Ball State Daily News Vol. 103 Issue: 2

Fourth-year journalism major Terra Konieczny files the nails of fourth-year speech language pathology major Brianna Santos in her home studio Aug. 17. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from August 17-23...

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The Ball State Daily News (USPS-144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Thursdays during the academic year except for during semester and summer breaks. The Daily News is supported in part by an allocation from the General Fund of the university and is available free to students at various campus locations.

Aug. 21: Ball State PBS’

‘Happy Little Fest’ is a finalist of the annual National Educational Telecommunications Association’s Public Media Awards. The film was made in honor of the 80th birthday of artist Bob Ross and is one of nine finalists of the “Special Events” award in the Marketing and Communications category. The awards will be announced Sept. 10.

Ball State PBS film named finalist allowed to seek trade

According to the AP, series of offseason disputes between star running back, who is seeking a high-paying contract extension while

the sidelines, but Indianapolis upper management is reportedly seeking a

Indianapolis police release bodycam of shooting

Aug. 22: Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released body camera footage Tuesday showing an armed man fatally shot in the back by an officer as he ran from a traffic stop. The man, Gary Dwayne Harrell, 49, died Aug. 3 following the shooting on the city’s northeast side.

Basketball releases 2023-24 schedule

Aug. 23: The season begins Nov. 7, and other key matchups include two games in the MAC/ Sun Belt Conference Challenge, a trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indy Classic, a battle against the B1GTEN’s Minnesota on the road and Jan. 2 marking the beginning of conference play. Muncie is set to host the most games in a season (16 of 31) in more than five years.

THIS WEEK: This week will finish as hot as it started with tempatures staying above 90º unilt Saturday when they begin to cool off. If Sunday is any indication, expect a cooler week ahead.

START CHECKING, FROM DAY ONE.

VOL. 103 ISSUE: 2

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Grayson Joslin, Editor-in-chief

Daniel Kehn, Print Managing

Editor

Olivia Ground, Digital Managing Editor

Abigail Denault, News Editor

Kyle Smedley, Sports Editor

Elijah Poe, Associate Sports Editor

Hannah Amos, Lifestyles Editor

Ella Howell, Associate Lifestyles

Editor and Copy Editor

Kate Farr, Opinion Editor

Elaine Ulsh, Associate Opinion

Editor

Jacob Boissy, Video Editor

Brissa Porter, Associate Video Editor

Emma Plank, Associate Social Media Editor

Jacy Bradley, Photo Editor

Mya Cataline, Associate Photo Editor

Meghan Holt, Visual Editor

Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor Lisa Renze-Rhodes, Adviser

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CORRECTION

The Ball State Daily News is committed to providing accurate news to the community. In the event we need to correct inaccurate information, you will find that printed here.

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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.

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American Pie, Hoosier Style

Brown Family

Amphitheater opens September 2 with performance by Don McLean 05

Campus

Ball State unveils new department

Ball State University announced the creation of a new department of Women’s, Gender, and African American Studies (WGAS), which is the combination of the Women’s and Gender Studies and African American Studies programs. Students can visit the new department in the Burkhardt Building Room 108.

International

Russian mercenary leader dies in plane crash

Russian emergency officials confirmed Wednesday that Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was on board a plane en route to Moscow that crashed with no survivors. Prigozhin was the former chief of the Wagner Group, which led a brief armed rebellion against the Russian military earlier this year.

National

California begins clean up after Tropical Storm Hilary

Several California towns are digging themselves out of mud and debris this week after Tropical Storm Hilary hit the state on Monday. The storm is the first to hit Southern California in 84 years, leaving mass flooding and debris in its wake. As of Aug. 22, no severe injures, deaths, or damages were reported, but officials in San Bernardino on Tuesday were still looking for a missing woman.

ChatGPT: The elephant in the classroom

Ball State faculty explain their hopes for what AI can bring to campus

Maya Kim Reporter

Cars. Toasters. Typewriters. These technologies were all created for the same purpose—to make human life and daily tasks more efficient. Technology has been built to work better for human use, which has ultimately resulted in the normalization of it in society.

On Nov. 30, 2022, ChatGPT was released to the general public. The program is a largely language-based form of artificial intelligence (AI) and can assist a user in creating well-written and formatted text. Microsoft is investing in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, claiming they are making a “multi-billion dollar investment,” according to the Associated Press.

Due to the high level of intelligence, ChatGPT and other AI programs have raised questions about how these tehcnologies affect how people work. In education, specifically, the question is how will AI change the way students learn and educators teach. Students can use ChatGPT to curate ideas, formatting and text for their writing. Andrea Wolfe, assistant teaching professor of English, said she will be allowing her students to use ChatGPT,

as long as they are transparent about it.

“I know ChatGPT exists, and I know that we want to learn how to use it,” Wolfe said. “It’s probably going to become important to have these skills of using it in the professional world. So what I’m asking students to do is if [they] choose to use it…I want it in the header. I want to know from the beginning [of the paper] that [AI is being used].”

Wolfe assigns her ENG 114 students a research paper during the course. Students spend over half of the semester delving into a specific topic of their choice. She said she predicts some students will want to use ChatGPT to assist them in writing this paper, and other students will stick to their established writing process without using AI.

Due to how extensive Wolfe’s research paper assignment is, she said she doubts ChatGPT will be able to write a large portion of a student’s paper that will meet the high criteria. However, she does believe this type of AI will allow her to narrow in on what her students may need the most help with in their writing.

“Someone who is using [ChatGPT], their phrasing is probably going to be a little bit better, and their grammar might be a little bit better,” Wolfe said. “But they may not have incorporated their quotes as seamlessly because they are going to have to pull in quotes. I can pay attention to … how [they used] what the AI generated, and add and revise in order to meet the demands of the assignment. I can focus on helping them in a different way.”

Wolfe said she doesn’t have many concerns regarding AI and is excited to use it in her classes.

Due to these benefits of AI, Huali Fu, assistant professor of art animation, said he wishes there were more programs available for his students to use. Fu teaches 3D animation, which deals specifically with 3D modeling. He said AI has been integrated into many areas of animation, such as 2D animation, but not into 3D modeling.

- ANDREA

Fu said in general, AI can significantly reduce the amount of time one spends on creating an animation. He said this is both beneficial and harmful; it is beneficial to experienced animators because they won’t have to spend hours on something AI could do in minutes, but harmful to new animators because their work will be about the same quality as AI. This can significantly hinder

opportunities for new animators.

“When you are first starting out as an artist, the things that you’re going to get to do are not probably going to be fantastic,” Fu said. “[In 2D video games] they have certain 2D images that your head artist is not going to do … that’s going to someone who’s lower down the food chain. For younger artists starting out, the AI is quite detrimental to them because the AI can do close to the same quality of work they could do.”

In terms of 2D animation, Fu said anyone could type in dimensions and a specific scene into an AI program and get a simple version of that image. He said this allows animators to take simple pieces of AI and refine and add detail to them. Fu said this will allow animators to work more efficiently.

“AI is a tool for someone who is mid-career or a senior artist, and it will make them much more productive,” Fu said. “As a senior artist, you have something that is 75% [AI generated] … [then] you manipulate it, you can change it to the way that you want, and you’re done … In business, time is money. The faster you’re able to turn around things, the faster you’ll be able to be more productive.”

In 3D animation, Fu said there are “tedious technical aspects,” that he wishes there were AI programs to assist with. There are AI programs being developed for some of these areas of animation, but Fu said what they can produce is messy and not yet usable. Fu will not be integrating AI into his classrooms simply because it is not available yet.

14% Number of US adults who have tried ChatGPT.

58% Number of US adults who are familiar with ChatGPT.

38% Number of adults under 50 who have used ChatGPT and find it extremely or very useful.

JESSICA BERGFORS, DN DESIGN

I know ChatGPT exists, and I know that we want to learn how to use it. It’s probably going to become important to have these skills of using it in the professional world.”

WOLFE, Assistant teaching professor of English

to follow, instead choosing spontaneity during his concerts. Alongside his original songs, he also performs covers of Roy Orbison and other popular artists, creating what he likes to call his “own American Songbook.”

He credits his years of experience performing for his spontaneous nature; during concerts, there will be songs that will fit with previous songs he has performed, “subconsciously knowing that it’s going to be the right thing from a programming perspective.”

McLean hopes students will come to the concert and get to see him, not only learning about him, but also about music in general. He believes that people of all ages can search for new music and are not limited to what they listen to on the radio.

“The kind of artist that I am — a pure singersongwriter type of artist, not a video artist — they want that sometimes,” McLean said.

A community gathering place

Ridenour is excited about McLean coming to Muncie, saying “American Pie” is “one of the top ten most iconic songs of all time.”

Sharing Ridenour’s excitement is James Lowe, associate vice president for facilities planning and management at Ball State. Lowe, a 1977 graduate of Ball State, said “American Pie” would often be played on the radio when he was in college.

Even though the amphitheater has not been officially opened for use, Lowe said multiple requests have already been put into host events at the facility. He sees the amphitheater as a community gathering space where plays can be held and where students can gather and perform together.

“The students in the residence halls are going to love it,” Lowe said. “I can imagine students in Park and Noyer [Halls] looking out of their window and seeing all of these events happening.”

The addition of the Brown Family Amphitheater has the chance to improve the quality of life in Muncie, Ridenour said. He also added that the collaboration with Ball State continues the growing relationship the city has with the university.

The amphitheater includes dressing and warm-up rooms behind the stage, which includes a wood feature added for improved acoustics. The wood, which came from nearby Chesterfield, was thermally modified and is

The technological setup of the amphitheater allows for aspects of shows, such as the lights and audio/visual equipment, to be set up either in the technological room or out in the seating area.

Lowe said that the location of the amphitheater was in a favorable location on campus.

“It’s in the right location,” Lowe said. “It’s in a location where you can come out and feel comfortable.”

Lowe said the outside space brings “a little bit of Ruoff [Music Center in Noblesville] right here” to Ball State and Muncie, adding the project is another step to connecting Ball State

“It describes the excitement that we’ve built out from the Village all the way up to Rec[reation]

The students in the residence halls are going to love it. I can imagine students in Park and Noyer [Halls] looking out of their window and see all of these events happening.”

- JAMES LOWE, Associate vice president for facilities planning and management

JESSICA BERGFORS, DN DESIGN

Find Your Fun in Delaware County

Yorktown Farm & Artisan Market

August 25th, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Morrow’s Meadow – 1901 S Tiger Drive, Yorktown, IN

The Yorktown Farm & Artisan Market is a year-round farm, food and artisan market in nearby Yorktown. You will find a regular season Market from MayOctober, hiking trails and a launching site for kayak trips.

Muncie Music Series: Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper

August 25th, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Canan Commons – 500 S. Walnut St., Muncie, IN

Grammy-winning bluegrass greats Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper will be performing a free outdoor concert as part of the 2023 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. Indianapolis-based band Punkin Holler Boys will open the show.

Farmers Market at Minnetrista

August 26th 9 a.m. - Noon

Minnetrista – 1200 N Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie, IN

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. - Noon, you can find fresh and healthy food, produce and more while connecting with local vendors and discovering what our community has to offer.

A Novel Idea – A Bi-Monthly Book Club

September 6th from Noon - 1 p.m. E.B and Bertha C. Ball Center

This new book club will be starting in September and will meet on Wednesdays at noon, every other month. Bring your own sack lunch and come prepared to discuss Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See.”

First Thursday

September 7th from 5-8 p.m. Downtown Muncie – 300 N High St, Muncie, IN

On the first Thursday of each month, find a gallery and walk around downtown Munice where you can watch and learn from local artists as they perform their craft in various downtown shops.

Pollinator Party

September 9th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Rinard Orchid Greenhouse – 2500 W University Ave, Muncie, IN

Find out at the Pollinator Part at the Ball State Nature Lab, Rinard Orchid Greenhouse and Christy Woods. Attendees can learn about pollination from experts in the community and see examples firsthand.

Magical Music: Harry Potter & More

September 16th at 7:30 p.m. ($20-32) Emens Auditorium – 1800 W Riverside Ave, Muncie, IN

Under the baton of Principal Guest Conductor Joel Smirnoff, Orchestra Indiana opens a new season with music from the Harry Potter Movies, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, as seen in Disney’s “Fantasia,” and other magical tunes.

Old Washington Street Festival

September 16-17

Victory Laps Go-Kart Reaction Center

The Old Washington Street Festival comes together every year to celebrate and preserve the rich history of the Gas Boom Era in Muncie. The festival helps educate the community in arts and crafts and builds community with artists, makers and vendors demonstrating their creative items.

Muncie Indiana Exotic Pet Expo

September 24th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Delaware County Fairgrounds – 1210 N Wheeling Ave, Muncie, IN

The Indiana Exotic Pet Expo is a platform for businesses that cater to a niche community. The program showcases hundreds of different types of animals and products brought by vendors, breeders and exotic animal enthusiasts from around the country.

Fall ArtsWalk

October 5th from 5-8 p.m. Downtown Muncie – 300 N High St, Muncie, IN

In a special edition of First Thursday, October ArtsWalk will feature unique arts, dazzling shows and delicious food. October ArtsWalk is hosted by Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Ball State University College of Fine Arts and MuncieArts.

The Muncie Community is home to many events available to the public

People walk the streets of Canan Commons Sept. 3, 2022 at the Pride festival hosted by Muncie OUTreach. MYA CATALINE, DN

DNSports

THE TASTE OF VICTORY

Ball State Women’s Volleyball is looking to use the highs and lows of the past to cultivate success in the present

Kyle Smedley Sports Editor

In the annals of Worthen Arena, the home of the IHSAA Girls Volleyball State Finals, Kelli Miller Phillips donned a black zip-up jacket with the iconic ‘Dancing Charlie’ logo near the right shoulder.

Below the mascot read the phrase “Ball State Tradition” in red lettering. Although she’s heading into her eighth season at the helm of Ball State Women’s Volleyball, Miller Phillips has known the legacy of volleyball at the university and the city surrounding it for her entire life.

A graduate of Muncie Central High School, the two-time reigning Mid-American Conference (MAC) Coach of the Year has guided the Cardinals to two conference titles and the program’s thirdever NCAA Tournament match win in 2021. Along

with success, Miller Phillips wants to maintain that “Ball State Tradition” by instilling the same passion in the athletes who take the hardwood.

“Looking up into the stands and seeing the Muncie community here, it’s just amazing to play in front of them,” graduate student Marie Plitt said. “You want to do well because you want to show your support and love for this town.”

Throughout her four seasons as a Cardinal, Plitt has been named to the All-MAC First Team twice as a middle blocker, succeeding in her quest to represent Ball State well and playing no small part in the success of the program as of late. However, after a triumphant 2021 season saw Ball State win the MAC Championship Tournament and a First Round NCAA Tournament match, many Cardinals experienced the feeling of losing a match on the big stage for the first time in 2022.

4See VICTORY, 14

‘Dancing Charlie’ logo midfield at Scheumann Stadium

The 1960s Ball State logo, ‘Dancing Charlie,’ was placed as the new midfield logo at Scheumann Stadium. The old logo has been placed at centerfield since 2015 when the SprintTurf was installed. This is the first time that anything other than a variation of the Cardinal head has been on the turf surface.

Football Athletics

Charlie Cardinal mascot updated

For the first time in over a decade, Ball State University’s physical mascot has gotten a facelift. As the 2012 variation was weathered with age, the Ball State Alumni Association reportedly spent $40,000 on the renovation of a new Cardinal design. The 2023 iteration of Charlie has multiple outfits and looks more athletic than the four past designs.

Field Hockey

Cardinals open up season on the road

Ball State field hockey takes on Villanova in its season opener at Villanova on Aug. 25 at 5 p.m.

The Cardinals are coming off of a season that saw them make the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship Tournament. This will be the first of seven straight away matches that Ball State will have to open their season.

Senior outside hitter Cait Snyder jumps to serve in practice Aug. 23 in Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will start off their season Aug. 25 against Gonzaga at Worthen Arena. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Our goals aren’t changing, they’re getting higher”

- KELLI MILLER PHILLIPS, Head coach

A Summer of Change

Zach Carter Reporter

After being eliminated in the first round of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship softball tournament last season, Ball State softball went into the offseason preparing to build upon its successes.

But during that time, things changed.

The Cardinals lost a star player and their head coach in a matter of weeks. From that point, Ball State could only anxiously await what other dominoes would potentially fall.

“It’s like the fear of the unknown,” graduate student infielder Haley Wynn said. “You didn’t know what was gonna happen. None of us really knew.”

Russo Heads South

The first ample development to hit the Cardinals was junior pitcher Angelina Russo announcing she would not return to the program. Instead, she would be transferring to Abilene Christian University in Texas.

“I was kind of taken aback,” graduate student utility player Jazmyne Armendariz said. “I think everybody on the team was. But we love

Over her two seasons in Muncie, she went 23-19 with a 3.51 ERA and 189 strikeouts. She was the first-ever Ball State softball player to be named the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year and the only player in Ball State history to throw a perfect game.

But stats alone don’t communicate how much her teammates appreciated her, leading them to respect her decision.

“We knew, ultimately, she had to do what was best for her,” Wynn said. “And we obviously support her no matter what, whether that was staying here or leaving.”

However, Russo’s absence may not be the wrecking ball that some Cardinal fans might expect. Armendariz is confident Ball State will be capable of clearing this hurdle when the Cardinals hit the field in the spring of 2024.

“Someone has to step in and fill her role, but I’m personally not concerned about it,” she said. “We have a really strong pitching staff that has a lot of experience.”

A New Direction

The following change happened almost a month after Russo decided to transfer. On July 5, Ball State announced head coach Lacy Schurr accepted the position of associate head coach at

Schurr led the Cardinals to an 86-75 record over three seasons, and last season’s appearance at the MAC Championship Tournament was Ball State’s first appearance with Schurr at the helm.

When it was time to find the Cardinals’ new leader, Ball State athletic director Jeff Mitchell wanted someone that had “exceptional coaching ability” and that could grow the Cardinals as people along the way.

Enter Helen Peña.

“ I targeted Coach Peña within the first day of the search, but it was a week before I called her,” Mitchell said via email. “I spent a lot of time reviewing interviews Coach Peña had given, watching YouTube videos of her teaching, talking to coaches who know her and had worked with her, [and] reviewing the success of programs where she had success.”

At the time, Peña was serving as the associate head coach at Middle Tennessee University, and when Mitchel contacted her, the two started to discuss the idea of bringing her in as Ball State’s head honcho.

“I wasn’t looking to leave [Middle Tennessee] necessarily,” Peña said. “I had some Power-5 [conference programs] reach out to me and ask if I wanted to go and be an assistant. But I was really happy where I was at… But as I went through the process of learning more about Jeff and his vision, and I got to meet some amazing people from the athletic department, everything just aligned.”

Before she made a final decision, Peña did her homework on what the program had in store. She looked at who would be returning, how those players performed, and other factors such as what the town of Muncie had to offer.

But when she decided to take the position, there was another factor. When Peña was with Middle Tennessee, she had many run-ins with her future team.

“I knew some of the [previous] coaches that were on staff and I just had great respect for them,” Peña said. “... Their constant appetite for new information, how to do things better, how to

improve themselves so that they could improve their team.”

When she saw the Ball State coaches throughout the season, they would drop little tidbits of information about what made the university and program what it was.

“I got to know the ins and outs of this place and the people that are involved,” Peña said. “... The facilities are great, the school is great, but the people are what really drew me in. Each person that I met, I got more and more excited about the opportunity… It’s not me versus you, it’s all of us versus everyone outside of this.”

Before she started her coaching career, Peña played at the collegiate level at California Polytechnic State University. When she graduated, she led the program in seven statistical categories, including strikeouts (236), ERA (2.36), victories (28) and more. Her background as a pitcher is something she plans to interweave into the Ball State staff.

“It’s my job to hire assistants who specialize in things that aren’t my strength,” Peña said. “I’m definitely excited and looking forward to growing the [pitching] staff and bringing in some pieces that can complement one another.

4See CHANGE, 14

Ball State softball had multiple changes that included losing a star player and getting a new head coach.

Graduate student utility player Jazmyne Armendariz (left), Head coach Helen Peña (middle) and graduate sudent infielder Haley Wynn (right) sit along the back wall at First Merchants Ballpark Aug. 22. MYA CATALINE, DN

Head coach Helen Peña looks through the dugout net at First Merchants Ballpark Aug. 22. Peña was announced as head coach on July 31. MYA CATALINE, DN

It’s like the fear of the unknown. You didn’t know what was gonna happen. None of us really knew.”

- HALEY WYNN, Graduate student infielder

Student-exclusive nail business offers a unique experience

Ella Howell Associate Lifestyles Editor

Editor’s Note: Terra Konieczny is a member of News Link Indiana, another student media organization at Ball State. The Ball State Daily News and NewsLink Indiana are separate and unrelated publications, but both utilize resources in the Unified Media Lab.

The expectation of nail appointments consist of searching for parking in a crowded strip mall to wait for a nail tech’s availability. Once the appointment has begun, you’re sat between strangers for an hour before you leave and have to repeat the process in a couple of weeks.

In contrast, pulling up to a home with a brick exterior in a serene residential area might offer a better chance of relaxation than traditional nail salons.

Fourth-year journalism major Terra Konieczny has frequented the nail salon since a young age. When she moved to Muncie, she tried to find a nail

Campus Fourth year of “$2 Tour of the Village”

Saturday, from 4-8 p.m. the tour returns on University Avenue between Calvert and Dill Streets. Admission is free to the event, along with the first 100 people through the gates will be given a $2 bill to spend on items in the Village. More than 25 vendors and organizations will line the street, along with live performances from Bashville Boys, Foxxy and Los Galaxy.

Community Muncie Police K9 Unit organize concert in downtown Muncie

Muncie Police Department K9 Unit’s concert, “Dog Days of Summer,” will raise money for the unit to purchase more dogs. The family friendly event will be held in Canan Commons Park from 4-9 p.m Saturday. Performing at the concert is Benii Daze, Free Joel, Remedy Band and headlining is Sakoya. General admission for tickets is $12.

salon like the one she regularly attended back home in Illinois, but none of them were quite right.

In August 2022, she decided to take matters into her own hands, teaching herself how to do her own nails. When she saw Gel-X on TikTok being advertised as an easier alternative to acrylics, she quickly ordered the required equipment.

According to The Beauty Institute, there are three main types of manicures. Basic manicures are simple but less durable. Gel manicures utilize UV light to harden the polish, and acrylics include a false tip with a mixture of liquid and powder polish.

Gel-X manicures can be long like acrylics and has the additional element of UV light to harden the nail, like in a gel manicure.

“I’m a person that feels like I can learn anything if I just practice it a lot,” Konieczny said. “Gel-X uses powder to form the nail. It’s really easy and fast for me. I would say it’s more durable than acrylics, and I think it lasts longer as well, but everyone’s nails are different.”

Community Soul-jazz band, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, come to Muncie

Saturday, Sept. 9, the vintage jazz trio will perform at Canan Commons at 7 p.m. with the Ball State Jazz Ensemble as a special guest opener. The performance is presented by DeFur Voran, a law practice in Muncie. The show is a part of the 2023 Muncie Three Trails Music Series summer of free concerts.

Fourth-year journalism major Terra Konieczny paints on the nails of fourth-year speech language pathology major Brianna Santos in her home studio August 17. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Every time I’ve gotten my nails done, it feels like I’ve known her for ages, and we always have lots to talk about, and it’s never awkward or boring at all.”

- ALEXANDREA VACKAR, Second-year business major

NAILS

Continued from Page 09

Living with five roommates, she was not lacking in practice opportunities. Because of the extra hands, it took her three months to feel confident in her nail work.

That’s when her roommates, three of which are in sororities, suggested they spread the word. Once it was sent in group chats and posted on social media, TK Nails was established, and began growing quickly.

It didn’t take long before Konieczny began building her inventory to better support her endeavors and make the experience more comfortable for those receiving manicures from her. Her latest new piece of equipment includes an airbrush, so she can achieve more design options.

“As time went on, I had fun with it, and I bought more stuff,” Konieczny said.

Konieczny’s offer of exclusivity to Ball State students and the accessibility of her location on Gilbert Street, by The Village, drew in enough customers that word-of-mouth is bringing new people in the door.

“I don’t have to do anything. I do one new person, they tell their roommates, and it just keeps going,” Konieczny said.

Fourth-year creative writing major Lilly Anderson learned about Konieczny’s abilities through her Instagram and has gone back multiple times since the initial visit.

“A set from her lasts almost an entire month, so I don’t have to go as often as I do when I have acrylics,” Anderson said. “Terra’s work is high quality. She has all of the tools you would typically see in a salon, and she dedicates herself to each set, taking her time and being very patient.”

Many of Konieczny’s regulars appreciate the comfort that her home provides, as opposed to a traditional nail salon.

Rylee Billups, third-year psychology major,

discovered TK Nails when she noticed both the durability and design of a friend’s nails in class. When Billups asked where they got them done, she was directed to Konieczny’s account on Instagram, just like Anderson.

“The environment is very comfortable,” Billups said. “The times I’ve been there she has music playing, and we have conversations. Terra is the type of person who is easy to talk to.”

Anderson feels that the layout and the way Konieczny decorated her space is inviting and improves the overall experience.

The laundry room was converted into a nail salon and is covered in shades of pink from the light pink fluffy rug, to the hot pink Pitbull tapestry. Konieczny purchased a glass table and displayed bottles of nail polish to transform the monochrome space into an area for her new business.

“I like that Terra works from her house,” Anderson said. “There is no wait time like an actual salon that takes walk-ins, and it honestly feels like hanging out with a friend because she is so sweet and a great conversationalist. She has done a phenomenal job at decorating as well. Hers is the cutest set up I have ever been to, and I’ve been getting my nails done for almost five years. It’s all pink, very clean and super cozy.”

Alexandra Vackar, second-year business major was connected to Konieczny through a sorority sister when she complimented her nails.

“I enjoyed walking to Terra’s house from my freshman year dorm and, soon, my house this school year,” Vackar said. “Going to her house also felt more personable, and it was nice to have a one-on-one experience.”

Over the past year that Konieczny has been doing nails, she has found that she genuinely enjoys adding designs to her manicures.

“I really like being challenged, and I have a couple of clients who always bring me something,” Konieczny said. “I love doing designs because people have expressed that a bunch of nail salons can’t. I feel proud when I’m done because I’m like ‘Wow, I just did that.’”

While many really admire the work that

Konieczny does and the comfort her location provides, it’s not the only thing attracting and retaining customers. Many people who have gotten their nails done by her have expressed their adoration of her personal approach.

“Every time I’ve gotten my nails done, it feels like I’ve known her for ages, and we always have lots to talk about, and it’s never awkward or boring at all,” Vackar said. “People should know that Terra is incredibly talented and so kind.”

The enjoyment that Konieczny’s new-found form of expression brings her is apparent in her work. “I really appreciate how her business is geared

towards college students, and she genuinely enjoys doing nails,” Billups said. “Terra is such a sweet and genuine person. She is dedicated to her business and I know she works so hard.”

Ball State students feel that Konieczny’s business allows them to feel good about their nails and better manage that aspect of their lives.

“Her heart is for the people, and the business she’s made is amazing for college students,” Billups said.

Contact Ella Howell with comments at ella. howell@bsu.edu.

Fourth-year journalism major Terra Konieczny paints on the nails of fourth-year speech language pathology major Brianna Santos in her home studio August 17. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Thank you cards and a welcome sign sit atop of a shelf in the home of fourth-year journalism major Terra Konieczny August 17. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Fourth-year journalism major Terra Konieczny holds an appointment with fourth-year speech language pathology major Brianna Santos in her home studio August 17. JACY BRADLEY, DN

There is no wait time like an actual salon that takes walk-ins, and it honestly feels like hanging out with a friend because she is so sweet and a great conversationalist.”

- LILLY ANDERSON, Fourth-year creative writing major

Into the Swing of Campus Life

A look back at the first week on campus

receive resources during an

Students talk with The Learning Center and

event hosted by University College in The Quad Aug. 23. The Learning Center handed out information, water bottles and candy. OLIVIA GROUND, DN

Two students sit in the University Green by Frog Baby on the first day of classes for the fall semester Aug. 22. OLIVIA GROUND, DN Students walk through the Scramble Light on the first day of classes for the fall semester Aug. 22. OLIVIA GROUND, DN

Kona Ice is handed out to students by the Scramble Light on the first day of classes for the fall semester Aug. 22. The Kona Ice was provided by Student Center Programs. OLIVIA GROUND, DN

Ball State students talk and laugh at the Rock the Halls event on campus Aug. 17. AULANI HO, DN

A Ball State student smiles and slides down an inflatable slide at the Rock the Halls event Aug. 17. AULANI HO, DN

hypocrisy of the in-between

Opinion Editor

Kate Farr is a second-year journalism major and writes “Face to Face” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

In a country that prides itself on free speech and press — both of which can be found in the First Amendment — rampant censorship is not a foreign concept.

A majority of free speech is protected — including hate speech — besides those few instances of true defamation, threats or “fighting words.” Seems pretty simple.

But not everything can be clear-cut or black and white.

More often than not, a lot of us find ourselves stuck in the gray area between two lesser goods. I found myself in this region recently.

In February of this year, many of Roald Dahl’s famed children’s books were re-released in Britain, but not without some rewrites and revisions first.

Following outspoken criticism against the original manuscripts from political figures such as Queen Camilla and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, hundreds of potentially offensive words were cut from the author’s books before the new additions found their way to bookstore shelves.

Navigating the complexities of a multifaceted world makes it challenging to strike a balance between opposing viewpoints.

Dahl, who died in 1990, wrote acclaimed classics like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda” throughout the length of his almost 50-year career. However, over 30 years after his death, Dahl’s books have found their way into public scrutiny due to controversial language found within their pages.

Most of the revisions are minute, such as updating references of “mothers” or “fathers” to non-gendered terms like “parents.” Due to current social sensitivity, references to physical appearances, along with racial and gender identities, were also altered to include more appropriate and contemporary wording.

These revisions began in 2020 before Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company, which subsequently gave the company creative freedom over the late author’s works. In an email statement on behalf of the company, Rick Behari, a spokesman for Netflix, said that revisions in language and details are not unusual when running new versions of older stories.

According to Netflix’s statement after its acquisition, “We’re committed to maintaining their unique spirit and their universal themes of surprise and kindness, while also sprinkling some fresh magic into the mix.”

These edits were permitted by the Roald Dahl Story Company, but with the author’s copyrights and trademarks being purchased by Netflix, is this just another profit-seeking corporate ploy?

Unsurprisingly enough, this is not the first time Dahl’s works have faced heavy criticism. Since the 1970s and 1980s, critics have pointed to books like “The Witches” as misogynistic, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” as giving into racial stereotypes or his adult short story book “Switch Bitch” as being sexually crude.

These criticisms came during his lifetime, so any alterations following backlash had to be done by him with his consent. The books remained untouched. But that’s not the case today.

Should we be updating any and all literature, especially posthumously, for readers today? Is it pushing a certain agenda that not everyone stands on common ground with? Or, could measures of censorship even be promoting an all-or-nothing mindset?

Judy Blume, author of books like “Superfudge” and “Freckle Juice,” spoke about her own experiences with censorship, as well as her opinion on the censorship of Dahl, in a recent interview with Variety. Blume, who had books censored due to writing about topics like menstruation and female masturbation, said she didn’t believe publishers and Dahl’s estate should be making revisions based on contemporary sensibilities.

“What do I think about rewriting the Roald Dahl books?” Blume said. “I think if Roald Dahl was around, you would be hearing what he thinks about that. Whatever he is, whatever he’s accused of being, there’s a lot of truth there. But the books are the books. Kids still love the books, and they love them the way he wrote them. So I don’t believe in that.”

Dahl’s books were written in a cultural period where turns of phrase like “fat” or “old hag” weren’t considered outwardly or universally offensive. But in our more “woke” culture, as some might call it, many are pushing for literature and media to be inclusive for

everyone, supporting a distinct means of political correctness. Throughout history, blasphemous language, sexual depictions and controversial descriptions have been cut from literary existence long before the protest seen in our 21st century society. Expurgation, also coined bowdlerization, is a censorship style that involves purging noxious, offensive or lewd content from artistic work or other forms of media or writing. Prohibitions that involved reworking or even burning materials have occurred since the 13th century.

Art and all its intricate pieces — even those of which may only be acceptable in a certain timeline of history — shouldn’t be altered in the interest of modern convenience, nor at the expense of individual ideologies or beliefs.

While the rights of Roald Dahl’s stories have been transferred to another entity – like a Van Gogh sent to a museum outside the Netherlands – it doesn’t give it the right to change parts of a story.

We shouldn’t see a modern artist painting over Ronald Harrison’s “The Black Christ” or an editor scrawling revisions for Ernest Renan’s “The Life of Jesus” because they don’t agree with certain religious narratives.

In my own junior English class in high school, we were all given copies of Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” If we forgot our own unblemished copies at home, we were sent to the school library to check it out. In a few of the school’s versions of “To Kill A Mockingbird” the N-word was completely blacked out by marker, erasing it from the pages where it once stood.

But during the period in which this book takes place, the use of the N-word gave us a greater lens into the counterculture of the time. Even if the school librarian or administration wanted it scrawled away, it doesn’t mean that word never existed. It doesn’t erase from history the stigma, oppression and strength behind the word.

We can’t place anything and everything into the categories of good or bad. By throwing all literary or artistic compositions that don’t fit modern narratives into this category of badness, we are further breeding ignorance and hatred.

More often than not, we will never be able to find a common ground that everyone can agree on. As much as we may wish for it at times – almost to remove any ambivalence from our society – not everything can be definitive, simplistic or clear-cut. The world is not a simple or perfectly coherent place.

While it was announced that classic versions of Dahl’s works would be published by Penguin, giving readers the choice of owning the pre-revised books in an archival state, it’s not wrong to question whether or not posthumous edits like these are acceptable or even beneficial.

It’s not wrong to question whether or not this deconstruction of creative works seems to be seeking to promote binary thinking –what is purely good or bad.

translation of the Bible was even edited to exclude 25 of the original books of gospel.

As a society, we have had many grueling periods of book banning and censorship. From Thomas Bowdler’s sanitized collection of William Shakespeare plays to Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” archival literature has faced edits and expulsions as human culture has experienced an ebb and flow of what is OK and what is not.

In many accounts, these events — like the 1973 book burning that set fire to 36 copies of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” by North Dakota school officials — have become shrouded in regret and even regression.

Keeping these books how they were originally written, and giving the public the ability to still purchase and read them, is keeping a primary source to exhibit how language has changed over time, how depictions of people have changed. They could one day be a historical archive of a time gone and passed on.

We can clarify and contextualize art and literature. But it isn’t ours to tidy up or make more “acceptable” in the eyes of everyone.

Art — in its many visual, musical and written mediums — is not ours to control.

In this rift between critics, revisionists, those who find the edits to be of little importance and those who believe the edits to symbolize a sensitization of free press, I find myself yet again floating in this moral gray space.

Contact Kate Farr with comments at kate.farr@bsu.edu.

Martin Luther’s German

We can’t place anything and everything into the categories of good or bad. There’s just too much to be taken into account.

Art — in its many visual, musical and written mediums — is not ours to control.

CHATGPT

With the introduction of ChatGPT last year, staff involved in the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs had conversations in spring 2023 about how to address AI usage on campus.

Dr. Kristen McCauliff, associate provost for faculty affairs and professional development, said there has already been unethical usage of ChatGPT that she has dealt with in her office.

However, ChatGPT wasn’t the first AI program to stir the pot in education. McCauliff said her office has had experience in dealing with other AI programs for years.

“We have [always been] pretty familiar with artificial intelligence and the way it can function both productively and unethically,” McCauliff said. “We’ve [always been] using our ethics policy to allow faculty to punish students who used what is called in the policy, ‘unauthorized materials.’ If a student uses any unauthorized materials to complete an assignment, they can be charged with academic dishonesty.”

While the usage of AI like ChatGPT can be abused, McCauliff recognized how it can be used as a tool in classrooms. The office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs provides a page on academic integrity where it includes links to resources assisting faculty members in learning how to use ChatGPT, as well as how they can include it in their syllabi. It allows individual faculty to decide whether or not to include the authentic usage of AI in their syllabi. She said she understands where ChatGPT may be more beneficial than harmful.

CHANGE

Continued from Page 08

Even though Peña was employed to be Ball State’s next coach, she wants to be more than that.

“My coaches definitely helped me on some of the worst days I’ve ever had as a person,” she said. “...And they could have easily just written me off. Even as a young coach, I felt it was my job to return that favor to my players now and in the future.”

Peña loves the technique of the sport. She could talk all day about biomechanics, spin rate, and how to attack in certain moments. But to perform well, she believes the most important plays are in the mental game.

“If you’re not building them up as people, and they get into the hard moments of the game… they don’t feel like they’re strong enough to face adversity,” she said. “Then they’re going to crumble and fail.”

Cardinal Cognition

On the evening of August 3rd, the newly hired head

Mike Gillilan, director of student conduct, agrees with McCauliff in seeing that AI can be used as a tool. He said the code of conduct has currently not been changed to specifically address AI, mostly because it is unneeded.

“The reason we haven’t made any changes [to the code of conduct] is [because] ChatGPT doesn’t change what cheating is [and] it doesn’t change what plagiarism is,” Gillilan said. “The code of conduct and [the] policies are designed to be flexible and incorporate a number of things. Copying or receiving assistance that is not authorized [is already in the code of conduct.]”

Gillilan said the code of conduct purposely uses phrases to make individuals aware that not everything that is deemed unethical will be specifically written in the code. This is why AI is not specifically addressed in the code.

The consensus among these faculty members is that AI, like ChatGPT, should be used in some circumstances in courses because it will eventually become a part of the careers current students will be in.

“The students that will come in future years will just be more and more familiar with [AI],” McCauliff said. “We as faculty have to become more comfortable with it too … once we become more comfortable with this technology, we’re going to realize that it helps us … my faculty colleagues will realize how much it contributes to our own workplace.”

Contact Maya Kim with comments at mayabeth. kim@bsu.edu or on X @MayaKim03.

VICTORY

Continued from Page 07

Ball State made it to the MAC Championship Tournament final for the second year in a row but fell to Bowling Green in five sets. The Cardinals made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row but were swept by Marquette in three sets.

Despite finishing as regular season MAC champions and losing less than 10 matches over the course of a 31-game season, Ball State comes into the 2023 season with a simple motto: “Stay Hungry.”

“We want to win, we want to feel that experience again, but those losses are definitely fueling the hunger,” senior outside hitter Cait Snyder said.

The Cardinals graduated five seniors from 2022, including All-MAC Second Team opposite Natalie Mitchem and starting libero Maggie

Huber. Rather than recruiting to fill those positions lost, Miller Phillips said she went after athletes who fit into Ball State’s identity.

Plitt said she feels this ‘culture-first’ approach helps the transition from offseason to season feel more seamless, something Wielonski attested to first-hand.

“When I was a freshman, everyone just embraced all the new girls, and I think that’s just something so special about this program,” Wielonski said. “It’s so easy to just come in, be yourself and everyone accepts who you are.”

Ball State opens its season at Worthen Arena against Gonzaga on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m.

coach held a Zoom meeting with the team. Wynn had one word to describe her new leader; passionate.

“You could tell that she genuinely cares about each one of us individually,” Wynn said. “She wants to get to know us individually, and I think that’s huge.”

When Armendariz jumped into the meeting, she could already tell Peña was the right fit as many faces lit up.

“Times are changing, and if you don’t care about who your athlete is as a person above who they are as an athlete, then you can really lose that connection with your team,” Armendariz said. “... She wants to care about us as people and she wants to get to know us as people before athletes and I think that’s a game changer for us and our culture.”

Peña’s Plan

While the Cardinals celebrated last season’s achievement of making the MAC tournament, Peña made it clear that Ball State can do better and will use the momentum gained from that achievement as motivation.

“Now we understand that that’s not good enough,” Peña said. “We want more for ourselves and we have the people right here, right now to do it… Part of my job is creating that realization that they can do more, and then we just got to show the blueprints on how to get there.”

It’s not just Peña who believes the Cardinals can make a run. Her new players are right behind her in that ideology.

“I’ve never seen the team so excited to come back for fall,” Wynn said. “... Everyone seems very excited to get to work, and even the incoming freshmen have bought in.”

Even though Peña is months away from stepping on the field for Ball State’s season opener, she has already set four goals for her time in Delaware County.

“The goal is to go to the postseason,” she said. “It’s to win a tournament, it’s to knock out Miami (OH), and it’s to be a threat when it comes to the [NCAA] Regional.”

Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.

The reason we haven’t made any changes [to the code of conduct] is [because] ChatGPT doesn’t change what cheating is [and] it doesn’t change what plagiarism is.”

- MIKE GILLILAN, Director of student conduct

Head coach Helen Peña poses on the pitching mound at First Merchants Ballpark Aug. 22. MYA CATALINE, DN

Junior setter Meghan Wielonski sets the ball in practice Aug. 23 at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will open their season with the Ball State Invitational Aug. 25. JACY BRADLEY, DN

Crossword & Sudoku

24 Roof edge

25 Bird on

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