. — an 85 percent increase from 2020.
According to the Double Up Food Bucks website, the new Indiana program is another subcategory of SNAP’s overarching “Food Bucks” initiative, something that began 15 years ago in Michigan.
Michelle Shippy, Food and Medicine director with the Indiana Department of Health’s (IDOH) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA), said Double Up Indiana came to fruition in 2021. The IDOH’s DNPA was awarded a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant and designated $200,000 toward SNAP, matching the success of their “Fresh Bucks” program.
Fresh Bucks is an already-existing subcategory of the Food Bucks initiative. Fresh Bucks began in 2013 out of Marion County, Indiana, and was led by the Indiana Hunger Network.
The Fresh Bucks program impacted 763,962 people in 2021, according to SNAP’s 2021 Annual Impact Report.
The goal was to partner SNAP-qualifying families with local farmers and to ensure families had access to quality produce, according to the Fresh Bucks website. The success of Fresh Bucks became the catalyst for Double Up Indiana — the differences being economic sustainability and a higher level of state-wide expansion.
“The $200,000 grant offer[ed] the Double Up Indiana branding, which ignited programming across the state,” Shippy said.
The impact of Double Up Indiana can be felt across various Indiana in a variety of ways.
“DNPA contracted with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to take the lead in program implementation and expansion,” Shippy said. The partnership has been beneficial because “What may work in one community doesn’t necessarily work in another,” she said.
Mary Tyndall, communications and food programs director at St. Joseph Community Health
Foundation, said recipients of SNAP’s food stamps can have up to $20 worth of fruits and vegetables per day. Each food bank location divides that $20 differently.
some locations, they’ll get a $10 coupon toward their next grocery store visit if they spend $10. Other SNAP food bank locations offer 50 percent purchase discounts when consumers buy produce.
It’s a very good way to help people stretch their budgets and get them to eat more fruits and vegetables.”
- MARRY TYNDALL, Communications and Food Programs Director, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation
At Tyndall’s location in Allen County, Indiana, people get a dollar-for-dollar match when they purchase fruits and vegetables. However, in
“It’s a very good way to help people stretch their budgets and get them to eat more fruits and vegetables,” Tyndall said.
Fresh produce at Fresh Thyme Aug. 25 in Muncie, Ind. For decades, federal nutrition programs made it difficult for households to use food stamps to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
The overarching goal is to improve people’s health in the state of Indiana through diet, something that doesn’t require medical intervention.”
- MARY TYNDALL, Communications and Food Programs Director,
St. Joseph Community Health Foundation
While Muncie is not yet a part of Double Up Indiana, Tyndall hopes that can change as the initiative becomes more widespread.
“The St. Joe Foundation, working with the state health department, has expanded it to farmer’s markets in other locations other than Indianapolis and the Fort Wayne area,” Tyndall said. “The newest part of Double Up Indiana is that it’s expanding … DNPA understands the importance of local initiatives and meeting the needs of the communities they serve because they all have different needs. Intentionality is critical in this work.”
Tyndall’s foundation sends out routine surveys to local Double Up Indiana participants. Results from those annual surveys show Double Up Indiana participants eat more fruits and vegetables than the average American.
“That is incredibly important because the more fruits and vegetables you eat, the better your health can be,” Tyndall said. She said those surveys reflected the core purpose of Double Up Indiana.
Throughout Indiana, statistics continue to worsen for obesity, overweight, lack of nutrition and physical inactivity,” according to the IDOH.
“In 2021, the obesity and overweight rates for adults more than 18 years old stood at 36.3 percent and 33.3 percent respectively … Therefore, over two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese.”
The department report summarized trends that have indicated a steady increase in Indiana over the last 20 years, with the state’s population ranking as 12th most obese in the country.
“The overarching goal is to improve people’s health in the state of Indiana through diet — something that doesn’t require medical intervention,” Tyndall said.
Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine. hill@bsu.edu.
763,962 PEOPLE ARE
758,447 5,515
Fresh vegetables being sold at Fresh Thyme Aug. 25 in Muncie, Ind. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Fresh produce is pictured Aug. 25 at Fresh Thyme in Muncie, Ind. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is making it easier for people across Indiana to eat healthier by implementing Double Up Indiana. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Source: Double Up Indiana. JULIAN BONNER, DN DESIGN
A collaboration project has reshaped the scope of academic opportunities available to students in Indiana.
Katherine Hill News Editor
Editor’s note: Associate News Editor Meghan Braddy is a student manager for Maplewood Guest House. She did not contribute to or edit this story.
The walls of Maplewood Guest House are etched with history. Photos of Ball State’s original first family hang on the walls — carefully dusted and fawned over by inquisitive visitors — and serve as a reminder to residents who reap the benefit of the family’s generosity to do good by the community.
The house, with its still fully-functioning original fireplace, now serves as a residential hub for third and fourth-year students. The house is a collaboration between Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine and Ball State and intended for students earning a medical degree or working on a clerkship in East Central Indiana, according to the Guest House’s information page.
Guest House manager David Martin was at the forefront of the collaboration project when he took on the residential community’s first-ever management role.
Although Martin stepped into the position in August 2017, there were discussions between Ball Brothers Foundation, Ball State University, Indiana University and IU School of Medicine about the collaborative housing effort in the year prior.
“The discussions were to find out whether they could use the space, which had been vacated by Ardahl Corporation,” Martin said. “They wanted to find use for this building that would help the community.”
The solution was to make the housing complex a so-called “epicenter” for medical students and provide immersive learning opportunities.
Martin came to Maplewood Guest House having worked as an adjunct professor and in Ball State’s Housing and Dining departments for 15 years prior.
When it came time to managing the Maplewood property, he applied policies and procedures from the university’s housing models because he didn’t “need to reinvent the wheel.”
He also worked with Ball State property management and hospitality students to figure out how to best maintain the building’s antiquarian structure and honor the Ball Brothers’ legacy.
Beyond the general upkeep of the Guest House — such as thorough inventory monitoring and spreadsheet bookkeeping — there is a responsibility to make sure students know about the opportunities the property offers. Martin and his team of Ball State immersive learning students knew this.
“We created basically everything here in 2017, everything you can think of to successfully run a business, including social media. I found it really exciting to start the building from the ground up, so to speak,” Martin said, noting that the house itself was built in 1898.
IU School of Medicine isn’t a competitor of Ball State. Indiana University may be but IU School of Medicine isn’t.”
- DAVID MARTIN, Maplewood Guest House Manager
This is a pipeline program for medical professionals, in partnership with the Ball Brothers Foundation.
have a welcome event or some type of event that brings them all together,” he said.
These events feature popcorn, pizza and “provide a chance for students to connect,” something particularly important to Martin, whose favorite part of the job is connecting with students and talking with them about their future goals.
The bonding opportunities between Indiana University and Ball State students simultaneously debunks the common misconception of a rivalry between the two schools.
We created basically everything here in 2017 — everything you can think of to successfully run a business — including social media. I found it really exciting to start the building from the ground up so to speak.”
- DAVID MARTIN, Maplewood Guest House Manager
Martin remembered a February 2020 phone call, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the IU School of Medicine, urging all students to go home. Despite the closure of surrounding universities, the housing complex remained open and maintained “almost the majority of the time that COVID was here,” he said.
Even so, the building was vacant for several months before students returned to their medical practice rotations — a discouraging and stark reminder of how young and exciting the collaboration project had been at that time.
Muncie was the ideal localized space for the undertaking that was Maplewood Guest House.
According to Optimus Primary, which partners with the Ball Brothers Foundation, “Muncie has something no other city in Indiana has: an array of healthcare anchor institutions located in close proximity to one another, making it one of the leading physician training centers in the state.”
The city has a reputation of consistently being within the top five best destinations to study medicine in the state, largely because of IU Ball Memorial Hospital, which is three minutes from Ball State and IU School of Medicine.
“Muncie was number nine in a location, as in terms of locations that students wanted to come to to serve their rotation at the hospital. [By 2017], the city became number two in the state outside of Indianapolis. We are number two in the location of destination students want to come to [when they] do their clerkship,” Martin said.
To help drive those numbers, Martin enforced the residential community to foster a welcoming environment for all students who pass through its doors. This is especially important because students are only actively living in the community for three to four weeks at a time while in rotation.
“One of the things that we’ve developed is programming and events for medical students. Every week, on a Wednesday or Thursday, we
“IU School of Medicine isn’t a competitor of Ball State. Indiana University may be but IU School of Medicine isn’t,” Martin said. “The partnership has provided several opportunities for research between me and other faculty members. We were given the Housing Impact Award from the Housing Education and Research Association. That was for some of our work with immersive learning with Ball State students.”
Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine. hill@bsu.edu.
The main “conversation” room within the Maplewood Guest House Aug. 30 in Muncie, Ind. The house is a pipeline program for medical professionals, in partnership with the Ball Brothers Foundation. ANDREW BERGER, DN
‘One of the faces of Wes-Del’
Wes-Del senior Grayson Mealy’s leadership around his school has been impactful.
Soccer
Ball State got its first road win of the season Sunday as the women’s soccer team defeated Big Ten opponent University of Michigan 2-1. The Cardinals (2-2) tied the game in the 20th minute after falling 1-0 in the 8th. Junior forward Delaney Caldwell would secure the lead for Ball State with a strike in the 30th minute. The Cardinals continue their road trip Sept. 5 against Austin Peay.
Field Hockey
Women’s Volleyball Cardinals get Big Ten victory Cardinals drop to 0-2 on the season
Ball State fi eld hockey has gone winless in their two contests to begin the 2024 season. The Cardinals fell to Saint Francis in a hard-fought double overtime loss 3-2, then proceeded to get shutout by Stanford 0-5. The red and white will be back in action Sept. 8 against Saint Louis at noon.
Cardinals go 2-1 in FAU tournament
Ball State began its 2024 campaign in Boca Raton, Florida, playing in the Florida Atlantic Invitational. The Cardinals took on Seton Hall, Bryant and Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The red and white swept the first two contests but fell in the third. Ball State will travel to James Madison for their next match to face the Dukes Sept. 6.
Wes-Del senior Grayson Mealy stands on Paul L. Parker Field Aug. 30 at Wes-Del Middle/High School. Mealy plays basketball, football, baseball and is a member of the esports team. ANDREW BERGER, DN
See FACES, 14
Ball State Cardinal football looks to dissipate lackluster recent past with successful 2024.
Elijah Poe, Kyle Smedly Reporters
Ball State football heads into the 2024 season looking entirely different than it did just a year ago. Star transfer running back Marquez Cooper is gone, and the starting quarterback for more than half the season, Kiael Kelly, now plays defense. That same defense has been revamped with a new coordinator, Jeff Knowles.
The 2023 Cardinals were essentially wiped clean for a new beginning heading into 2024.
Although Ball State isn’t facing two Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools to start its schedule like last year, the Cardinals will play No. 12 Miami week two. They’ll also square off against formerly ranked James Madison week four and their sole SEC opponent in Vanderbilt week seven, all three on the road.
Fans have been watching college football for a week, but Ball State is the only school not to play after a week-one scheduling conflict.
Regardless of what the 2023 season was, the 2024 team is looking ahead headlined by a solidified QB1 in Kadin Semonza. The Cardinals kick off their season in just a few days, here’s what players have to say about the 12-game schedule ahead of them:
Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@ bsu.edu or via X @ElijahPoe4, and Kyle Smedley via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or via X @ KyleSmedley_.
Thailand Baldwin
(Redshirt junior defensive back)
“As long as we can stay healthy, anybody can get rolled on,” he said. “So if you’re playing Ball State, just beware … They put their pads on the same way I do.”
Keionte Newson
(Graduate student linebacker)
“Every week I’m gonna be in the best shape, the best mental [shape], whatever I need to do to be ready to go 100 miles per hour every snap,” he said. “They’re gonna get the best Keionte Newson that they can get for 12 guaranteed games and then those other two when it’s all said and done.”
Kadin Semonza
(Redshirt freshman quarterback)
“Any game we step into, we expect to win that game,” he said. “We got a great group of guys here this year, and I think we’ll surprise some people for sure.”
Ty Robinson
(Redshirt junior wide receiver)
“At the end of the day, it is just a game,” he said. “We’ve all been playing the sport since we were five or six years old.”
Myles Norwood
(Redshirt junior cornerback)
“I mean, we got the talent,” he said. “We got the guys who should honestly dominate
Tanner Koziol
(Junior tight end)
“Last year, we had nerves with a switched style offense, and there was new stuff over and over,” he said. “But this year, we know what we are getting into. We know the offense, we know our roles and everyone is comfortable in their roles.”
Kyle Smedley
After two straight losing regular seasons that sent Ball State home for the winter without a bowl game appearance, the Cardinals will just barely return to postseason play for the first time since 2021. In fact, they’ll finish with the same overall record they did in that season but will finish with a winning record in conference play for the first time since going 5-1 in the 2020 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship season.
The toughest games to predict were those against Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green and Ohio. I could see any of those games going either way. Ultimately, I’m a sucker for storylines.
Central Michigan will be coming off a loss to the Big Ten’s Illinois, heading into its first MAC game against Ball State. But the Cardinals will likely be reeling even harder after facing the Top 25 Miami Hurricanes. The Chippewas also have a home-field advantage.
If Ball State beat Northern Illinois on the road last season, the Cardinals can do it at home to win the Bronze Stalk Trophy Game for the third season in a row.
The Cardinals lost a heart-breaker to Bowling Green on the road last season, and they’ll lose another close game to the Falcons at home this time. Bowling Green has one of the best running backs in the conference, and Ball State’s chances at a bowl will come down to the final game of the season.
The Cardinals will get it done, defeating Ohio in Athens to clinch a bowl appearance. Ball State has lost its last four games against the Bobcats, so I think the red and white is due.
Elijah Poe
I agree with Kyle, and I believe the Cardinals will make a bowl game. Some key matchups I consider to be in the air are Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green.
Opening the MAC schedule in just week three for Ball State will be a challenge. I also believe playing away from home will hurt the Cardinals in their first conference game.
The game against Western Michigan last year was not particularly close, but with this season’s contest being hosted in Muncie on family weekend, the Cardinals should have support to push by.
NIU is coming off a 7-6 season that saw the program gain some attention, and the Huskies also won their bowl game over Arkansas State.
All that goes out the window in a rivalry game.
I think the Battle for the Bronze Stalk will be extremely close in Muncie with the Cardinals winning.
Bowling Green is coming off a six-point loss in its bowl game against Minnesota. Last year’s Falcons were successful with seven wins, but they only beat Ball State in the closing seconds after a Cardinal field goal attempt just missed. I think the loss from last year will fuel the Cardinals to defeat Bowling Green on home turf.
Give or take a couple of MAC games, I still believe Ball State will go bowling. But anything can happen in MACtion.
Predictions:
Kyle’s Predictions
Vs. Missouri State (Saturday, Sept. 7): Win
At Miami FL (Saturday, Sept. 14): Loss
At Central Michigan (Saturday, Sept. 21): Loss
At James Madison (Saturday, Sept. 28): Loss
Vs. Western Michigan (Saturday, Oct. 5): Win
At Kent State (Saturday, Oct. 12): Win
At Vanderbilt (Saturday, Oct. 19): Loss
Vs. Northern Illinois (Saturday, Oct. 26): Win
Vs. Miami OH (Tuesday, Nov. 5): Loss
At Buffalo (Tuesday, Nov. 12): Win
Vs. Bowling Green (Saturday, Nov. 23): Win
At Ohio (Friday, Nov. 29): Loss
Overall: 6-6 (5-3 MAC)
Elijah’s Predictions
Vs. Missouri State (Saturday, Sept. 7): Win
At Miami FL (Saturday, Sept. 14): Loss
At Central Michigan (Saturday, Sept. 21): Loss
At James Madison (Saturday, Sept. 28): Loss
Vs. Western Michigan (Saturday, Oct. 5): Win
At Kent State (Saturday, Oct. 12): Win
At Vanderbilt (Saturday, Oct. 19): Loss
Vs. Northern Illinois (Saturday, Oct. 26): Win
Vs. Miami OH (Tuesday, Nov. 5): Loss
At Buffalo (Tuesday, Nov. 12): Win
Vs. Bowling Green (Saturday, Nov. 23): Win
At Ohio (Friday, Nov. 29): Loss
Overall: 6-6 (5-3 MAC)
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Thailand Baldwin catches a ball during warm-up before a game against Toledo Oct 14 at Scheumann Stadium. Baldwin had four solo tackles in the game. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Procrastination
TRUE COLORS TRUE COLORS
Students who struggle with waiting until the last minute to complete assignments can attend the Fighting Procrastination event Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Woodworth. The Office of Student Success Coaching will be teaching those who attend tips and tricks for success through strategies to diminish procrastination.
Muncie OUTreach
holds the third annual Muncie Pride.
10
Studebaker West Star Party
The seventh annual Star Party will be held Sept. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Studebaker West Residence Hall. The event is sponsored by the College of Science and Humanities Student Success Center and Living Learning Communities and features over 40 student organizations, immersive learning programs, projects and study abroad trips.
Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary Fest
Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary is holding the fourth annual Grateful Fest Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Morrow’s Meadow Park in Yorktown, Indiana. The event will raise money for homeless animals and consists of a pet parade with a costume contest, the cutest pet contest, a kids zone, food and merchandise vendors, and music.
JESSICA VALEZ, DN BRENDEN ROWAN, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
ways to save a dime
Five local businesses offer student discounts.
Hannah Amos Reporter
With Ball State University students settling into campus life and looking to explore Muncie on a budget, many local establishments offer student discounts. Here are fi ve local businesses that offer deals:
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens
Minnetrista, a 40-acre museum and garden located along the White River, offers gardens, a Nature Area, historic homes, children’s play areas and access to the White River Greenway. Throughout the year, Minnetrista offers various events, including farmers markets, workshops and interactive exhibits. Minnetrista is offering a $5 membership to students to attend events and exhibits, like the Bob Ross Experience, for the full year. To sign up, head to the Minnetrista front desk or call 765-282-4848. Minnetrista is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. It’s closed on Monday and Tuesday. To see upcoming events, go to Minnetrista’s website.
Berrywinkle
A self-serve frozen yogurt shop on Tillotson Avenue offers students 10 percent off their order when they bring their Ball State ID. The shop is open from noon to 10 p.m., offering 21 flavors and 60 toppings with lactose-free and nondairy options. Berrywinkle also has “No Weight Wednesdays,” where customers can pile up yogurt and toppings without weight factoring in the price. On Wednesdays, the costs are 8oz for $3.29, 12oz for $5.29 and 16oz for $7.29. Head to the shop’s Facebook page to learn more about the shop’s deals.
Muncie Civic Theatre
Mama & Son
Founded in 1931, the community theater in downtown Muncie offers musicals and plays performed by community members for the community. Now in its 90th season, the theater prices student tickets at $15, which are available in person or online. Muncie Civic Theatre also offers a $90 season subscription for students, which offers eight flex tickets for any seat and show. The Theatre’s upcoming shows are “The Great Gatsby,”
Soul Food Kitchen
This family-owned soul food restaurant also gives students a 10 percent discount when they bring their Ball State ID. Mama & Son, located in downtown Muncie, is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are also open Saturday 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Sundays. According to their website, chicken and cornbread dressing are their specialties. On their Facebook, they announce daily specials. The restaurant also offers an online ordering option on
The cast of “White Chrismas” preforms at Muncie Civic Theatre on Dec. 5, 2023. This show was the holiday show for the season at Civic Theatre. OLIVIA GROUND, DN
Muncie Indiana Transit Systems
MITS is the public bus service for Muncie and has 14 routes throughout the city that students can ride for free. The buses connect to Ball State University, Ivy Tech Community College, Minnetrista Cultural Center, Walmart, the Muncie Mall and Ball Memorial Hospital. Their MITSPlus service offers door-to-door service for people with disabilities. To keep track of the buses’ locations, MITS provides an app called MITSBus available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Their routes run Monday through Friday 6:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday 8:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. To learn more about MITS, visit their website. Contact Hannah Amos via email at hannah. amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_Amos_394.
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
LOUD AND PROUD
Drag performer Luna Magick smiles at the crowd Aug. 31 at Canan Commons Park. Magick had two separate performances at the pride event. JESSICA VELEZ, DN
Two partners walk hand in hand during Muncie Pride Aug. 31 at Canan Commons Park. Muncie Pride takes place every year near the end of summer. JESSICA VELEZ, DN
Drag performer Glinda B. Fierce talks to a crowd during Muncie Pride Aug. 31 at Canan Commons Park. Fierce read children’s books to the audience.
People watch as a drag performance takes place during Muncie Pride Aug. 31 at Canan Commons Park. Participants danced and sang along with the performers while waving and wearing pride flags. JESSICA VELEZ, DN
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression perform a concert during Muncie Pride Aug. 31 at Canan Commons Park. The band’s setlist consisted of songs from a variety of genres, including neo-soul, jazz and R&B. JESSICA VELEZ, DN
(From left to right) Third-years Layla Durocher, Maria Nevins and Jessica Bergfors, along with second-year Elizabeth Pavey, pose for a picture Sept. 3 at Minnetrista Museum & Gradens in Muncie, Ind. Bergfors’ female friendships have taught her that true love and self-love can be found amongst friends. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Jessica Bergfors is a third-year journalism major and writes “The Hope Of It All” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
Tears brimmed my eyes as I dumped photos, necklaces and letters into an old shoe box. My heart dropped at every sound my phone would make; the lock screen of us smiling seemed unfamiliar now.
“I’m going to Vanessa’s house — Jaylin and Morgan will be there too,” I said to my mom.
Your first heartbreak can make you feel powerless and empty. I felt drained. When I was 18 years old, it seemed like my entire world came crashing down. Despite all the negative feelings, I still had some sense of stability. I never had to question whether or not my friends still loved me. I always knew the answer.
Growing up, I always had three girls by my side: Vanessa Winnick, Morgan Krouse and Jaylin Turner. Vanessa and I like to say that we’ve been friends since we were in the womb.
Our brothers went to the same elementary school, so when Vanessa and I were born seven years later, we were, naturally, always together. If you flip through one of my scrapbooks, dozens of photos of Vanessa and I exist there. Our bright blonde hair, baby blue eyes and matching cheerleading outfits made us look like sisters — and we were just as inseparable as sisters.
It was a warm summer night — one of those nights that everyone longs for when it’s the dead of winter. The mosquitoes were biting, and the fireflies flew past my small eyes. The outdoor lanterns cast a warm glow onto the dark red fence. Vanessa and I ran outside, and my dad took turns chasing us.
“She likes the White Sox!” I shouted at my dad. He immediately started to chase Vanessa around the pool. My dad was the biggest Cubs fan, hence my love for the Cubs to this day. He chased after Vanessa, who still is the biggest White Sox fan. Vanessa’s toothy smile and loud giggle rang in my ears as we were squealing and running away from my dad. Now instead of hearing their loud laughs in person, I hear them over the phone. Vanessa and I are currently 253 miles apart. Distance doesn’t matter for us, though. If we could still stick with each other during our “figuring ourselves out” phases in middle school, a couple hundred miles is nothing.
usually the people they lean on for support.
My female friendships continue to shape me and my life. Three years ago, I came to Ball State knowing absolutely no one.
On one of my first nights in the dorm, my new neighbors were so loud that I banged on the wall next to my bed, trying to signal them to be quieter without a confrontation. A minute later, there was a knock on my door, and on the other side was a brown-haired, glasses-wearing girl, apologizing for the inconvenience.
I didn’t know it at the time, but this brown-haired girl would later become one of my best friends and my current roommate.
My female friendships have taught me true love and have made me the woman I am today.
I never had to question whether or not my friends still loved me, I always knew the answer.
According to the American Psychological Association, high-quality friendships in childhood can protect children from mental health issues. In the United States, many adults struggle with a variety of challenges, and friends are
Maria was one of my first friends at Ball State. Through her, I met my other close friend, Layla. Our group continued to grow as we all made friends with each other’s friends — many of whom also lived on the same residence hall floor. Consisting of mostly girls, with the exception of our friend Brenden, our friend group made me feel safe in this time of change.
According to Psychology Today, research suggests that women expect more support and intimacy in their relationships than men. Findings from the Survey Center of American Life show that 48 percent of women say they had a private, intimate conversation with a friend where they talked about their personal feelings in the past week, compared to only 30 percent of men.
Lucky doesn’t even encapsulate the feeling, but I am. I’m beyond lucky.
I have friends who I can call because I’m having a bad night, so they take me to Culver’s for ice cream. I’m able to come back to my room and rant to Maria about my day, never feeling judged. My closet is treated like an American Eagle store, with everyone taking their pick when we’re going out. We can go on drives and belt out Taylor Swift songs together.
When I’m upset about a boy, I can call Elizabeth saying, “Are you home? Can I come over?” I can text Layla that I’m feeling sick, and she brings me three different kinds of medicine with a sticky note saying, “Feel better!” on my desk.
Simple messages like “Text me when you’re home,” “You look cute today,” “I love you” and “Let’s do dinner tonight?” are something that I never hear the end of, and I never want to.
In a book I read this summer, “Everything I Know About Love,” Dolly Alderton said, “Nearly everything I know about love, I’ve learned in my long-term friendships with women … I know what it is to know every tiny detail about a person and revel in that knowledge as if it were an academic subject.”
My female friendships have taught me true love and have made me the woman I am today. When I’m older, I hope to have a daughter who I can teach these things to.
I hope to have a daughter who I can show all the handwritten letters, the digital camera photos and matching bracelets. I hope to teach her about the strong, passionate, empathetic women who have permanently altered my life.
Contact Jessica Bergfors via email at jessica.bergfors@bsu.edu.
Visual Editor, “The Hope Of It All”
Jessica Bergfors
(From left to right) Third-years Maria Nevins, Layla Durocher and Jessica Bergfors, as well as second-year Elizabeth Pavey, pose for a picture at Minnetrista Sept. 3. Bergfors became friends with these girls once moving to Ball State University. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Jessica Bergfors and friends hold hands during a photoshoot at Minnetrista Sept. 3. The four girls became best friends while attending school at Ball State. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Jessica Bergfors and Vanessa Winnick at St. Paul’s Lutheran School January 2010. They have been friends for over 10 years. JESSICA BERGFORS, PHOTO PROVIDED
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN DESIGN
FACES
Continued from Page 07
Zach Carter Sports Editor
When he’s not playing one of his three sports, doing homework or working for the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), Wes-Del senior Grayson Mealy loves to play video games.
“I play sports games like Madden, [NBA] 2k, anything like that,” Mealy said. “And then I play Valorant.”
Though it was originally something he did with friends, playing video games turned into another school-related activity after he joined the Warriors’ esports team. The team has won the state championship the last two years in Valorant. So, how does he find the time to do all of this? Mealy doesn’t fully know.
“It’s a lot to balance, but I’d say just through playing sports, it’s taught me how to balance time between everything I have going on,” he said.
While completing all of these tasks, it’s the way he goes about handling them that makes him a leader.
“The dude can do a little bit of everything,” WesDel Athletic Director and head football coach Matt Nuckols said. “I don’t think there [are] any kids in the building that don’t know who he is, and they look up to him as kind of the guy leading this building.”
Mealy’s love of sports began at a young age. His mom, Courtney, was a three-sport athlete softball, basketball and volleyball at Blackford — and his father, Kyle, was a two-sport athlete who played baseball and basketball at Blackford. Mealy was exposed to sports from infancy.
Advisory Committee with 17 other members. The groups work on multiple events, including state championships.
Grayson started playing baseball and basketball when he learned how to walk. Once he was old enough to play tackle football, he took his talents to the gridiron. It quickly became his favorite sport.
“I feel like it’s such a unique sport, and there’s such a team aspect to it that I’ve just always been drawn to it,” Grayson said.
Grayson has had success with every sport he plays for the Warriors. Last year, he led the Warriors on the diamond with two home runs and was third on the roster in hits (24).
On the court, however, Kyle believes his son cares more about who he’s playing with rather than his performance.
“[Grayson] plays basketball because he loves playing with those guys,” he said. “Basketball is where I see him as the ultimate teammate because no one’s scouting against him in basketball… I love that sport because he fills in that [good teammate] role.”
When talking about Warrior athletes and the term leadership, Grayson’s name always comes up in the conversation.
“I think the biggest thing is his work ethic because there are not many guys out there that are built mentally like him,” Nuckols said. “He faces adversity and fights through it. He is one of, if not the, hardest workers in the weight room.”
According to Kyle, it’s an abundance of things that have molded his son to have that quality. The main three are Courtney, former Warriors’ head basketball coach; John McGlothin, who is said to
Though the school year started only a month ago, Grayson knows his high school experience will soon come to a close. While his future plans are still undecided, he still has the rest of football season — and the entire basketball and baseball seasons — to look forward to.
“It’s bittersweet. I’m looking forward to being one of the top seniors that pretty much run the school,” he said. “You create the school culture for that year. But obviously, there’s some sadness there too because it’s your last one.”
While he has months ahead of him before walking across the stage in the Warriors’ gym, he already knows he doesn’t want to be remembered for his athletic achievements and leadership.
He wants the community to think of what he and this year’s senior class did for the current Wes-Del culture.
“I’d rather them remember the culture that I wanted to create around here and be known as more of a sports school,” Grayson said. “With football, we’ve gone [to state] every year we’ve been trying to progress our win. We have the ability to do the things we want to do. It just takes leadership and the people [who] are willing to do it.”
To Nuckols, Grayson has already put his name in stone when it comes to being that person.
“He’s one of the faces of Wes-Del right now,” he said. “He’s a brilliant student, he works his tail off in the classroom, and he is one of the smartest and hardest working kids we have.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X via @ZachCarter85.
Wes-Del senior Grayson Mealy on Paul L. Parker Field Aug. 30 at Wes-Del Middle/High School. Mealy is also a member of the Warrior’s esports team due to his love of video games. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Wes-Del senior Grayson Mealy stands on Paul L. Parker Field Aug. 30 at Wes-Del Middle/High School. Mealy is a three-sport athlete and works for the IHSAA. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Crossword & Sudoku
Bulb holders
More frigid
“Demon Slayer” genre
Providers of “breaking” coverage
Predator that roars
Swedes’ neighbors
In all honesty
Sisterhood member 30 Fail to make the grade
Jumbo 32 Willing to try 35 Capital east of Oslo 37 Disney movie set on the island of Motunui
38 Have the rights to
Tampa Bay NFLers 44 Nervous laugh 45 “Relax, recruit” 46 Kilt pattern 47 Bearded lawn decoration
49 Gelato holder 50 Somber bio 51 Cry in a game of tag
Rocket section
Creative start 54 1990s fad discs
55 Fish follower, in the zodiac 58 Decompose
__ Moines, Iowa 21 “My bad!” 22 Tinseltown power broker
sept. 25 10 - 1:30
