BSU 11-30-15 by The Ball State Daily News

DN MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015

How did athletics do over break?

BALL

SEE PAGE 3

SPORTS MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. IUPUI TUESDAY @ 7 P.M.

VS. NEW ORLEANS SATURDAY @ 2 P.M.

WORTHEN ARENA | 100 Student Rewards Points for each game

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. OHIO VALLEY, Thursday @ 7 p.m.

THE DAILY NEWS

VS. BUTLER, Sunday @ 2 p.m.

FREE WINTER FAN JAM SUNDAY @ 3 P.M.: FREE FOOD & FUN FOR ALL WORTHEN ARENA | 200 Student Rewards Points for each game

DAVE IS BACK

BALLSTATEDAILY.COM

BALLSTATE.FANMAKER.COM | #CHIRPCHIRP

Scotty’s expands nationwide Owner adds locations in Illinois, Florida; up to 3 more openings possible

MICHELLE KAUFMAN COMMUNITY/BUSINESS REPORTER mekaufman@bsu.edu

A timeline of Letterman’s career, connections to Ball State

STATE

RACHEL PODNAR IDESK/DIGITAL EDITOR

DN FILE PHOTO

rmpodnar@bsu.edu

SGA extends operation hours for Blue Loop

he Ball State alumnus who has been credited with “putting Ball State on the map” is returning to his alma mater tonight. David Letterman wasn’t always so well known — he came from humble beginnings of making up news stories for the campus radio station. He returns to campus tonight with directors Spike Jonze and Bennett Miller as part of that lecture series. The talk starts at 7 p.m.

University shuttle to off-campus sites back today GORDON SGA REPORTER | SOPHIE sgordon@bsu.edu

1965-1969: David Letterman attends college at Ball State University. In 1965, he worked for the campus radio station WBST. He wrote biographies for classical composers, wrote for news and had his first radio show, “Make It Or Break It,” which was on for less than a week. He then started a carrier-current station, WAGO, with friends that only broadcast to campus. 1982: “Late Night with David Letterman” premieres in February. 1985: Letterman starts a scholarship for Ball State students with a telecommunications major or minor, based on creativity, not grades.

were being utilized enough to warrant the extension in hours. Transportation expects to see an average of 125-150 riders an hour, which she said is consistent with ridership for the Blue Loop in the past. “I just hope students utilize the Blue Loop more and understand that SGA is actually doing something,” Acel said. “I think this is something students love that SGA has started.” SGA will cover the cost of new signs at the Blue Loop stops and any advertising of the service. The cost of operation for the shuttles, however, will be covered by transportation. This will not affect the Red and Green Loops. “I think Ball State is a really student-oriented campus and they really care about their students, and this is just another way they are doing that,” Mikaela Schutte, a sophomore actuarial science major, said. With the additional hours for the Blue Loop, transportation is looking for more student drivers. Drivers must be 21 years old and be able to work for at least two semesters.

Students who ride the Blue Loop will now have extended hours to get to and from campus. The loop will now run from 8:40 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:40 a.m. until 4:20 p.m. on Fridays. Previously, the loop only ran until 4:20 p.m. each day. Student Government Association Secretary Austin Acel worked with Sue Weller, the director of facilities, business services, transportation and space studies, to adjust the times the shuttle operates since January. “[SGA] made a good case regarding student safety, especially students taking evening classes,” Weller said in an email. Weller said they would be analyzing ridership to make sure the shuttles

1986: He donates money to fund construction of original AM “carrier current” WCRD operation. 1993: On Aug. 30, “The Late Show with David Letterman” debuts at the 11:35 p.m. slot on CBS. 2000: On Oct. 7, Letterman helps break Ball State football team’s 21-game losing streak. The night before Ball State’s game against Miami of Ohio, Letterman asked retired Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson to give the team an on-air pep talk. The next day, the football team won 15-10. 2007: Ball State President Jo Ann Gora and the Board of Trustees dedicate the David Letterman Communication and Media Building. Letterman also makes a gift to the university that starts the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lecture and Workshop Series. 2010: Letterman interviews Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, as part of the Letterman Lecture Series. 2011: Letterman brings Rachel Maddow, host of “The Rachel Maddow Show,” to Ball State as part of the Letterman Lecture Series. 2012: Letterman and Oprah Winfrey come to campus for the lecture series. 2015: On May 20, the last episode of “The Late Show With David Letterman” airs after more than 6,000 episodes. On Nov. 30, Letterman returns to campus with filmmakers Spike Jonze and Bennett Miller. SOURCES: Daily News archives, Indystar.com, bsu.edu, wcrd.net

Scotty’s Brewhouse will be opening at least two new restaurants nationwide in 2016. Owner Scott Wise said after being contacted 3-5 times per week from people who wanted him to open more restaurants, he researched and visited areas for possible expansion. “I never wanted to stop at Indiana,” Wise said. “I wanted to grow this thing as comfortably as I can.” Scotty’s Brewhouse will open in Champaign, Ill., and Punta Gorda, Fla., in the spring. Wise has looked at the Illinois market for about three years. The Punta Gorda location will be on the water with three all-glass walls. Scotty’s currently has 14 restaurants open in just Indiana. Numbers have never been one of Wise’s focuses, but he doesn’t have a real estate person and does everything himself for the business. Rather than making a five- to ten-year plan, he budgets year-by-year and has the 2016 budget set. But he doesn’t call all of that work, because it doesn’t feel like work, he said. “As long as it feels like that, I want to keep doing it. You achieve a goal and then you reset them,” Wise said. “Let’s grow smart, let’s have fun city by city.” One more restaurant is never enough for him, he said. In addition to the two restaurants that have been signed to open, there is the possibility of up to three more opening.

Get to know the guests coming with Letterman on page 4

GROUPS UTILIZE SOLAR POWER THROUGH GRANT Students can use panels to learn system operations

MICHELLE KAUFMAN COMMUNITY/BUSINESS REPORTER mekaufman@bsu.edu

Four organizations in Muncie are now able to be

MUNCIE, INDIANA

YOU CAN STILL SEE LETTERMAN IF ALL SEATS AREN’T FILLED BY 6:40 P.M.

powered by the sun. The Solar Uniting Neighbors (SUN) Program gave four local organizations — Youth Opportunity Center (YOC), Kennedy Library, ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc. and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie — grants to help purchase solar panels to offset electrical costs. CONTACT US

News desk: 285-8245 Sports desk: 285-8245 Features desk: 285-8245

Ball State has been involved with ecoREHAB of Muncie, Inc. since 2009 when it started as a design build studio through the Department of Architecture. Ball State owns and operates a model house where classes and offices are located. The SUN grant, along with a matched do-

Editor: 285-8249 Classified: 285-8247 Fax: 285-8248

TWEET US

nation from Mutual Bank, provided funding to put eight solar panels on top of the house. Eventually, students will be able to get on top of the roof and look at the system. Seven of the panels are installed currently. “Students have been watching the installation to get a better understand-

Receive news updates on your phone for free by following @bsudailynews on Twitter.

FORECAST TODAY

Mostly cloudy

High: 50 Low: 45

1. CLOUDY

ing of how systems work and the different components that make a complete solar installation,” said architecture professor Jonathan Spodek. “We will have a dashboard, so the students can look at that at any time and can see how well the system is working and if it’s working to the capacity that we

sized it for.” Spodek serves as the connection between Ball State and ecoREHAB and hopes the model house will be able to provide an accessible installation so that people can see how a solar panel system operates.

There will be a high of 50 tomorrow to begin the week. Monday also brings a 40 percent chance of showers throughout the night hours into Tuesday. - Ethan Rosuck, WCRD weather forecaster 2. MOSTLY CLOUDY

3. PARTLY CLOUDY

4. MOSTLY SUNNY

THE PULSE OF BALL STATE

See SOLAR, page 6

THE PULSE OF BALL STATE

VOL. 95, ISSUE 38

THE PULSE OF BALL STATE

5. SUNNY

PAGE 2 | MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015 | THE BALL STATE DAILY NEWS | BALLSTATEDAILY.COM

THE SKINNY TODAY’S BULLETIN BOARD TODAY

03 - PARTLY CLOUDY

05 - SUNNY

The Ball State Daily News (USPS144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Monday through Thursday during the academic year and Monday and Thursday during summer sessions; zero days on breaks and holidays. 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 points on campus.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LYSA FRANKLIN Think, Dog! Productions is performing at the Heoro show is called “The Play About the Baby,” and ticket t in downtown Muncie at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5 and 11-12. The s are $8 for adults and $5 for students with an ID.

THURSDAY

EDITORIAL BOARD

PRINT EDITOR Christopher Stephens CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ashley Downing

‘THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY’ Think, Dog! Productions will be performing “The Play About the Baby” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Dec. 11-12 at the Heorot in downtown Muncie. The play is about the relationship between two couples: an idyllic young couple and a wise, older couple. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students (with an ID). They’re available at the door and in advance. The show is rated R and is for ages 18 and up. LUMINARIA WALK Start the holiday season off right with an enchanted luminaria walk from 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Minnetrista. There will be treats, winter games and crafts, live theater performances, carriage rides and holiday music to celebrate the season. The event is free and open to the public.

IDESK EDITOR Rachel Podnar SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Alan Hovorka

FORUM EDITOR Anna Bowman NEWS EDITOR Kara Berg

SPORTS EDITOR Robby General ASST. SPORTS EDITOR Chase Akins

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Breanna Daugherty ASST. MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Samantha Brammer

TO ADVERTISE Classified department 765-285-8247 Display department 765-285-8256 or 765-285-8246. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

BACK ISSUES Stop by AJ 278 between noon and 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and afternoons Friday. CORRECTIONS To report an error in print or online, email editor@bsudailynews.com with the following information: the date, if it appeared in print or online, the headline, byline and an explanation of why it is incorrect.

Email us at news@bsudailynews.com.

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Rose Skelly FEATURES EDITOR Danielle Grady

POSTAL BOX The Daily News offices are in AJ 278, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306-0481. Periodicals postage paid in Muncie, Ind.

TO SUBSCRIBE Call 765-285-8250 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Subscription rates: $90 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Daily News, AJ 278, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306.

FRIDAY

WANT TO SEE YOUR EVENT ON THIS PAGE? EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kaitlin Lange MANAGING EDITOR Jake Fox

FRIDAY Sunny High: 47 Low: 31

SERVICE DIRECTORY

LIGHT UP DWNTWN This holiday festival will be from 5-8 p.m. through downtown Muncie. The community tree lighting ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. at Canan Commons (on the 500 block of South Walnut Street). Canan Commons will also host the Holiday YART, which will feature nearly 50 artists. A temporary ice skating rink will be installed, and skating will be available in 15-minute increments for $2. There will also be ice carving demonstrations, a train for kids, fire pits and concessions.

FALL 2015 CULTURE EXCHANGE SERIES: ITALY Check out the weekly Culture Exchange Series at 12 p.m. at the Yuhas Room in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. This week’s presentation is on Italy and from Lara Vecchi. Italian food will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Tally Food Court.

03 - PARTLY CLOUDY

THURSDAY Partly cloudy High: 44 Low: 29

TUESDAY

TEA AND TALK AT MINNETRISTA Learn about Muncie’s history and see artifacts at Minnetrista’s Tea & Talk: High Society from 3-4:30 p.m. The cost is $15, but member discounts apply. There will be food and refreshments as you learn about Muncie’s past with the High Society.

TUESDAY Mostly cloudy High: 49 Low: 33

03 - PARTLY CLOUDY

DAVE AT BALL STATE David Letterman will be returning to Ball State at 7 p.m. at John R. Emens Auditorium. Tickets are already sold out, but if students aren’t in their seats by 6:40 p.m., the empty seats will be given to overflow students. Letterman is hosting a discussion with filmmakers Spike Jonze and Bennett Miller.

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY Partly cloudy High: 41 Low: 29

DRUM CLINIC FEATURING JOE ELLIOT Joe Elliott III will be teaching a drum clinic at 5 p.m. at the Music Instruction Building’s Soundhouse A (MI 220). Elliott is originally from Muncie and began playing drums when he was 2 years old and started playing professionally when he was 15. Contact Cassius Goens at 765-285-5402 for more details.

FACULTY ARTIST SERIES RECITAL: BRITTANY HENDRICKS, TRUMPET Trumpet player Brittany Hendricks will be performing with pianists Hwaju Lee and Topher Ruggiero and baritone Craig Priebe at 7:30 p.m. at the Sursa Performance Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

THE FORECAST

DESIGN EDITOR Krista Sanford GRAPHICS EDITOR Tyson Bird

COPY DIRECTOR Melissa Jones ASST. COPY DIRECTOR Sophie Gordon

GET HOLIDAY CASH FAST! Holiday Loan Extravaganza - up to $700 at 7% APR for any reason! • Get cash quick. • Fast approval process. • Apply online or at our ofﬁce.

Crossword ACROSS 1 Beatle Paul’s first wife 6 Second-string squad 11 Tummy muscles 14 Lunchbox cookies 15 Hardship 16 “Nope” 17 Started to sneeze and cough, say 19 Org. promoting hunter safety 20 Basil or rosemary 21 IV monitors 22 Honor __ thieves 24 Musical Apple 26 Exposed 28 Really worked hard 34 Critter that sleeps floating on its back 35 National Anthem starter 36 Kitten cry 37 Gen-__: post-baby boomers 38 Camera setting 40 Wait 41 Small S.A. country 42 Red Sox star Big __ 43 Panama divider 44 Paid for everyone’s dinner 48 Exhausted 49 Fit for sainthood 50 Catcher’s position 52 Holiday tree 53 Rock’s Mötley __ 57 Continent north of Afr.

BSFCU.com 2900 N Oakwood Ave & Ball State Student Center generalemail@bsfcu.com 765-741-2728

Federally Insured by NCUA

EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS

58 Taken away in handcuffs ... and a hint to the starts of 17-, 28- and 44-Across 62 Aragon aunt 63 Argue the opposing viewpoint 64 Hit half of a record 65 Home of the Cardinals: Abbr. 66 Small and glittering, like eyes 67 Terminate the mission DOWN 1 Scot’s swimming spot 2 “Dies __”: hymn 3 Nerve: Pref. 4 Wounds from an aggressive pooch 5 Silvery gray 6 Godfather portrayer 7 Muscle twitches 8 Self-image 9 “You’ve got mail” company 10 Elizabeth Bennet’s suitor in “Pride and Prejudice” 11 In the year of the Lord, in dates 12 Farm building 13 Layered haircut 18 Walked 23 “Not so great” 25 According to 26 Kiss from Carlos

generalemail@bsfcu.com 765-741-2728 Federally Insured by NCUA

Sudoku CROSSWORD SOLUTION FOR MONDAY

27 “Do it yesterday!” on memos 28 Pack in cartons 29 Wombs 30 Like earthquake damage 31 Inept waiter’s comeuppance 32 Foot-operated lever 33 “Peachy!” 38 Gradually vanish 39 Tater 40 Nursery furniture with bars 42 Bother 43 Animation frame 45 Seoul-based Soul maker 46 Minimum age for a U.S. senator 47 Jewish wedding dance 50 Tennis divisions 51 Give notice 52 Animosity spanning decades 54 Change the decor of 55 __-friendly 56 State, in France 59 Wedding page word 60 Corp. alias letters 61 Pretoria’s land: Abbr.

| BY MICHAEL MEPHAM

SUDOKU SOLUTION FOR MONDAY

MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015 | THE BALL STATE DAILY NEWS | BALLSTATEDAILY.COM | PAGE 3

SPORTS SPORTS@BSUDAILYNEWS.COM TWITTER.COM/DN_SPORTS

TUESDAY Men’s basketball

THURSDAY Women’s

(5-2) hosts IUPUI (2-5) at 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals are on a four-game win streak after beating Valparaiso 69-66.

basketball (3-2) travels to Ohio Valley University (1-4). Both of their losses this season have come on the road.

What happened over break in sports?

Four teams play games during Thanksgiving weekend ROBBY GENERAL SPORTS EDITOR

sports@bsudailynews.com

hile most students went home over Thanksgiving break, student-athletes at Ball State University continued winter season play for their respective athletic teams. Men’s and women’s basketball were in action as their seasons are just getting started, while the football team wrapped up its season at Scheumann Stadium. Whether they stayed in Muncie, traveled across the country or crossed borders, here’s what the Cardinals have done in the past week of play.

Football Ball State football wrapped up its season in a 10-48 loss against Bowling Green on Senior Night. The Cardinals finished their season 3-9, the worst record head coach Pete Lembo has produced in his 15-year career as the head football coach. Injuries and inconsistent play affected the Cardinals all season long, as they now prepare to enter the offseason. This season, the Cardinals are losing numerous

Women’s basketball The women’s basketball team traveled to Boulder, Colo., to participate in the Omni Hotels Classic. On Friday, Ball State fell to Florida 79-85. Florida won the tournament after a 22-point victory over Colorado. In the second round of the tournament, the Cardinals knocked off Mid-American Conference rival University of Massachusetts, 81-54. In that victory, senior Nathalie Fontaine and junior Jill Morrison led the Cardinals in scoring with 20 points apiece. Ball State sits at 3-2 on the season with both of its losses coming from 6 points or fewer. This season is off to much of the same start as last season, but much like the men’s

key seniors such as Jacob Richard, Jordan Williams and Ben Ingle, among others. While the team says goodbye to graduates, many underclassmen will remain for years to come, the most well-known of which is true-freshman quarterback Riley Neal. During the progression of his first year, Neal finished among one of the best offensive players in the MAC and will come back with experience and offseason training under his belt.

team, the women are undefeated at home and have a pair of home games this

DN PHOTO GRACY REMY

Baseball The Cardinal baseball team spent its entire break in the Dominican Republic for five games against numerous national competition teams. Ball State finished with a 3-1-1 record over the fiveday trip. Competition started on the second day for Ball State when it won and tied during a double-header against a New York Mets affiliate team (2-0, 2-2). The next day was against a pair of Dominican teams where the Cardinals split a pair of games, dominating Escogido Reserve Squad, a Dominican national team, 9-0. They would go on to drop a 4-5 game against a Dominican Military Team, despite scoring three-runs in the ninth inning. Ball State was able to finish off with a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals affiliate team on Saturday before heading home.

Men’s basketball In the team’s two games over the break, the men’s basketball team had two wins and outscored its opponents 159-120 collectively. Ball State knocked off Indiana University Kokomo and Valparaiso, which received two votes in the most recent NaDN PHOTO KORINA VALENZUELA tional Collegiate Athletic weekend against Ohio Val- Association poll. The win ley University (1-4) and against the No. 1 ranked team on the Ratings PerButler (2-2). centage Index puts the

DN FILE PHOTO EMILY SOBECKI

Cardinals at a 5-2 season record while remaining undefeated at home. Last season, the Cardinals began the season 3-6 and finished with only seven total wins. This season is looking like a turn-around from the beginning, as head coach James Whitford prepares to extend the team’s four-game win streak with three straight home games against IUPUI (2-5), New Orleans (2-3) and Pepperdine (2-4).

DN PHOTO AMER KHUBRANI

PAGE 4 | MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015 | THE BALL STATE DAILY NEWS | BALLSTATEDAILY.COM

FEATURES/FORUM

Shuttle bus drivers take the wheel Transportation Services hiring drivers in March

MICHELLE KAUFMAN COMMUNITY/BUSINESS REPORTER mekaufman@bsu.edu

Six days a week, some of the nine Ball State shuttle buses run up and down McKinley Avenue — their drivers counting every passenger as they go. Transportation Services currently employs five fulltime drivers as well as 21 student and 15 substitute bus drivers. Before the drivers hit the streets, they must be older than 21, have an Indiana driver’s license, complete a five-week class and pass a physical and other tests in order to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The requirements didn’t deter Linda Griffiths, a fulltime driver who started out her Ball State career as a custodian in 1989. She inquired for the bus driver position in 1995 after seeing a job posting. She made a phone call and discovered the requirements — at that time, a year’s worth of bus driving experience as well as a CDL. The day after, she saw an ad in the newspaper stating that the school bus company was hiring and offering CDL training. Her daily routine for the next year included midnight shifts as a Ball State custodian and driving a school bus in the morning and afternoon. Griffiths currently works 40 hours Monday through Friday. She said she “loves driving buses and loves Ball

State,” but there is one thing she wishes students knew about boarding the bus. “When [students] are coming to the bus and looking down at their phone, I wish they’d motion to me that they want the bus or give me some indication so I’m not waiting and they walk on by,” Griffiths said. Isaac Steury, a senior criminal justice major, has been employed as a student bus driver for one

year. He learned about the position from a flier inside a shuttle bus. His father is also a school bus driver. Steury works 16-20 hours per week and said the only downfall to the job is the inability to do homework like some other on-campus jobs because “you’re constantly doing something [when driving].” Steury said his friends ride his bus and he enjoys getting to see “a bunch of

DN PHOTO SAMANTHA BRAMMER

Ball State’s foreign language classes are constructed to encourage learning. Instructors push students to speak the languages out loud and not just use the textbook.

Adults still able to learn new spoken tongue, study shows Foreign language classes immerse students in culture

CADYN NICKERSON GENERAL REPORTER cmnickerson@bsu.edu

Kaitlyn Conner hadn’t studied Greek before, but she decided to take a class in the language for the first time this semester. So far, it’s going as well as she could have hoped. “I think it would be way easier to learn languages as a child while your brain is still developing and is able to comprehend more,” she said. “I think it’s harder to learn languages when you’re older.” Conner isn’t wrong, but learning a new language as an adult isn’t impossible either. The adult brain can still hold new information and respond to new experiences, even when childhood is far in the past, according to the 2003 study, “Sensory substitution and the human-machine interface.” That’s good news for Ball State undergraduates working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree where two years or the equivalent of study in a foreign language is required. It’s also helpful for people who are just interested in learning something new.

DN PHOTO KELLEN HAZELIP

Isaac Steury is a senior criminal justice major who has been driving a shuttle bus at Ball State for one year. He works 16-20 hours each week.

Lilly Passafume, a freshman public relations major, began learning Chinese this semester. “The good part is being able to speak a language that everyone thinks is impossible to learn,” she said. She struggles with the time it takes to practice Chinese characters, but she said successfully learning a new language is tied to dedication. “I think learning [the language] as a college student is the same as learning at a young age. You just have to apply yourself and be motivated to learn the language,” she said. Age does make a difference when it comes to learning a new language, said Adam Ballart, a Ball State Spanish instructor, but starting the process after puberty does offer some cognitive benefits such as providing students with cultural competency, knowledge of the world and a chance to use a part of the brain that normally wouldn’t be tapped into. This can lead to improved performance in other subjects, such as math and reading. The way Ball State’s foreign language classes are constructed can encourage learning, too. Instead of just a textbook, where activities and problems are pulled out and regurgitated in class, instruc-

tors push students to actually speak the languages out loud. “We do use methodology that encourages more of the use of the language and less of the explanation of why we use it. From day one, [beginning students] are using the language, and they’re not used to that,” Ballart said. Ballart even attributed the atmosphere of a class to a student’s success. Instead of sitting in a desk and staying quiet while the teacher lectures, students should be talking and moving around the room, playing games and participating in activities. “They’re social. They want to work in groups with one another, so I think they like that language classes in general are a place where they can be more social and have a more active role in their learning versus a lecture class where they’re being quiet the whole time,” he said. For now, Conner is continuing to struggle with conjugating verbs and remembering vocabulary. But she looks forward to some of the benefits to learning a language that Ballart described — particularly an increased knowledge of the world. She said she enjoys learning about Greek culture, and the language could aid her if she chooses to travel in the future.

people every day.” “Everyone knows me. If I’m out at a restaurant or something, someone will come up to me and say, ‘You’re the bus driver,’” Steury said. At every stop, drivers record the time they got there and the number of people who board. This is done to track long-term trends and see if more buses are needed, Steury said. Bruce Piner, Ball State’s trainer and special events operator, has been a Ball

State employee for eight years but a bus driver for 30. At Ball State, he has driven President Paul W. Ferguson and Grace Ferguson and eaten lunch at the home of David Letterman’s mom, Dorothy Mengering. Mengering invited Piner inside after he drove former President Jo Ann Gora to her house for a meeting. Transportation Services will be hiring more bus drivers in March, Piner said, although the new re-

REQUIREMENTS TO BE A BUS DRIVER • Must be older than 21 •H ave an Indiana driver’s license • Complete a five-week class •P ass a physical and other tests •O btain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) cruits might not be transporting important university officials.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DAVE’S GUESTS For those of you who blindly stood (maybe even slept) out in the cold for a Letterman ticket without really knowing much about his guests, there’s no shame in that; Dave’s the bomb. However, you should know that interviewing Spike Jonze and Bennett Miller is a big deal. A really big deal. Let’s start with Jonze: He began his directorial career with music videos for musicians like Weezer, Beastie Boys and Bjork. Skateboarding videos were also part of his forte – he really was a man of the ’90s, and continues to be to this day. The first film he directed was “Being John Malkovich,” which, if you haven’t seen, is stomach-churningly strange, but also pretty brilliant. He was nominated for an Oscar for the first time with this mind-bending fantasy, so I encourage you to check it out. A couple years after that, he did Nicolas Cage’s “Adaptation,” which was no less weird, but it’s Nick Cage, so what more can you expect? After getting in trouble for the not-so family friendly nature of “Adaptation,” Warner Brothers almost made him reshoot the whole thing. He made some changes and was later nominated for “Best Director” at the Golden Globes for the film — well played, Jonze, “That’s high praise.” “Where the Wild Things Are” came next after being selected by the author himself for the adaptation, finding no one in almost twenty years who would be suitable for the task. He did a smaller movie called “I’m Here” with Andrew Garfield (which I couldn’t find anywhere) before he really got people’s attention with “Her,” the sci-fi romance about a man and his love for an operating system. This one won the Oscar for “Best Writing, Original Screenplay,” and I could talk about it for days. The shots, the colors, the set design, the costumes… If you haven’t even seen this one, go now

— you have time. Run! As for Miller, his most recent movie is “Foxcatcher,” which you’ve probably heard talk of from the last Oscars season. Yeah, it’s a wrestling movie with Channing Tatum, but it’s got Steve Carell and Mark Ruffalo. That’s the magic of Miller — he knows how to draw you in. Who would have thought of Steve Carell for the part of a crazy, stiff, rich guy obsessed with wrestling? Not Carell; in an interview with — you guessed it — David Letterman, he admitted that the reason he took the part was because he wanted to work with Miller. And who wouldn’t? Before that, he did a little movie called “Moneyball,” which was nominated for an Oscar a whopping six times. Although he didn’t win for that one, Miller is no Oscars rookie; in 2006, Philip Seymour Hoffman took home an Oscar for his performance in Miller’s “Capote.” And can I just say, you haven’t seen a Bennett Miller movie until you’ve seen “The Cruise.” There’s no other film like it. It’s the first and only major documentary Miller has made, and it follows the life of a New York City tour bus guide. I know what you’re thinking: the only thing worse than listening to a tour guide is listening to the life story of a tour guide. But you’re wrong. Tim “Speed” Levitch is a national treasure (sorry about all the Nick Cage references), and he deserves to be recognized. “The Cruise” is a philosophical roller coaster of outlandish narratives and black-and-white visuals that will leave you with some killer new catchphrases. This is simply a crash course of the genius guests David Letterman is about to interview — I urge you to prepare even more by watching some of the movies I’ve mentioned for yourself. If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to put off homework.

The Daily News forum page aims to stimulate discussion in the Ball State community. The Daily News welcomes reader viewpoints and offers three vehicles of expression for reader opinions: letters to the editor, guest columns and feedback on our website. Letters to the editor must be signed

and appear as space permits each day. All letters must be typed. The editor reserves the right to edit and condense submissions. Those interested in submitting a letter can do so by emailing opinion@bsudailynews.com or editor@bsudailynews.com

FORUM POLICY

ANNA BOWMAN FILM ANNALYSIS ANNA BOWMAN S A SENIOR ENGLISH AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MAJOR AND WRITES ‘FILM ANNALYSIS’ FOR THE DAILY NEWS. HER VIEWS DO NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THOSE OF THE NEWSPAPER. WRITE TO ANNA AT AABOWMAN@BSU. EDU.

MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015 | THE BALL STATE DAILY NEWS | BALLSTATEDAILY.COM | PAGE 5

FORUM

WIN OVER VALPARAISO MARKS STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION JAKE FOX WHAT THE FOX SAYS JAKE FOX IS A JUNIOR JOURNALISM NEWS MAJOR AND WRITES ‘WHAT THE FOX SAYS’ FOR THE DAILY NEWS. HIS VIEWS DO NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THOSE OF THE NEWSPAPER. WRITE TO JAKE AT JKFOX@BSU.EDU.

The sound of the buzzer went far beyond signaling Ball State’s 69-66 win over Valparaiso at Worthen Arena on Saturday. It was also a mark of progress. It’s the third year for head coach James Whitford, and Ball State amassed a total of 12 wins in 60 tries during his first two seasons. I’m sure you were (I was, for that matter) feeling good after last season’s 7-7 (2-0) start. Then it hit rock-bottom. Seventeen straight losses to end the season. A school record. And after another last place finish in the Mid-American Conference, I was cautiously optimistic coming into the season. But this season’s 5-2 start is different. Two trying seasons in a row have reaped benefits of growth and cohesion. And the win over Valpo proves that. Let’s get it straight — Valpo is a really good team. It won the Horizon League last year and gave Maryland all it could handle in the NCAA Tournament before suffering a 3-point loss. It was picked to win the Horizon again this year. After all, the Crusaders return 11 players and all five starters from 2014-15. Valpo is No. 1 in the nation in ESPN’s RPI rankings, a tool used to select the NCAA Tournament field. Not Kentucky, not North Carolina or Duke. Valpo. Its strength of schedule is sixth-hardest in Division I. If the Crusaders aren’t the best mid-major team in the nation, they’re awfully close. I’m sure many are still wondering how the Ball State Cardinals, whose biggest non-conference win last year

DN PHOTO AMER KHUBRANI

The Ball State men’s basketball team faced Valparaiso on Saturday in their second win over Thanksgiving break. The Cardinals are currently 5-2 and undefeated at home.

was probably Indiana State, beat a team that received votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll. The answer? This isn’t the same old team as last year or even the year before. There’s a nice blend of veterans and youth on this year’s team. Bo Calhoun, Franko House and Jeremiah Davis are just some of the older guys who have dealt with the hard times and are seeing it pay off. Add in a nice freshman class and some transfers, and you have a roster set for the future. But it’s starting to happen

now. One of the team’s mottos I see is “ALL IN,” and it looks like the players truly believe in that. House said it best after the win on Saturday: “We’re getting better players, and people are buying into Coach Whit’s offense and defense. The culture we’re building around here is getting way better, and it’s good for our program.” The program is turning around, he said. And he’s right. Yes, it’s a small sample size with only seven games played this season. Ball State does have losses to Bradley

and Eastern Kentucky, but there’s obvious improvement there, and it only needs two wins to match last season’s total. I’m not here to say the Cardinals are going to win 20 games and the MAC title, but they do currently have the second-best record in the conference. I am saying they will be a team to watch for the rest of the season and throughout the conference schedule. And in the next couple of years, look for Ball State to be a sneaky pick to win the

league. It’s all about taking small steps. And the win over Valpo was another one in the right direction. Whitford called it “a really, really good win,” but said they need to keep “[laying] those pieces.” Progress. “It’s something more to build on. It’s a building block. It’s a piece to the puzzle,” he said. Whitford and the Cardinals have been trying to figure out where this puzzle piece is supposed to go for two years now. And it looks like they’ve finally found it.

(765) 285-8247 dnclassified@bsu.edu AJ 285, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. BallStateDaily.com/Classified

IVERSITY

BALL S T

DN| Classifieds UNI F I ED M ED I A

130

Roommates Wanted

Need Roommate for 2nd semester. 4 bdrm house. Close to BSU. $325/mo. 744-4649.

160

Apartments For Rent

1 bdrm furnished apt. avail Dec 20. 401 W. Jackson St. $450/ mo. includes util. & wifi. (765) 744-2944 Lrg two bdrm apt, W/D, util incl, off st. prkng near BSU. Call (937) 238-4332

170 Houses For Rent

!!!!!! 4 Brdm Hs. 2 full Ba. W/D, A/C. Aug17-July17. $350/bdrm 2320 W. Euclid. Behind Johnson Hall. (765) 717-9910

3 bd near BSU. W/D, A/C, Large bdrms. $900/m utils included. 9/12 mnth Aug leases. Call (970) 985-2466

404 N. Reserve. 4 or 5 bdrm house close to campus & Village. Cheap rent. Aug-Aug lease. (317) 691-2506

Most upscale 6-7 bdrm, 3.5 ba. house avail. around BSU. All amenities 765-744-0185

Very Nice 2 or 3 bdrm. Close to BSU. Avail Aug 2016. $325 $350 ps + util. (317) 902-5725

1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5 bdrm, 2 ba. houses & apts for rent Aug 16. A/C. W/D. No pets. 2-8 blcks to BSU. 289-3971.

3 bd apt or 6 bd house. $325 per bd. All util. pd. 2, 50-in TVs. 4 ba. W/D, D/W. A/C.Aug-Aug. 744-4649

1417 Abbott. 5 bdrm, 2 ba. W/D. D/W. 1 yr lease. No pets and no smoking. 284-5741

3 bdrm houses: 2108 N. Ball Ave., 604 W. Queen St. $275/mo per person + util. August lease. (317) 716-7174

4-6 bdrm off-st pk, 2 blks from Studebaker. Avail. August 1. 748-9145, 749-6013, 282-4715

2 bdrm off-st pk, 3 blks from Studebaker. Avail. August 1. 748-9145, 749-6013, 282-4715

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 bdrm with swimming pool. W/D, C/A, D/W. New carpet & paint. Lawn maint. incl. $1250 per month (765) 760-0364 5 bdrm, 3 ba Lg rms. $300 ea+ utils. On/off st. prkg, 1 blk from campus: 1109 Carson St. (732) 267-3713

New 4 bdrm house on Ball Ave. Avail Aug. 765-744-0185 Nicest houses on campus. Many extras. Even a 6 bdrm. Also student parking available. Call 286-5216.

Walk to campus, 1,2,3,5 bd house layouts. Off-st. pkg. Pets negotiable. Virtual tour at bsucampusproperties.com. (765) 729-2111 or (765) 288-4080.

Now showing 2-7 bdrm homes for next year. Many amenities, most have flat screen TVs. Our houses go fast. Call Tom 7440185, tmay123@comcast.net.

WHAT A DEAL! @ CAMPUS EDGE! 2,3,4 Bdrm - Immediate Move-in only! CALL 286-2806

Get connected with campus Today’s Birthday (11/30/15). Your professional status and influence expand this year. Embrace projects that feed your passion. Realize personal dreams with discipline. Home renewal over springtime lays foundations for a new stage in a team effort. Ride a career wave especially this autumn, and enlist family help. Strengthen and support each other. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7. Go play. Someone finds you attractive ... pay attention. Rest and relax. Learn a new trick from someone interesting. Follow the rules exactly. Your energy is at a peak, and the tide’s in your favor. Amazing results are possible.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9. You may find the answer in a dream. New career opportunities surface. Work the numbers. Your sympathy calms another’s anxiety. Go further with a partner. Stash away more for later. Invest in success. Draw upon hidden assets.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8. Consider career options and ways to increase income. Find new expenses and finagle a way to finance them. Don’t fall for a scam. Save your money. It takes discipline, but it’s not difficult. Your assets are growing, bit by bit.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6. Handle home repairs and chores. Collect resources, sort and organize. Build a strong foundation. Take physical as well as spiritual action. Bless your home with a familiar ritual. Invite family to share. Solve philosophical questions together. Create peace.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6. Finish old business. Do what you promised. Work alone and get more accomplished. Correspond and make arrangements. Discover hidden treasure at home. Intellectual dealings provide success. Clean up your workspace and recharge batteries. Two hearts beat as one.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7. One person’s ideas spark another’s. To avoid a potential problem, play the game exactly by the book. Be a strategist, rather than impulsively reacting. Don’t touch your savings. Acknowledge old agreements. Follow through on promises made.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 7. Make payment arrangements and send invoices. Make an important discovery. Handle housework before guests arrive. Make creative, inexpensive repairs. Go over the details with a fine-toothed comb. Inspire your team to victory. Love gives you strength.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7. Schedule meetings for today. Friends help you stay on track. Let go of emotional baggage. Excitement spurs you to action. You have what you need. You’re gaining confidence. Encourage another’s enthusiasm. Loved ones teach you, too.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8. Let somebody else direct the show for a couple of days. Get help for a particularly difficult part. Be frugal and make a profit. Emotional rewards count. Focus creative energy on making money grow. Your partner gets into the action.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9. Work faster and make more money. Have faith in your own imagination. Choose your words carefully. Friends help you make a profitable connection. Keep to the high road. Increase your security, especially online. Emotional energy drives you.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7. Stand outside a controversy. Be respectful and stay out of the way. Remain open to shifting circumstances. Upgrade your image and replace an old household item. Stretch your mind with a new game or toy.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9. Start planning a fun new project. Give yourself full creative freedom. Get into the groove and let things cook. Season and spice as only you know how. You’re rewarded for your loyalty Trust love.

B A L L S T A T E D A I L Y . C O M

PAGE 6 | MONDAY, NOV. 30, 2015 | THE BALL STATE DAILY NEWS | BALLSTATEDAILY.COM

NEWS

Entrepreneurial learning smart, 3 alumni say Ball State provides skills for real world DN PHOTO SAMANTHA BRAMMER

Two resident assistants in the Woody/Shales Halls in LaFollette Complex were fired late this semester. While Cathy Bickel, associate director of housing and residence life, is unable to say why, a former RA said the job is “incredibly demanding.”

Demands of being RA can lead to neglect of job Two Woody/Shales resident assistants fired this semester

JACQUI SCHLABACH ADMINISTRATION REPORTER jtschlabach@bsu.edu

Two resident assistants in Woody/Shales Halls in LaFollette Complex were fired late this semester. Cathy Bickel, associate director of housing and residence life, said because it is an employment situation she is unable to say why. An alternate pool of RA candidates, as well as students in the EDHI 200 Introduction to Personnel Services in the Residence Halls, the class that is required for those interested in being a RA, was chosen to fill the positions. The two positions have been filled,

SOLAR:

| CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We wanted to have a place where not just Ball State students, but the broader Muncie community could come and see an installation up close and understand how it goes together,” Spodek said. “We see the panels on the road, but we don’t really understand how they work.” For YOC, an electrical bill is about $230,000 year and is forecasted to increase 32 percent over the next eight years, which was a concern to Jeff Helm, IT and Facilities director. “Because we are a notfor-profit, [we] would rather spend the resources that we are entrusted with to directly help kids rather than on overhead,” Helm said. “We think it’s a great demonstration project.” YOC has been working on energy conservation projects since 2010. There are two types of solar systems: photovoltaic (PV), which only generates electricity, and thermal, which heats water. YOC utilizes 55 PV panels. It started researching the panels in 2013, and the

Bickel said. “[RAs being fired] is not unusual, and BSU probably has a lower rate of RA turnover than most universities,” Bickel said. Brooke Sturgell, a former RA in Elliott Hall during the 2013-14 school year, said she believes some RAs struggle because the job is incredibly demanding. “There were times when I felt so soulless because it felt like the job was all I had,” Sturgell said. “People crack under pressure, and that’s what I think tends to happen.” Sturgell said both the RAs she worked with took full responsibility of their job and were very helpful. However, there were times when they all did not fulfill the duties and shrugged the job off onto another RA. “I think, sometimes, the staff and directors would

grant, which was available in 2014, paid half of the cost. The panels power 15 percent of the central services facility, and YOC plans to buy more panels when a grant or donor is interested in funding it, Helm said. With the wiring infrastructure already in place, adding more panels would be cheap compared to the original project. Helm said YOC brings a practical view of solar energy. Rather than focusing on the broader concepts of the benefits of solar energy, it focuses on things like what electrical wiring and permits are required in order to get solar energy. “We can kinda talk through and go back [to where our panels are] and say, ‘Here’s the steps involved.’ And I think, for some organizations, that makes it a little more attainable,” Helm said. “It’s not just a pie in the sky dream ... it gets it down to actionable steps.” Ginny Niles, executive director for Muncie Public Library, applied for the SUN grant for Kennedy Library because it was the most visible of the four library locations. Because education is a large

forget that we were kids with little to no social existence outside of our halls,” Sturgell said. “That would take a toll on everyone.” The hardest thing about being a RA for Sturgell was balancing being assertive and being seen as likable to her residents. “It hurt my heart when the kids didn’t like me or got mad at me for being assertive,” Sturgell said. “You know, in the position, you want to be likable and everyone’s ‘favorite.’” She said there is a lot of pressure to sell yourself, but it can, in turn, take a negative toll on remaining true to yourself. “Mentally, I was overwhelmed,” Sturgell said. “Every spare second I had was spent trying to maintain healthy and fulfilling relationships with residents.”

part of the grant, Niles thought Kennedy’s visibility would be an asset to that component. Kennedy Library has 80 panels that power 1520 percent of the library. Instead of installing the panels on the roof like YOC, Niles opted for a carport with solar panels on top. Cars are not involved in the solar collection, it is simply a structure to shelter cars while energy is collected on the top of the carport. “When one drives down McGalliard, the solar array on the roof of the carport is immediately identifiable as a solar energy collector,” Niles said. “It is a conversation starter, and people become curious.” Kennedy Library will partner with other organizations and host a series of programs in April about alternative energy options for homes and businesses with a vendor fair at the end of April. Niles said the library seeks to use technology in creative ways while providing education opportunities. “We all need to learn about and consider renewable energy and nonpolluting energy options,”

VOTE

As a result of the mentally demanding position, she decided one year was enough. However, she built a lot of lasting friendships and learned that being “likable” isn’t necessary to feel good about yourself. Brogan Drumm, a former RA in Woodworth Complex, said the job is demanding, and there were days when the staff was not doing their job. She said there are various reasons why they would not, including being overwhelmed, being lazy or realizing the job was not what they expected it to be. “I definitely think that if there are RAs who are consistently not doing what they are supposed to be doing, then they should be asked to leave, and others who have more of a work ethic should be put in place,” Drumm said.

Niles said. “Putting technology in the hands of our community and raising awareness about its uses at home, school and work is part of our mission.”

SCHLABACH ADMINISTRATION REPORTER | JACQUI jtschlabach@bsu.edu

ith Ball State’s push to become an entrepreneurial learning university, three entrepreneurship alumni commented on the importance of having a cross-function learning platform for the real world. Rochelle Waxton, ’11 — CEO of Advocate Entertainment “I’ve been talking to a lot of people who have majored in different things who, after they got degrees, ... didn’t have tools to start [their] own practices. Being able to add [a] business aspect in different majors is definitely a good thing,” Waxton said. “After you graduate, it’s not like a bunch of jobs waiting for you. Entrepreneurship gives students a better chance to succeed and do their own thing.” Matt Prasek, ’15 — Co-Founder of Safekeeping “I think it’s really great. [Ball State is] one of the first universities to claim they are an entrepreneurial university. I think a lot of things are focused on entrepreneurial now in today’s age,” Prasek said. “Everything is changing with technology and many young college graduates have to be entrepreneurial themselves, whether they’re pursuing their own start-up or if they choose the route adapting with technology. I think it’s really cool that BSU is doing this. I think it brings a lot more value to alumni ... and students there.”

Noah Rahimzadeh, ’15 — Co-Founder of Safekeeping “I think that’s awesome. We talked to Dr. [Mike] Goldsby and Dr. [Rob] Matthews about getting cross functions in departments,” Rahimzadeh said. “If music students want to team up with entrepreneurial students, I think that’s an incredible idea. In that scenario especially, you’re gonna have two different mind-sets and visions, especially when you talk about the artistic world. Everything entrepreneurial, you have to differentiate yourself and have different minds come together, and how to differentiate and find [your] place in the market is really important.”

Millennials + Culture

A modern look at race, ethnicity and tradition Visit ballbearingsmag.com to read the next topic in our series

WE ARE COMING

myvoice.bsu.edu IT’S YOUR CAMPUS. IT’S YOUR CHANCE. IT’S YOUR VOICE.

FOR YOUR FAVORITE IDEAS BY

DECEMBER 11 We’ve heard your voice, and we’re one step closer to change. Cast your vote for your favorite idea on how to improve your Ball State experience.

@bsumyvoice

facebook.com/bsumyvoice

Ball State University