March 20: With a regular season Mid-American Conference (MAC) co-championship and a second place finish at the MAC championships, the Cardinals have earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Norman Regionals. Ball State qualifies as a team for just the second time in program history and will face NC State in the first round March 29 at 3 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center in Noram, Oklahoma.
March 21: Scottie Dean Morris, 14, reportedly left his family’s home in Eaton, Indiana, around 8:30 p.m. March 16 after a potential family dispute, causing a statewide Silver Alert. A photo reportedly taken earlier that day was posted by police, showing Morris in a T-shirt and shorts. A candlelight vigil is planned for March 23 at 7 p.m. at 301 E. Harris St., Eaton, Indiana.
Russian President Vladmir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping March 20 in China’s first talks with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine over a year ago. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida supported Ukraine in Japan’s surprise visit to Moscow on the same day. China continues to look to extend its influence against the West, while Japan continues to show allegiance toward the United States
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VOL. 102 ISSUE: 26
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Elissa Maudlin, Editor-in-chief
Evan Chandler, Print Managing Editor
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Corbin Hubert, Associate Sports Editor
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Mya Cataline, Associate Lifestyles
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KwaTashea Marfo, Associate
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RAIN SHOWERS
Hi: 63º
Lo: 40º
Had trouble finding that third four-leaf clover in the March 16 paper? The Daily News incorrectly stated the amount of fourleaf clovers in the paper. There were only two.
To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
RAIN SHOWERS
Hi: 47º
Lo: 41º
RAIN SHOWERS Hi: 55º
Lo: 34º
SUNDAY
SATURDAY PARTLY CLOUDY Hi: 57º
Lo: 40º
THIS WEEK: Monday will have isolated showers with a high around 50. The sun returns mid-week with highs hovering around 50 degrees. We could see 60s by the end of next week but with the warmer temperatures, chances of showers arise as well.
Waking Up with Cardinal Weather is Ball State University’s first and only morning mobile show focused on getting your ready for the day through local news, weather and lifestyle trends. Waking Up with Cardinal Weather airs every Friday morning at 8 a.m. at @cardinalwx live on Facebook.
Ball State University second-year James Nichols experienced his first heartbreak during his first year of college.
The social work major said he knew it wasn’t a flaw in his character or his scruffy beard. Following weeks of messaging back and forth with someone he’d met, Nichols watched as the once-consistent texts trickled out, leaving him feeling as though his condition is what ultimately scared them off after an in-person date. When the person he went out with began to ignore him after their first time meeting, Nichols said, he knew their avoidance was because of his wheelchair.
“It feels as though I’m no one’s type,” the native of New Market, Indiana, said. “I often find that individuals can’t see past the wheelchair … They’re only able to see my disability.”
Legislation, sponsored by Rep. Stan McClain (R- Ocala), in the Florida Statehouse would ban discussion of menstrual cycles and other human sexuality topics in grades under sixth grade. The bill restricts public school education on human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases and related topics for grades 6 to 12. When asked if the bill would apply to a girl who got her period before 6th grade, McClain said, “It would.”
The bill passed through the House Education Quality Subcommittee 13-5 March 15.
Nichols has congenital fiber-type disproportion, which requires him to endure countless treatments for crippling muscle myopathy causing stiffness, spasms, cramps and fatigue in his skeletal muscles. Diagnosed with the rare genetic disease shortly after birth, Nichols’ life has had an added layer of difficulty in many aspects, including his navigation of the world of online and in-person dating.
Living with a visible disability means the people he encounters every day are aware of his physical differences, but in his online dating presence, Nichols tries not to lead with his condition. He wants the people he meets to get to know him before jumping to conclusions, he said.
After reaching a certain level of “comfort” with matches, Nichols has disclosed his health information. Each time, it resulted in ghosting or a lack of response.
Amid rising concerns of TikTok’s security March 21, the company updated rules and standards for its content as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew warned of a possible ban in the United States. Chew is scheduled to appear before U.S congressional lawmakers March 23 about the app’s privacy and security.
The Federal Reserve extended its fight against inflation March 22 by raising the key rate by .25 despite concerns of higher borrowing rates worsening the banking system. The Fed said the financial upheaval, stemming from the collapse of two major banks, is “likely to result in tighter credit conditions” and “weigh on economic activity, hiring and inflation.”
In
disabilities and chronic
can be a tightrope walk between disconnect and vulnerability.Graduate student Emme Woodward poses for a photo outside the David Letterman Communication and Media building March 1. KATE FARR, DN
For many of those with disabilities, both visible and invisible, finding a safe space to be comfortable and vulnerable can be a bit of an obstacle.”
MAYA HARTY, First-year Ball State studentKyle Smedley News Editor
In May 2021, things were looking up for Justin Gillespie. He was about to attend Muncie Central High School prom for the first time, his 18th birthday was days away and he was less than a month away from graduating high school.
Gillespie remembered going to lunch at his favorite restaurant, Chick-fil-A, just a few days before prom and ordering chicken nuggets.
After taking the first bite, he threw up instantly. Gillespie thought this was strange, especially because he hadn’t felt sick before eating and didn’t feel sick after vomiting.
His mother, Garnisha Mason, wanted to take him to the hospital right away. She said her “mama bear” instincts kicked in. Gillespie assured her he would be okay, and they returned home.
Shortly thereafter, he began to notice he was gaining an abnormal amount of weight, something he said felt like a 50-pound weight being dropped on his stomach. But May 20, 2021, is when everything changed.
“I was coming from the bathroom, and I got so tired I couldn’t even make it to my room. I just dropped on the couch,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie passed out for three minutes. Mason and a cousin of Gillespie’s visiting from Texas wanted to take him to the hospital right away, but
he insisted he just wanted to go to his bed and get some sleep.
were swollen all the way up to my kneecaps,” Gillespie said. “I chose to go to the hospital immediately, and when I got there, I was there for about three plus hours, [before] they [told me] I had nephrotic syndrome, and my kidneys had failed 75 percent.”
fewer than five in 100,000 children worldwide develop nephrotic syndrome each year. Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes your body to pass too much protein in your urine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Kidney failure can be life threatening, depending on the severity, the person’s age and health and how soon it is spotted.
Garnisha’s father, has been an integral piece of Gillespie’s life since he was born. Tears streamed down Gary’s face multiple times when talking about his grandson’s battle with kidney failure. Not only does he care about his grandson, but he knows what intense medical care is like first hand, being a cancer survivor.
world when she said it,” Gary said. “I went through colon cancer, I had colon surgery, and I think this hurt me more than when I had that cancer because he was just 18 years old, and I was 60 years old. I
I don’t know when, but I know this will end at some point. It’s not gonna be a thing that’s gonna last forever,”
- JUSTIN GILLESPIE, Muncie Central high school studentGary Mason, Robert Gillespie III, Justin Gillespie and Garnisha Mason (left to right) pose for a portrait March 15 on the porch of Garnisha’s home in Muncie, Ind. Justin and his family are waiting for a kidney transplant after Justin’s diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome in May of 2021. JACY BRADLEY, DN
Justin Gillespie and his family reflect on the trials and tribulations of Justin’s 75 percent kidney failure almost two years later.
sleep immediately.”
Gary takes Gillespie to most dialysis appointments and goes to every doctor’s appointment Gillespie has. When Gillespie was a child, Gary made him breakfast and took him to school every day. He called Gillespie his “right hand man.”
One day, Gillespie’s post-dialysis symptoms were much worse than being tired. Shortly after he got into Gary’s car to leave, Gillespie fell into a seizure. Gary said he was scared to death, yet he knew what to do because his oldest son had epilepsy. Gillespie was again rushed to the hospital where doctors ran tests on his brain to see if he was epileptic; however, they came back negative.
“After that, I said, ‘There’s nothing that’s gonna keep him down.’ He’s a very strong kid,” Gary said. “I have to say, he gets it from both his mother and his father because he cares a lot about his father, and he cares a lot about his mother, and they
he wants to blow through this for them.”
Garnisha and Robert Gillespie III, Justin’s father, are separated, yet Justin remains close with each of them. Like Gary, Robert knows all about medical issues.
Robert was involved in a single-car accident prior to Justin’s birth when he slid off the road on an icy night into a transformer. From this, he developed motor dexterity disorder, something he struggles with to this day, using a cane to make things easier on his body.
“My mother used to say, ‘You feel horrible when your children go through [tough situations] because you don’t want your children hurt,’” Robert said. “[When Justin was diagnosed with kidney failure], I understood what she meant because that’s a horrible feeling. If I could give him my kidney, I’d do it, but I can’t.”
According to The Kidney Transplant Foundation, the wait for a kidney transplant can be as short as
insurance.
Garnisha said this makes the kidney transplant process frustrating. She said she initially asked the doctor why she couldn’t give her kidney to Justin, and the doctor explained giving a 19-year old a 45year old kidney wouldn’t make sense.
Justin, of course, shares the same frustration.
“I think the hard thing is there’s been certain situations where I’ve had people sign up to try to donate a kidney, and that didn’t work out for whatever reason,” Justin said. “You get caught up sometimes with those types of situations [and] the false hope of like, ‘It might be time.’ Then it didn’t work, so then you got to go back to trying to make sure you don’t fall back into sadness.”
Justin’s sister-in-law has had a kidney transplant in the past, something Robert said is encouraging as the family continues to hold out hope.
“They told him in January that things should start happening fast after that,” Robert said. “Now
it’s March, and it’s not as fast as we thought it would be, but by the grace of God, he’s okay. He seems to be okay.”
Justin’s hospitalization with pneumonia the day after graduation yielded a result potentially just as grim as kidney failure. The family was told Justin had heart failure, halting his process of getting a kidney transplant because he needed a heart transplant first.
Then, a little over a month ago, another “miracle” came.
“We went back for an appointment after we finally got [his blood pressure] to where it needed to be and took another [test] of his heart, [and] those results came back, and it was kind of like a miracle blessing,” Garnisha said. “His heart healed on its own.”
As Justin is back on the waitlist for a kidney transplant, the family is attempting to raise $40,000 in support through in-person and online fundraising. This can be found via the JustinStrong campaign at cota.org.
Justin will turn 20 in a little over two months, and he’s approaching two years dealing with kidney failure. Perhaps the biggest “miracle” of all has been his ability to stay positive throughout the process.
But it didn’t start that way.
“When it all first happened, everyone was very worried about me because it’s like I processed it and I understood what was happening, [but] I just wasn’t showing it. There weren’t any tears,” Justin said. “There wasn’t anything really. It was just kind of shock.”
It wasn’t until a week after the initial hospital visit when he finally broke down. Garnisha remembered Justin offered to take out the trash, and when she said she would take care of it for him, he snapped.
“I was screaming and talking about my life being over and stuff like that, and that was how it was really feeling,” Justin said.
He felt his mother didn’t think he was physically capable after the diagnosis, and when Garnisha saw the outburst, all she did was hug him. She and Gary set him up with counseling immediately after, a resource he has continued to utilize since.
Justin outlined a list of physical changes he’s had to go through, such as being injected with a needle three times a week, having a chip put in his arm for dialysis, having back surgery and having a catheter put in his chest when he first started dialysis.
4See HOPE, 14
32oz Gillespie can only drink 32 of the recommended 124 ounces of liquid per day.
Source: mayoclinic.org MEGHAN HOLT, DN DESIGN
He’s a very strong kid. I have to say, he gets it from both his mother and his father because he cares a lot about his father, and he cares a lot about his mother, and they do the world for him. I think more than anything, he wants to blow through this for them,”
- GARY MASON, Justin Gillipsie’s grandfatherGary Mason, grandfather of Justin Gillespie, speaks about his grandson’s journey with nephrotic syndrome in Garnisha Mason’s home March 15 in Muncie, Ind. JACY BRADLEY, DN
“There is an immense amount of ableism when it comes to dating,” Nichols said. “People oftentimes don’t think that people with disabilities are able to be intimate or have feelings of love … I feel like people rely on stereotypes of people with disabilities rather than taking the time to ask questions [and] getting to know the person they’re talking to.”
An estimated one in four adult Americans have some type of disability, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. George Gaither, a clinical psychologist, said the lasting stigmas associated with disabilities can make dating —– a pursuit nearly half of American adults describe as difficult —– even more taxing. It can be difficult for people to know when and how to disclose their disability with potential suitors.
“People with disabilities can find it very difficult to connect with people that don’t have similar disabilities,” Gaither, also an associate professor of psychological science who specializes in human sexuality, said. “Heightened sensitivity, seen in those with autism, for instance, can make it more challenging to be in a relationship with another person, especially in interabled relationships … We need to open that dialogue that every human has needs; an effort needs to be made in understanding and supporting those needs in all relationships.”
Emily Ladau has made this one of her many focuses since entering disability advocacy at age 10 when she appeared in a segment on “Sesame Street.”
The 31-year-old was born with Larsen syndrome, a genetic physical disability that affects bone and joint development, leading her to use a wheelchair.
Ladau, an activist and author, has played an integral role in opening the dialogue on the rights of those in the disabled community.
On March 22, Ladau spoke on Ball State's campus about her personal experiences and how ablebodied people can be better allies to the disabled community.
The native of Long Island, New York, is currently a co-host of “The Accessible Stall” podcast with fellow activist Kyle Khachadurian where they discuss issues and give insight on topics in the disability community. While they “go against the grain” of the disabled community at large, they choose to speak their minds, according to their podcast website.
In 2017, Ladau wrote a piece for the New York Times, “Playing the Online Dating Game, in a Wheelchair,” where she details her own struggles of online dating and “romantic rejection” due to her disability. After feeling unaccepted following her interactions on dating apps, she began to hide her disability — cropping her wheelchair out of profile pictures or not mentioning her disability in her bio.
But that didn’t last long. Instead of continuing with the facade, she decided to open up about her disability, even if it meant rejection from strangers online. Ladau said she made this decision because she felt it was an important part of her disability, something she was proud of.
“Honoring another person’s needs and supporting them shouldn’t be considered a burden,” Ladau said. “It should be a central part of any relationship.”
First-year Ball State student Maya Harty said she didn’t feel she could be understood by a romantic partner until she started dating someone with the same neurodevelopmental disorder. In interabled relationships, where one partner has a disability and the other does not, she couldn’t find the comfort she felt she needed, Harty said.
The 18-year-old was diagnosed her senior year of high school with severe ADHD and mild autism, which presents sensory issues that control her everyday experiences. Stuck on a roller coaster of highs and lows, Harty said she became accustomed to feeling disconnected to those living without disabilities. Before her current partner, Harty said she felt guilty because of her “hurdles with intimacy.”
“In terms of intimacy, sensations can be extremely overwhelming,” the first-year biopsychology major said. “Sometimes, the mind is willing, but the flesh resists. At first, I felt frustrated with myself, but [my partner] has been able to help me feel okay with listening to my body about its needs.”
For many of those with disabilities, both visible and invisible, finding a safe space to be comfortable and vulnerable can be a bit of an obstacle, Harty said. Trying to explain the difference between a
good and bad day to someone without her disability can be complicated, she said, making coping and regulating even more hard.
“My partner [also has] ADHD, so they understand being overwhelmed, and they’re super wonderful about helping me co-regulate and deal with negative sensory input,” Harty said. “We’ve been together almost five years now, so we’ve learned to help each other.”
Outside of disabilities, there are additional health imbalances that can drive sexual connections to the edge of impossibility because of limitations.
Emme Woodward is in her first year of graduate school at Ball State, studying social work. The Indianapolis resident said she is among the 133 million Americans who live with at least one chronic illness. Woodward began having chronic migraines at age 5, and even after years of medication, she continues to deal with symptoms like memory loss, fatigue, vertigo and tinnitus for days or even weeks.
“I’m too busy dealing with migraines, so when I get a break, I’m not thinking about dating,” Woodward said. “I think there’s such a stigma behind it. I’ll hear, ‘Oh, you get headaches?’ ‘You’re canceling because you have a headache?’ ‘It’s just a headache, we can still have fun.’ … That causes issues in early stages of a relationship.”
In the midst of an episode, Woodward describes herself as feeling “paralyzed,” especially when her sight starts to blur and she is struck with muscle pain.
“I hate to say it like this, but I almost feel like a slave to my migraines,” Woodward said. “They say jump, I ask how high … I can literally sit, dreading [the pain] for weeks before it is in full effect. It literally feels like being hit by a car in slow motion.”
When the pain subsides after an episode, she is often left without the energy to connect and be physically intimate with someone, she said. Sex, in a basic sense, can feel like a bit of a chore.
“People think I am being dramatic and just want to get out of doing things,” Woodward said. “I have had people ask me if having sex makes me feel better. It can be a genuine question, but other times, it’s like, ‘How about I f–k you while you’re down to make you feel better?’ … just disregarding that I feel like utter sh–t.”
When trying to open up about illness or disability, Gaither said it’s easier when intimate partners acknowledge and respect who is communicating and vocalizing their impairments.
“I have been scared to date,” Woodward said. “It’s a rotating door of what the migraines can do. There’s no understanding how hard [the migraine episodes] are physically.”
Many of her symptoms leave her facing datingrelated difficulties: She may make plans to go out on a date but is too fatigued to stand, let alone drive. If she’s invited to get drinks with someone, she worries about the memory loss keeping her from knowing how she got to the venue. While Woodward has tried to engage in intimate relationships, people are often dismissive about how migraines affect her life.
“There needs to be a movement toward the idea that all human beings have sexual rights, whether you’re disabled or not,” Gaither said. “Instead of disregarding the sexuality of people who aren’t able-bodied, or even worse, fetishizing them, it’s better to recognize we all have different forms of needs — everyone should feel safe and supported in those needs.”
Feelings that a disability may be keeping her from finding love still linger, Ladau said. But she still feels that being open about her disability with others is her being true to herself.
“Accessibility is a love language,” Ladau said, “and there is so much more that defines me.”
Contact Kate Farr with comments at kate.farr@ bsu.edu or on Twitter @katefarr7.
I have been scared to date.”
- EMME WOODWARD, Graduate student
It’s better to recognize we all have different forms of needs – everyone should feel safe and supported in those needs,”
- GEORGE GAITHER, Clinical psychologist
The scent of popcorn weighs the air as Carol Casazza, a long-term season ticket holder, scurries down a hall to get to her seat inside Worthen Arena. She and her husband Clarence have held season tickets since 1970 for football, men’s basketball and now, women’s basketball.
Before finding her seat, she walks down the hall toward the court, a curtain separating her from the roar of the crowd, the breakaway dunk, a clutch threepointer, a buzzer-beater, a great win or a tough loss.
“As you come through the curtain, it’s fun to come out and hear the roar of the crowd,” Casazza said. “It is kind of like being on the team, I guess it is how [the players] come out onto the floor with the crowd cheering for them. When we come down the hallway, they’re not cheering for us, but you kind of get into the feeling of a big crowd and a lot of fans supporting the same team, and that’s kind of exciting.”
Third-year Suki Pfister and thirdyear Victoria Henry have both been awarded Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors. Pfister was named to the First Team All-MAC for the second straight season while also being named the MAC Specialist of the Year, the second year running as well. Henry was named to the All-MAC Second Team for the second time in her career.
The Cardinals will host summer camps for all ages this summer during June and July. Ball State will host five half-day camps, two elite prospect camps, a general skills camp, an all skills elite camp and a team camp. The camps are open to all entrants. Interested parties can register online at their website.
There are roughly 4,000 season ticket holders for men’s and women’s basketball and football at Ball State, Matt Brown, assistant AD for ticket services and revenue generation, said. Each one has a story of what makes Ball State athletics special to them.
But five of the 4,000 have been coming to games longer than most. John Starnes, Ken and Peggy Briner, and Carol and Clarence Casazza have a combined 160 years rooting for their Cardinals. For them, Ball State is not just a place where they watch sporting events; it’s a place that sets the rhythm for the seasons of their lives.
Starnes came to Muncie as a student and graduated from Ball State in 1965, eventually working at Ball State for 45 years. Starnes has had football and men’s basketball season tickets since 1967.
“It’s very special to me, the fact that [Ball State] basically fed my family and gave me a lot of opportunities to meet a lot of great people,” Starnes said.
Former inside linebacker Jacob White is returning as defensive graduate assistant for Ball State. White, who spent the past two seasons on Butler’s football staff, played for the Cardinals from 2015-19 where he was a First Team All-MAC selection his senior year. During his time at Butler, the Bulldogs improved from a 3-8 season to a 7-4 season and finished the 2022 season ranked 17th nationally among FCS teams.
As you come through the curtain, it’s fun to come out and hear the roar of the crowd. It is kind of like being on the team, I guess it is how [the players] come out onto the floor with the crowd cheering for them.”
- CAROL CASAZZA, Season ticket holder
Continued from Page 07
Until his retirement 12 years ago, Starnes worked in the financial aid office for the majority of his time here at Ball State.
Ken Briner graduated from Ball State in 1969. After graduating, Ken served two years in the Army.
Ken and Peggy Briner have had season tickets to football since 1972 and believe they’ve had men’s basketball season tickets for about 36-37 years.
The Casazza family came to Ball State in 1966, Clarence was working at Miami University in Ohio. After finishing his master’s degree at Miami, he came to Ball State to work in financial aid. Carol worked in the Dean of Students Office where she worked with processing withdrawing students. She also worked to support students who needed financial help.
Women’s Basketball head coach Brady Sallee had nothing but praise for the season ticket holders who support the team year in and year out.
“It’s your fan base,” Sallee said. “It’s the ones you can count on week in and week out to be there in good times and bad. They are the ones that live and die every win with you; they live and die every loss with you. Clearly, if you can build that base, bigger and bigger year after year, you start putting bigger crowds in here, but they’re everything to your program.”
Sallee said he feels like the fan base for the Cardinals has been tried and true from the time he got there. He said those who have been there since the start might not know how much they truly mean to himself and the team.
After all these years, Starnes remembers his very first Ball State sporting event.
“I can remember the first basketball game I went to,” Starnes said. “We were playing Hanover, and their star player was a guy from my high school. I went to Ben Davis High School. He played for Hanover, and so I went to the game. I ended up rooting for Hanover because I thought that the officials were so one-sided to Ball State that it kind of upset me, so I was rooting for Hanover in that game. I think that’s the last time I ever rooted against Ball State.”
Starnes has been going to Scheumann Stadium since it first opened up in 1967, even getting the score correct from the inaugural game at the stadium.
“I certainly remember the first game that we played in the stadium; we played against Butler,” Starnes said. “We used to get beat all the time by Butler and then of course, we upgraded our program, and when we played Butler in that first game in the stadium, I think we beat them something like 65-7. So last time we played Butler, they didn’t want to play us anymore.”
Ken’s earliest game that came to mind was the Grantland Rice Bowl in 1967. Briner remembers driving down to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for that game.
The Briners have a schedule they stick to for home games.
“We sit on the floor, and we like to watch the warmups,” Peggy said. “We always talk to David Eha [a color analyst] and some of the other people that work there. We have different ushers and things. We don’t
know their name[s] or anything, but we talked to them on our way in and have different people that we talk to, so it’s just an enjoyable time for us.”
Clarence is a personal fan of the local players coming to Ball State.
“Ray McCallum, being a local kid here in town and because he played Ball State and then went on to coach ... was always fun to watch,” Clarence said. “Bonzi Wells was an exciting player, he played here at Ball State. I always enjoy watching the local kids when they’re playing.”
The Briners were part of a program called Cardinal Cooks, allowing them to get to know players personally.
Cardinal Cooks was a program where members of the Cardinal Varsity Club would sign up and have football players go to their houses to have a home-cooked meal. The Briners would get about
eight to 10 student-athletes coming to their house twice a year for a meal.
“Basketball, as well as football, started doing it, and then that’s when COVID[-19] came along, so it stopped, and so we hadn’t any recently, but we just got to know hundreds and hundreds of athletes,” Clarence said.
Starnes said he has only missed three or four games since 1967, and two of those were because he was attending his daughter’s weddings. His oldest daughter was remarried this past October, the day Ball State was able to come back against Northern Illinois University and win in double-overtime.
Starnes was listening to the game after the wedding when they were waiting for the reception. He also said there were other Ball State fans in the audience keeping him posted on what was going on.
Starnes was set to pray just before the reception, and of course, he started with how any season ticket holder would.
“I just want everyone to know Ball State just won in double-overtime in football,” Starnes said.
Clarence compared the Cardinal Varsity Club to a social event. After going to games for so long, he said he has gotten to know a lot of people, so watching a game and catching up with others is nice. Carol added that when sports are over, they look forward to the next season coming up.
The Briners go to every single game, home and away, for men’s basketball and football.
It’s very special to me, the fact that [Ball State] basically fed my family and gave me a lot of opportunities to meet a lot of great people.”
- JOHN STARNES, Season ticket holder
It’s your fan base. It’s the ones you can count on week in and week out to be there in good times and bad. They are the ones that live and die every win with you; they live and die every loss with you.”
- BRADY SALLEE, Women’s Basketball head coach
Lathay Pegues was a broadcast reporter in the Midwest until his news station shut down operations. Pegues moved back to Muncie and started a sauce business called JohnTom’s Barbecue Sauce. Since then, his sauce was awarded best sauce in Indiana by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. He will be at the Miller College of Business to speak about his experience March 23 at 11 a.m.
The David Owsley Museum of Art is hosting a panel on printmaking March 23 from 5-7:15 p.m. The panelists include David and Sarojini Johnson, Colleen McKenna, Tessy Lepley and Nathaniel Rusell. The event is free and open to the public. The reception starts at 5 p.m. for visitors of the exhibit, but the panel begins at 6 p.m.
Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning and Minnetrista are putting on a free design workshop for children from kindergarten to fifth grade. The kids will be able to create their own faerie buildings. The event happens March 25 from 10-11:30 a.m. with the last day to register March 23.
Mya Cataline Associate Lifestyles Editor
Eight women sat around a table at Bracken Library in August 2020 with the same thought in mind: the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot by police, wasn’t as respected as others, and there was no space on Ball State University’s campus to talk about what was happening in the Black community.
That day, the eight founders: Star Gooch, Olamide Awoola, Makayla Atwater, Jordyn Owens, Kye Wilson, Trinity Mitchell, Jaylyn McDonald and Francesca Fontus, decided to make that space by creating the Black Women’s Voices organization, official in February 2021.
According to Ball State fourth-year student, cofounder and president of Black Women’s Voices Star Gooch, the organization is specifically open to Black women who can become members of the organization, but anyone is welcome to their biweekly body meetings.
“What brings people together is a space for Black women to not only get together and talk about how we feel but being able to talk with likeminded people on subjects,” Ball State fourth-year student and co-founder of Black Women’s Voices, Trinity Mitchell, said.
The organization puts on events throughout the fall and spring semesters. The fall events are focused around women empowerment like pop-up shops and classes on how to build financial wellness.
The spring events are more centered around women’s week in March, Women’s History Month and the month of April. Their annual event titled Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is one of their biggest events that kicked off this year’s women’s week.
“We wanted to bring awareness to women, like Breonna, or other women who not just die from police brutality but all violent crimes that women have faced,” Gooch said. “We wanted to give them a platform to be able to walk in their names and be able to understand the weight of what is happening to women in our community.”
The organization gives back to the community in many different ways from gathering money through smaller events to donating to women’s shelters or a sanitary products drive in April.
According to Gooch, the organization reached a goal of $500 and donated to five women’s shelters last year during their spring events, and this year, they are donating to three women’s shelters and hope to pass their goal of $500.
Black Women’s Voices has partnered with women’s shelters like A Better Way, YWCA and also on campus with Cardinal Kitchen, according to Mitchell.
“I’ve always been interested in service, and it’s been a passion of mine to bring good deeds to my community,” Mitchell said. “I realized that’s something that needed to be a part of this group.”
According to Mitchell, around 75 people from all over Ball State’s campus came to Walk a Mile in Her Shoes March 18. Anyone from fraternity and
“It’s even an option for men to wear heels and feel how it is to walk in women’s shoes,” Ball State third-year student and member of Black Women’s Voices Jaeda Dixson said.
Black Women’s Voices is an organization that welcomes a community that doesn’t have a safe space to talk but also is an organization that supports other organizations locally.
“[The organization] supports other Black organizations, promotes Black-owned businesses, even on campus like the girls who do nails and
While the organization was created to give space to Black women in the community, they support and give space for everyone. According to Dixson, it has opened the door for women to help women and give them more confidence.
“I was placed in leadership roles before, but it was never anything in this capacity where I am constantly going to events and helping my girls get ready for professional development and essentially putting them in a place to win,” Gooch said.
According to Dixson, the organization is “women supporting women,” and they raise awareness about women’s issues year round instead of just during Women’s History Month.
“It’s a really nice place at Ball State for specifically Black women to gather and feel safe and share their voices,” she said. “Even though we make up less than eight percent of the population on campus, we still have a place where we feel like we belong.”
Contact Mya Cataline with comments at mbcataline@bsu.edu or on Twitter @mcata_20
What brings people together is a space for Black women to not only get together and talk about how we feel but being able to talk with like minded people on subjects.”
- TRINITY MICHELL,Co-founder Shoes lay on top of a table at the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event March 18. Male attendees were encouraged to wear heels during the protest. OLIVIA GROUND, DN
A Ball State organization, Black Women’s Voices, holds a women’s week event and makes a safe space for Black women to talk.Protesters cross the Scramble Light holding signs during the Walk A Mile In Her Shoes event March 18. The event was hosted by Black Women’s Voices. OLIVIA GROUND, DN
Music has been said to bring people of all ages together, and at Electric Crayon Records, it’s no different.
The store opened March 11, and within their first week, co-owner Grant Butler said a 14-year-old and a 60-year-old had already come in looking for similar records.
Butler, an addictions specialist at IU Health, has been into music since sharing a room with his punk-loving brother as a kid. His brother was a photographer and would take Butler with him to shows.
“When you’re a kid, the first medium you’re given is a crayon, pencil and all that stuff, so it’s kind of like that idea to create, there is electricity to it,” Butler said. “It’s kind of like the idea that you’re drawn to create art, whether it’s music or actual, tangible art or literature, any of that kind of stuff. You’re drawn to it.”
club where it just kind of breeds community,” he said.
Andry Thorpe, co-owner of Electric Crayon Records and employee at Ruoff Mortgage, found his love of music through his parents. They ended up handing their records down to him, then when other parents discovered his interest, they’d give them to Thorpe too.
Thorpe and Butler always wanted to open a record store. Butler worked for Village Green while finishing school, so when the owner of Village Green, Travis Harvey, moved to Montgomery, Alabama, they started talking about opening their own shop.
Electric Crayon Records sold their first record, Maggot Brain by Funkadelic, on opening day, and their first dollar is already framed behind the counter.
Butler’s wife, Jordie Butler, suicide prevention specialist at A Better Way and third-year student at Ball State, also owns and runs the store.
“There’s just something about a record shop. There’s a whole thing,” Jordie said. “[Grant and Thorpe have] been collectors for years. There’s a lot of division, and it seems like a lot of people aren’t getting along. We want to put it out there and connect on music.”
The owners want Electric Crayon Records to be a place where the outside world can be left behind. They want it to be a safe space for those in recovery, distracting them from their addictions.
“We’re using records and music as a medium or a platform for that; that’s the biggest goal,” Grant said. “I don’t want a BMW ... I want to go serve the community I live in, and when it’s all over with, I want to be able to have a sense of peace about that, not some huge bank account or multiple houses.”
The owners said they are there to “spread the love.”
was 1.3 cases per 100,000 people. In Indiana, the rate was 4.8.
Acute hepatitis C is a virus known for being passed through sharing needles or other equipment from injecting drugs.
Jordie and Grant said they both have personal stories regarding their experiences with addiction.
Grant said he got into opioids and heroin when he was young, and he can see the aftermath of the opioid epidemic on the next generation.
“I’m tired of seeing people die,” Grant said.
Music helps people put their guards down and become vulnerable, he said, allowing people to connect with others they wouldn’t
Jordie said she will get more into her experience in their upcoming podcasts. The owners are planning to start a podcast and YouTube channel where they discuss music and mental health.
Though they have only been open for 12 days, Thorpe said their time so far has been excellent.
“It’s been steady every day. People have been very pleased,” Jordie said. “They’ve talked about how much they enjoy the shop, and ‘We have a really diverse collection.’ We’ve had several people come in three or four times already.”
For the first time since 1987, vinyl records surpassed CDs in sales. In 2022, according to the Smithsonian, approximately eight million
His brother taught him about music, and Butler now has played guitar in five bands and recorded seven albums and three EPs. Music is a big part of his life, so when he toured, he looked at record stores from around the country and Europe.
Jordie said having a support system is one of the most important steps in recovery, but it’s hard to come by. She wants people to come to Electric Crayon Records and feel accepted, especially since there aren’t many places for them to go when they’re bored and thinking about their addictions.
As of 2019, Indiana was the number one state for acute hepatitis C. According to the CDC, the average national rate of acute hepatitis C
more records were sold than CDs.
Thorpe and Grant sacrificed their own record collections for the store.
“To hear people say ‘Wow, you guys have a really good selection,’” Thorpe said, “it’s like well, yeah, because we’re cool.”
The owners get their records from donations, hitting flea markets and record shows, buying online and allowing customers to trade records in for store credit.
The quality of the records at Electric Crayon Records can be seen through a grading system, with each record labeled from M (mint) to VG- (very good minus). The system is based on how the record was transported, the case, the record itself and how it may sound.
Though the grading system does have an effect, Electric Crayon Records mainly prices their records based off of Discogs, an online marketplace for music.
For records that need a little help, the store will clean them and even set up customers’ turntables. Thorpe said they also plan to sell a variety of stickers and T-shirts, offering two sticker options for free at the moment.
A new record shop, Electric Crayon Records, opens as a safe space for students and those suffering with addiction.Co-owners Jordie Butler, Grant Butler and Andy Thorpe (left to right) pose for a portrait March 19 at Electric Crayon Records in Muncie, Ind.
JACY BRADLEY,DN
One thing about a record store though … it’s a lot like a DIY pub club where it just kind of breeds community.”
- GRANT BUTLER, Co-owner
It’s been steady every day. People have been very pleased. They’ve talked about how much they enjoy the shop, and ‘We have a really diverse collection.’ We’ve had several people come in three or four times already.”
- JORDIE BUTLER, Co-owner
KwaTashea Marfo is a second-year public relations major and writes “Imperfectly Perfect” for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
Iwas 7 years old when I was introduced to a game that would ignite a lifelong passion in me.
From the moment I laid eyes on “The Sims 3,” I was mesmerized. I watched in awe as my aunt took much pride in the way she crafted entire neighborhoods and houses, filling them with characters of her own creation on her PC.
It was like watching a master artist at work, and I was immediately drawn to the level of care and detail she put into each and every aspect of the game.
I too fell in love with “The Sims,” specifically as the game always loaded into cue, resuming wherever it had left off.
“The Sims” offered me a gateway to create and explore without any set objectives or goals. It was like having my own virtual dollhouse, a world where I could let my imagination run wild and experiment with different scenarios.
One of the things that really stood out to me about “The Sims” was the use of Simlish, a fictional language created by the game’s designer Will Wright. Hearing the characters speak this unique and quirky language only added to the game’s appeal and helped to immerse me even further into this imaginary world.
As the years went by, my love for “The Sims” only grew stronger, and I realized it was much more than just a simple hobby. It was a gateway to a world of creativity and imagination, a place where I could let my mind run free without direct consequences of my actions.
Now, as I approach my 13th anniversary playing this game, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the impact it has had on my life. “The Sims” will always hold a special place in my heart, as it has helped ease my anxiety and provide a conventional way of comfort.
Frequently, video games are frowned upon for their links to detrimental effects on mental health. But what about the positive impact a game like “The Sims” has on individuals, such as myself, who are living with anxiety?
According to a 2021 study conducted by JMIR Publications, video games extend beyond the boundaries of entertainment to emphasize a sense of enjoyment and intrinsic motivation to offer psychological support to people.
From an early age, I found solace in developing and executing well-structured plans, which gives me a sense of control and order. However, when unexpected events disrupt my plans, I tend to experience heightened anxiety
based on preconceived notions about their skin color.
In my Sim universe, female characters have equal opportunities to their male counterparts and can fully exercise the rights to their autonomy without any restrictions.
As I add each expansion pack, I get to watch my Sims grow as they start families and explore various career opportunities, such as becoming a tech guru or a renowned actress. Whether they choose to parent or adopt pets, my Sims are free to live their lives without any social unrest or political debates over human decency.
With over 200 million copies sold worldwide, the game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts (EA) has brought joy to users across the globe. The game’s lighthearted nature, characterized by humorous interactions between characters and the ability to download mods for an enhanced gaming experience, caters to a niche demographic of players, including myself, who use the game as a platform to create and improve real-life scenarios.
Its global impact has created a diverse community of talented players who have created an everlasting impact on pop culture by having a dedicated YouTube community and having individuals stream their game play on YouTube, Twitch and TikTok.
and self-doubt.
Despite my efforts, I have come to realize it is impossible to micromanage every aspect of life. Life’s unpredictability can bring about grief from the loss of a loved one or heartache from failed relationships. It’s easier for me to fast-forward through a Sims workday than to cope with the stress of a typical day in my everyday life.
Playing “The Sims” has become a coping mechanism for me to regain a sense of control when I feel powerless in real life. I can carefully manage the lives of my Sims characters from the safety and comfort of my own home, free from anxiety and self-doubt.
By creating intricate narratives for my Sim families, I can craft a world perfectly aligned and free of imperfections.
This world allows my Sim families to fully embrace their Black identities without experiencing any judgment
“The Sims,” through its regular updates, continues to ignite users’ imaginations and encourages them to break free from conventional thinking. EA has a dedicated team who celebrates diversity by featuring Black, Latin and LGBTQ+ communities in the game, showcasing the limitless potential of virtual world creation both in-game and in real life.
In this way, whenever users immerse themselves in the world of “The Sims,” a sense of calm envelops them, gradually easing them from the stresses of reality.
By exploring virtual worlds with engaging gameplay, non-gamers can also find solace and experience the boundless potential of immersive gaming experiences. “The Sims,” with its stress-relieving features, is an excellent option for those seeking to alleviate anxiety and reduce stress levels.
Contact KwaTashea Marfo with comments at kwatashea.marfo@bsu.edu or on Twitter @mkwatashea.
By creating intricate narratives for my Sim families, I can craft a world perfectly aligned and free of imperfections.”
Continued from Page 05
“It definitely changes who you are as a person, not fully, but just [with] everything you have to go through, all the things people probably won’t think about, … there’s certain things that I probably wouldn’t have now,” Justin said. “I have a therapist now, [and] I probably wouldn’t have done that without going through this, because I probably wouldn’t have got to that point where I was like, ‘I need help. I don’t know what’s going on.’” He said he initially distanced himself from those around him.
“I didn’t know who was really there or not, but seeing who’s got a shirt, seeing who’s been to the foundation and stuff, I think I’ve kind of figured out who’s really there,” Justin said. “You need support going through stuff like this. I’m not super social, but I can say for a fact that without my mom and dad and all the family members around taking me to and from dialysis and just doctor’s appointments and stuff like that, [I] wouldn’t be
Continued from Page 08
As far as their favorite place to go in the MAC, it would be nowhere because Ken said they don’t like most of them teamwise. But if there was a place they liked to go the most, he said it would either be Miami of Ohio for the shorter drive or Toledo, Ohio, because there is such a tense rivalry.
Since the Briners travel so much, Peggy talked about a favorite restaurant, when they travel to Northern Illinois, in DeKalb, Illinois, called Yen Ching. She said most of the employees know them when they visit.
The fans were united in their excitement about men’s basketball head coach Michael Lewis, who Starnes and the Casazzas said has created more excitement in the games.
“I think [men’s basketball head coach] Michael Lewis has kind of generated some excitement,” Starnes said. “We still have 5-6,000 in our arena and hold 11 [thousand]. Then, when you look at
able to do any of this to get how far we got now.” Justin is Garnisha’s only child; however, she said even if she had 17 kids, she’d want all of them to be like Justin.
“Looking at Justin’s strength through everything he’s gone through, I know I’ve done a good job,” Garnisha said. “That’s enough for me to focus now on making sure that we’re gonna be okay and let him focus on making sure he’s gonna be okay.”
She’d want these 17 kids to chase their dreams and not let a physical hindrance be just as much of an emotional one, like Justin. Whether he gets to this headspace through making videos, listening to music, playing video games, watching sports, writing or anything else, Justin said he knows one thing despite all the medical obstacles thrown at him.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Justin said. “The thing I can say keeps me going is the fact that I don’t know when, but I know this will end at some point. It’s not gonna be a thing that’s gonna last forever.”
Contact Kyle Smedley with comments via email at kyle.smedley@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ KyleSmedley_.
some of the other MAC schools and when we’re playing a road game, they’re lucky to have 1,000 people. Even though it is not great, it is better than other schools.”
Although Starnes can be seen in the stands away from players and coaches, he also has a good relationship with Sallee.
Starnes’ granddaughter is roommates and good friends with Sallee’s daughter, so he said Sallee has almost been a second father to her over the years.
Sallee said the Starnes family had a great impact on his family when they first arrived here at Ball State.
“He’s been all in from the moment I got here and supported our program,” Sallee said. “He hardly misses any Ball State games but hardly misses any of ours. I always know where he’s sitting, and he’s always been nothing but supportive.”
Ball State is just not a university to these longterm season ticket holders. It is connecting with players, being with friends, supporting a team and a place where some have worked. A second home.
Contact Elijah Poe with comments at elijah.
Continued from Page 11
Though Electric Crayon Records now sits mostly filled with tunes, turntables and a TV, the owners plan to add a couch and provide coffee from the Caffeinery, so people can be comfortable and discuss music free of charge.
Jordie said all are welcome at Electric Crayon Records. She doesn’t want people to come in and be ashamed of their tastes if they are more “mainstream.”
“Everybody is accepted no matter what music you like. You’re not going to get made fun of for not knowing a band or liking a particular band,” Grant said. “If you like Taylor Swift, that’s who you like … I don’t think we get to choose what music we like.”
Grant said you can find out a lot about a person or what they’re going through based on their music choices, but he doesn’t like it when they are scared to walk into a record shop because of “music snobs.”
Right now, Electric Crayon Records has between 2,500 to 3,000 records, mostly in “dad rock,” and ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s rock. They also have country, alternative, punk and death metal music. Records ranged from Rush to Sleep to Bob Marley to George Michael to Billie Eilish.
The store is looking to get more records, so if they don’t have a record someone is interested in, they’ll order it for them or refer them to another record shop.
Electric Crayon Records wants to use their platform to support other shops like Locked Groove Records, Savage’s Ale House, Elm Street Brewing Company and other local businesses.
Thorpe said the businesses can help each other because with Locked Groove, the owner there carries a lot of what Electric Crayon Records lacks.
“It’s 70,000 people, but we all know each other,” Thorpe said. “It’s not [a small town], but it feels like it.”
Thorpe invites young people to come in and hangout, whether they’re new to records or have been listening for years.
Electric Crayon Records offers Ball State
students 10 percent off at their store on Wednesdays with a student ID. This goes for everything but their “offensively-priced shelf,” a ledge filled with records costing high amounts, with a HIM set going for $850.
While the Butlers warned beginners to stay away from Crosley and Victrola, Thorpe said the equipment listeners use in the beginning doesn’t really matter, it’s about finding the music.
“Kind of pick an artist or two that you like, start buying and then just ask questions,” he said.
“Obviously, we don’t know new stuff as well, but we can point you to a band … You can kind of expand your knowledge from there.”
More information on Electric Crayon Records can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages. They are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. six days a week and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays.
Contact Lila Fierek with comments at lkfierek@ bsu.edu.
Thousands of Ball State Online students have benefitted from the convenience of taking online courses toward their degree. What are the benefits of Ball State Online?
• Stay on track for graduation
• Avoid scheduling conflicts that interfere with your future plans
• Pay no on-campus fees with a fully online schedule
• Learn from the same faculty that teach on-campus courses
Questions? Call 765-289-1241 or visit bsu.edu/online/summer.
