BSU 12-01-22

Mental

Job search: Ball State utilizes the search firm TurnkeyZRG for their next Athletic Director 14

JOSIE

BallStateDailyNews.com

Cardinals earns bid to NCAA Tournament COVID lawsuit against Ball State progresses

Nov. 27: Ball State earned its third at-large bid to the national tournament this season. It will be the Cardinals’ 11th appearance on the national stage, its third appearance in four seasons under head coach Kelli Miller Phillips. Matched up against fourth-seeded Marqutte, the winner will go on to face either fifth-seeded Georgia State or Wright State.

Nov. 29: Indiana attorney general Todd Rokita has called for the Indiana Supreme Court to weigh in on a class-action lawsuit filed in 2021 by Keller Mellowitz against Ball State over COVID-19related college campus closures. An Indiana law that prohibits classaction complaints like this against universities previously stalled progress for the lawsuit.

Paddock enters transfer portal Respect for Marriage Act passes Senate

Ball State Football’s starting quarterback John Paddock is set to leave Ball State Football, the quarterback announced on Twitter. The redshirt junior threw for 2,713 yards, 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as the Cardinals went 5-7 and missed out on bowl eligibility. Along with Paddock, redshirt freshman Chayce Bishop has also entered the transfer portal, he announced on Twitter.

VOL. 102

CONTACT

Editor:

ISSUE: 15

THE

editor@bsudailynews.com EDITORIAL BOARD

Nov. 29: The bill was approved 61-36, including 12 Republicans. The bill now has to pass through the House before moving on to the president. In 2015, samesex marriage was made legal nationwide. This bipartisan bill ensures same-sex and interracial marriages are protected, regardless of a state’s laws. The bill does not require a state to issue licenses.

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THURSDAY

SUNNY

Hi: 33º Lo: 25º

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CORRECTION

The Nov. 10 edition of the Ball State Daily News made an error of giving previous week’s answers to the the crossword puzzle on page 19.

To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.

PARTLY CLOUDY

FRIDAY MOSTLY CLOUDY

Hi: 45º Lo: 27º

SATURDAY MOSTLY CLOUDY

Hi: 53º Lo: 42º

SUNDAY

Hi: 44º Lo: 34º

THIS WEEK: The start of next week will be cooler, with temperatures in the 40s before an arctic blast brings belowfreezing air to the region by the end of the week.

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.

Noah Gordon, Weather forecaster, Benny Weather Group

AMBER PIETZ, DN PHOTO

ELI PIERSON, DN PHOTO

Two Decades

Later

First

Payton Gendron plead guilty to murder, murder as a hate crime and hate-motivated domestic terrorism as a result of his massacre of 10 Black shoppers and workers at Tops Friendly Markets n Buffalo, New York, May 14. Gendron also plead guilty to wounding three others in the massacre. As a result, Gendron must serve a life sentence in prison.

Buffalo grocery store shooter pleads guilty Volcano Mauna Loa erupts after 40 years

The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park erupted Nov. 28 for the first time in nearly 40 years. The U.S. Geological Survey said Nov. 28 the eruption is not threatening communities, but there is lava flowing down one side of the Mauna Loa. No evacuation orders have been issued.

National: National: National:

Hakeem Jeffries elected to lead House Democrats

Nov. 30, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-8) was elected to be the first Black American to lead a political party. Jeffries, of New York, will serve as the Democratic minority leader in the House serving alongside Rep. Katherine Clark (D-5) of Massachusetts as the whip and Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-31) of California as caucus chairman.

The Muncie community attends a First Thursday event in Downtown Muncie, Ind. DN FILE, DOWNTOWN MUNCIE

Percent of Patients with Influenza-like Illness in Provider Clinics

Zach Gonzalez Reporter

Illness cases are spreading around the Midwest, as Indiana, Illinois and Ohio have high levels of the flu as of Nov. 19 and an escalating community spread of COVID-19 as of Nov. 27, according to the Ccnter for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, people can be unsure on what illness they actually have, as sometimes they can confuse various illnesses with each other.

While identifying whether sickness is present or not is one thing; determining the actual type of illness someone has is a completely different problem. Since there are several respiratory viruses people may have, there’s even greater uncertainty with diagnosing their exact illness.

This uncertainty has increased with the impact of COVID-19 throughout the past several years, Jessica Scott, registered nurse and populations health manager of Open Door Health Services of Delaware County, said.

Scott said confusion regarding the sickness someone has is understandable, as several respiratory illnesses share common symptoms.

“Scratchy sore throat, runny nose, headache: those are all symptoms that could be allergies, the common cold or COVID-19,” Scott said.

However, there are noticeable distinctions between the types of symptoms produced from different respiratory illnesses. Scott says the flu usually involves a fever, but allergies and the common cold normally don’t. Differentiating between COVID-19 and the flu is only successful through testing for both illnesses as they have similar symptoms with fevers, body aches and congestion.

IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital physician Eric Westergren explained how symptoms of the common cold and the flu interact in the body.

“Most people will have muscle aches and pains, and most people will have a sore throat, and it usually comes on suddenly [with the flu],” Westergren said. “The common cold tends to be

more gradual [as] you tend to not have a fever.”

Westergren said the symptoms of the common cold can result in muscle aches and pains, generally mild. He explained “fatigue is not quite as significant” with the common cold compared to other illnesses.

COVID-19, on the other hand, is more unpredictable, as it can resemble other respiratory illnesses. In a way, it varies from person to person.

“Unlike the others, the [COVID-19] fatigue tends to be something that is considerable in a lot of patients,” Westergren said. “Symptoms can range with COVID[-19] from as little as the common cold to more [of] a flu-like illness, which is why we’ve been testing a lot more because you can’t as easily differentiate.”

With identification and classification comes treatment in public settings. For Ball State University Health Promotion and Advocacy Director Re’Nesha Weston, Ball State offers a form of communication on physical well-being.

“We have a unique opportunity to unite our community members under our shared goals and values which creates an opportunity to educate and support one another on topics such as health and safety,” Weston said.

Much of that unity translates into available resources for information and treatment for respiratory illnesses for the Ball State community, such as the clinic and pharmacy on the first floor of the Health Center building, the CDC website and the Ball State COVID-19 site information. These resources provide information such as local vaccination destinations, testing and actions to take when someone tests positive for COVID-19.

Besides following university and CDC guidelines, a lot of safety precautions, while similar in years past, still remain intact for illnesses.

“People can wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds,” Weston said. “People can stay home and contact their health care providers if they feel sick. And when people do need to cough and sneeze into a mask, [they should] change it when they can because the moisture makes the mask a bit less effective.”

You play a part in this, and be proactive about it. I know that can also be scary because we can’t control other people’s actions, but we can control our own, so we can do some preventative things to help”

- JESSICA SCOTT, Populations health manager at Open Door Health

Scott said while there are many accommodations that can be made for remaining healthy and safe, even small changes such as keeping hands clean make differences for boosting defenses against illnesses.

“Anytime I pump gas or I go into a store, I come back into my car and I sanitize my hands,” Scott said. “Little ways that you can improve upon your health and wellness, I think, are important in the return that you’ll get … and the return is always positive when it comes to you and your health.”

In general, what individuals do to protect themselves is crucial for their own physical wellbeing while defending against respiratory illnesses.

“You play a part in this, and be proactive about it,” Scott said. “I know that can also be scary because we can’t control other people’s actions, but we can control our own, so we can do some preventative things to help.”

Contact Zach Gonzalez with comments via email at zachary.gonzalez@bsu.edu or on Twitter @zachg25876998

As the winter illness season approaches, health professionals recommend methods to protect against respiratory illnesses and how to differentiate between them

Zach Carter Reporter

At the start of the 2000s, Muncie businesses and residents were concerned about the heart of the city.

It was a place that looked empty. To Cheryl Crowder, it was ugly, dirty and a place no one wanted to visit. With no traffic, businesses took a hit, especially art galleries.

Businesses didn’t have an audience to show their work to. After the Horizon Convention Center started to have issues bringing new and different events to Muncie, something had to be done.

Then, the mayor’s Downtown Development Group was created. The goal was to generate marketing ideas to increase revenue for downtown Muncie, and on Dec. 1, 2021, First Thursday was born.

“We had a pretty good reaction the first year,” Cheryl Crowder, director of Muncie Downtown Department Partnership, said. “We were also involved with Minnetrista and what they still do with their Christmas Luminary Walk. We kind of created an extension of it.”

First Thursday is still a Muncie staple and continues to grow 21 years later. Natalie Phillips, coordinator of First Thursday, has helped the program grow since joining seven years ago.

The event is community-run, and businesses decide how to display their work. Phillips’ job is to communicate with the businesses to make sure everything is going smoothly.

For example, if someone contacts her and wants to do something specific, she helps set them up with someone that has similar interests.

was Gordy Fine Art and Framing. They specialize in designing and displaying pieces of art and items, like family possessions. They also promote artists and offer advanced photo printing services.

The original owners, Brian and Genny Gordy, used the opportunity to display their business’s work. After the store changed owners, the tradition continued.

“The first Thursday of each month, we open a gallery show featuring an artist that we represent,” Carl Schafer, co-owner of Gordy Fine Art, said. “All artists have some connection to Muncie, Ball State or East Central Indiana. We do this to promote our area artists and give people an occasion to come downtown and see us.”

The crowds for the event are large during October and June. Crowder believes the positive turnout is due to the nice weather, especially in the fall.

expect from his business at the event.

“We are opening an exhibit of work by Hugh Syme,” Schafer said. “He is an artist with a long career designing album covers for bands such as Rush, Def Leppard, Dream Theatre, Styx, Supertramp and many others.”

The December 2022 event will have a variety to showcase, including musical acts such as the Muncie Community Schools elementary choir.

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

However, Phillips does not force anything into the monthly program. Most of the displays or booths are community-led.

“Everyone decides on their own what to do each month for their particular gallery or venue,” Phillips said. “Sometimes they’ll work together on it, but then they just report it to me. Sometimes, I’ll have people that will say, ‘Hey, I want to show my work,’ or ‘I want to sell my work.’”

One business that helped get the event off its feet

“We have lots of different partners in that [fall] event,” Crowder said. “So each and every group brings their own theme to the event. We put a lot of money into promotion for that one, so I would say the ArtsWalk in the fall is probably the biggest one.”

One of the most important First Thursday events of each calendar year, the December event, consistently draws out Muncie residents, Crowder said.

“It’s not just a regular First Thursday,” Crowder said. “It’s a kickoff to the holiday shopping season downtown. We light the community Christmas tree, which is very cool.”

Schafer added what Muncie residents should

Art work from Leon and Laura Crosby display at the First Thursday event Aug. 2 at Cornerstone Center for the Arts. First Thursday is an event in downtown Muncie on the first Thursday of every month that showcases art created by local artists. JOSEPH MCKEIGUE, DN

When Muncie realized downtown needed some upgrades, First Thursday was created. It will have its 21st anniversary with the upcoming December event

Everyone decides on their own what to do each month for their particular gallery or venue,” Phillips said. “Sometimes they’ll work together on it, but then they just report it to me. Sometimes, I’ll have people that will say, ‘Hey, I want to show my work,’ or ‘I want to sell my work.’”

- NATALIE PHILLIPS, First Thursday coordinator

Cierra West Reporter

There is no better way to get the Muncie community together than over food and golf for all ages. At least that’s what the president of Accutech Systems Corporation Adam Unger said.

The Clubhouse @ Accutech first opened its doors to the public in July 2022. While the path creating the ins and outs of the restaurant were challenging, it was nothing but fun, Scott Smalstig,

director of community growth at The Clubhouse @ Accutech, said.

“[Unger] always wanted to do something that would help get rid of Muncie’s image of having nothing to do,” Smalstig said.

Unger’s idea of philanthropy weighed heavily on him in the middle of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Combining a few ideas of what he saw around the country and with the help of Smalstig, The Clubhouse @ Accutech was created.

“We still do plenty of [donating to non-profit organizations], but we wanted to do something that moved the needle in the community, and that was to create this as our first project,” Smalstig said. “We have also purchased Vera Mae’s [Bistro] down the street.”

According to the Accutech website, “Accutech fulfills its purpose to make great things happen for other people by delivering innovative trust and wealth management technology solutions and

exceptional, personalized service for over 200 banks and wealth management companies nationwide.”

The company’s core values also lie with ensuring great things happen for their team as well as customers.

“This space was originally for Accutech employees to just chill out,” Nick Kirkpatrick, executive chief and general manager of The Clubhouse @ Accutech, said.

The Clubhouse @ Accutech is located in the heart of Muncie, a six-minute drive from Ball State University’s campus. Walking into the new business, customers are immediately met with smiling caddies.

Many customers can be found walking throughout the wide open space, moving at their own pace with a smile on their face. The venue consists of a dining area overlooking parts of Muncie and 16 holes to play in the micro-golfing section. Players can keep track of their scores for friendly competition.

“There’s no place like it in Muncie,” Haleight Haffner, fourth-year criminology major at Ball State, said. “Micro Golf was very unique and, at times, very difficult. It was a great time, [and] I love the atmosphere.”

think of, including carnival games. Players can bring their own golf clubs, but the Clubhouse offers golfing equipment for ages 3 and up.

The Clubhouse @ Accutech can be compared to Top Golf but with a digital twist that includes a family-friendly environment, and people don’t have to stand outside on a deck. Guests can easily stay inside to golf.

“It’s always sunny and 72 [degrees] here at The Clubhouse,” Smalstig said, laughing.

The Muncie Riverfront District project was put into effect by Ridenour after approval from the Delaware County Council in order to create less expensive liquor licenses. Ridenour said the purpose of this was to spark growth and economic development in Muncie, furthering the creation of The Clubhouse @ Accutech.

“We didn’t know [Accutech] was interested in restaurants at that point, but we’re really excited with what they put together,” Ridenour said.

The Riverfront District ultimately made it easier for business owners looking to open restaurants downtown, as one of the most profitable items in a restaurant to sell is liquor. Ridenour said a liquor license can help a business thrive and survive, which increases demand downtown.

One thing Smalstig and Unger did was create more jobs in the Muncie community.

There’s no place like it in Muncie. Micro Golf was very unique and, at times, very difficult. It was a great time, [and] I love the atmosphere,”

- HALEIGHT HAFFNER, Fourth-year criminology major at Ball State

The four digital golfing bays have 14 courses where customers can play like the pros. The bar has a more relaxed and dim atmosphere, located next to Rays Bay, where parties are booked. Guests might be surprised to learn the venue doesn’t just offer golf but just about any digital sport one can

“I was hired to help create spin-off businesses to help meet our definition of philanthropy,” Smalstig said. “Those three things are to create jobs, enhance the quality of life in downtown Muncie and instill pride in the community.”

Smalstig said interacting with hundreds of people every week has proven to be difficult but impactful in a different way compared to their core business of software development.

“We have a couple clients from coast to coast, but they’re not here in this community. We wanted a real impact,” Smalstig said.

The need to bring people together again became precedent after the pandemic for those involved in the Muncie community. Ridenour said downtown is “really the heart of the city,” and feels The Clubhouse @ Accutech is a big part of this comeback and hopes to continue this approach with more businesses in the future.

“Muncie’s a great city,” Smalstig said. “We want the people of Muncie to be proud of our city, and we feel there is a lot to be proud of.”

Contact Cierra West with comments at cwest2@ bsu.edu or on Twitter @Cierraajo.

Mindful Mental Health

Active Minds Fundraising Chair Megan Anders (left) and Active Minds President Kelsey Dunn (right) pose for a photo Nov. 29 in front of the Whitinger Business Building. Ball State’s chapter is one of 12 in Indiana. GRAYSON JOSLIN, DN; ALEX BRACKEN, DN ILLUSTRATION

Taking the

Leap

Local artist Justin Patten and his wife, Rachel, have gone all in on their business ‘Storm Striker Art’

Daniel Kehn Sports Editor

At the annual running of the Indianapolis 500, names like Scott Dixon, Rinus VeeKay and Tony Kanaan hit the top of every fans’ list as they searched.

Running down for autographs, fans were looking for these names. But not one young boy. He was looking for Justin Patten, a local artist that most race fans may not have ever heard of. But they’d know his art.

Walking around the world-famous facility, the young boy who had been following Justin and Rachel Patten’s business on social media ran up to Justin with tears in his eyes.

His dad explained the boy had been waiting for the moment to meet Justin for a year and had saved up his money to buy Justin’s artwork.

It solidified a giant leap Justin and his wife, Rachel Patten, took.

“Moments like that, it’s just really uplifting,” Justin said. “It really gives a lot of energy to the situation and just makes me feel like ... I am doing the right thing. I think we’re constantly getting those feelings like, ‘This is what we need to be doing.’”

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was Justin and Rachel’s first experience creating products outside of what was, at the time, his part-time painting job. Around Ball State University’s campus and at the Cardinal Fanstore in The Village, Justin’s work is on display in the form of the iconic Ball State Cardinal in a new, artistically expressed way.

This was the first year that Justin and Rachel, now both former teachers, did not set up a classroom for the school year. They are running Storm Striker Art full time with Rachel on the business side and Justin creating art.

“I did leave teaching this year, so this was the first year I didn’t go back,” Justin said. “It was probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Even though only now has his artwork become a full-time job, Justin joked it was his full-time job when he still had a full-time job teaching.

Growing up, Justin was a sports fan and a growing artist, always trying to blend the two.

“They always kind of clashed a bit growing up,” Justin said, “Like art people would be like, ‘Maybe you need to focus more on art,’ or sports people would be like, ‘Maybe you need to focus more on sports,’ and I was kind of like, ‘I really want to do the two together.’ That’s where I’ve ended up over time, and it took a little while to get there.”

Rachel, who taught in the Indiana Public School system after her graduation from Auburn University, met Justin during his time playing vintage baseball for the Indianapolis Hoosiers.

A graduate of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Justin taught art for five years before his school dropped the art curriculum entirely, leaving him to shift around different subjects.

“He was teaching these other things like robotics and stuff,” Rachel said. “They were cool, but he was really missing art which is what drew

might like his work.

“My whole thing as an artist has always been to create paintings and real art for fans and alumni rather than everything being printed,” Justin said. “I wanted to make real art that people could actually purchase at a price they could afford.”

Over the last 10 years, Justin would come home from school and paint from 4 p.m. until midnight with a break for dinner.

because the house was only 1,200 square feet, so he’d paint in the dining room which was our big family room, which was also the daycare.”

It was a busy time for the Pattens but one the two remember fondly.

“There was a lot of fun from that,” Justin said.

him back into making art at home.”

Justin started making paintings while he was still teaching; he said he wanted to paint in a way that made his art feel like it was his. It began with a few paintings for friends and family, then a few to sell on the e-commerce platform Etsy, then it just continued to grow.

After the wife of the man who bought one of his early paintings wanted to hang it up in their living room, Justin began to think of the audience that

“It’s definitely a grind as an artist, like producing work all the time,” Justin said. “Then you know, there’s always the business side of things to where you’re taking care of paperwork and stuff, which is never the exciting part. But anytime I’m painting, I’m always like, ‘This is exactly what I want to be doing. This is the best thing I could be doing. It’s the right place.’”

When it began to cost more for daycare for the couple’s two children than for Rachel to teach, she quit and started a home daycare while Justin continued to teach during the day and paint at night.

“So we had this little bitty house, and we had four toddlers and an infant,” Rachel said. “Then, our kids went to school and then they came home, so I had this house full of a billion kids. He would come home and paint. We didn’t have a studio

“Sometimes I would have a baby in a BabyBjörn, and I’d have the baby here [in my arm], and I’d be painting and playing with the baby while I was painting … a lot happening at once, but I feel like we’ve always had a lot happening at once.”

Rachel joked that Justin’s artwork is busy, channeling all the busy energy of their life into the final product.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and Rachel’s daycare shut down. As a result, the couple faced another big question.

“Then we were like, ‘What are we going to do? Again?’” Justin said. “So we were like, ‘Let’s make some T-shirts and see what happens and some stickers.’ And so we started working with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on that, and that kind of got our feet wet and got us into the process of creating some products also outside of

But anytime I’m painting, I’m always like, this is exactly what I want to be doing. This is the best thing I could be doing. It’s the right place.”

- JUSTIN PATTEN, Artist

He started painting randomly for a while based on people’s requests and around 2017, he started looking for colleges that offered to license artists. After picking up bigger schools like Alabama and Wisconsin, Rachel and Justin decided they needed to go to the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) to get fully licensed.

“There’s a crafters’ license, which is rare, not every college does it, and I think some of them have even disappeared at this point,” Justin said. “Actually, the first college I ever got started with was Oklahoma State.”

Michelle Lidey, a customer, was first introduced to Justin’s work at a local arts and crafts show where she was also a vendor. He was doing pieces with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway logo.

“Just his colors and his vision, his interpretation of the logo was just really cool,” Lidey said. “We bought t-shirts and sweatshirts and yard flags and all kinds of stuff with that initial [IMS] logo and then I started following him on social media and saw that he started to do some collegiate stuff.”

Lidey’s daughter had recently started at Ball State, so when Justin came out with Ball State merchandise, she said she bought Cardinal gear.

Coming out of the pandemic, Rachel chose to stay home and work with the business full-time.

“Last year, the business was growing so much,” Rachel said. “I was running the business with two really busy, athletic kids that both play sports and try[ing] to run the business with him being gone all day, we either had to grow or start saying no to projects.”

The choice was then for Justin to go back to teaching full-time and painting full-time or go all in on the business.

“We were like, ‘If I go back, it will be really crazy; if I stay home, it’s going to be crazy,’ but Rachel and I work together with the business, and we decided that if it’s really crazy and we’re together, I think we’ll be able to handle it better,” Justin said.

Once all in, the business continued to gain traction and grow with professional teams like the Chicago Cubs licensing work to Storm Striker.

“Creating art for the teams that I enjoy, like the Cubs are my favorite team, and I was like, ‘I’m painting for the Cubs right now? Interesting, like this is cool,’” Justin said.

He said the Patten family dog is named Wrigley after Chicago’s stadium.

vintage baseball, which Justin played for 10 years, serves as their older son’s middle name and the later term of their business, Storm Striker Art.

All of Justin’s work was at one point a painting, before being photographed, edited and turned into a design for sale.

“That’s always been really important to me,” Justin said, “to make sure that everything comes from me comes from a painting that I’ve made.”

From 12 years teaching in Lawrence, Indiana, to about six years teaching in Zionsville, Indiana, Justin refers to his path to his art style as a “journey.”

“I just really wanted to make things that people could really enjoy and feel proud of,” Justin said. “I want people to have art that I paint, that I made with my hands, that they can hang up in their homes and know that that’s a real piece of art that somebody made, not a print.”

Contact Daniel Kehn with comments at daniel.kehn@bsu.edu or on Twitter @daniel_kehn.

I want people to have art that I paint, that I made with my hands, that they can hang up in their homes and know that that’s a real piece of art that somebody made, not a print.”

- JUSTIN PATTEN,

Artist

Justin and Rachel Patten pose for a picture in front of one of his paintings. This was the first year that both Justin and Rachel did not return to a classroom at the begining of the school year.

JUSTIN PATTEN, PHOTO PROVIDED

Justin Patten poses in front of Storm Striker merchadise for the Indanapolis Pacers. Patten has also created merchandise for his favorite baseabll team, the Chicago Cubs.

JUSTIN PATTEN, PHOTO PROVIDED

Justin Patten poses with a painting of Auburn Univeristy’s Samford Hall. Patten creates collegiate art for major collegiate universities including Ball State University. JUSTIN PATTEN, PHOTO PROVIDED

Active Minds prepares mental health events in anticipation of finals week

Grayson Joslin Opinion Editor

On a radiant Friday morning, the Active Minds club — a club which discusses mental health — stood at the Scramble Light in the intersection of Riverside Avenue and McKinley Avenue.

Members of the club stood with donuts and hot chocolate, eager to give them to the Ball State University community. The donuts were given out on plates with encouraging messages and words of affirmation on them.

Shelby Kofoot, secretary of Active Minds, got the idea for passing out donuts and hot chocolate at the Scramble Light based on an event her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, held in the past.

“It was a great success,” Kofoot said, referring to the past event. “We raised so much money for our philanthropy.”

When the members of Active Minds talked about doing a tabling event, Kofoot pitched the idea of having donuts, and the other members positively received the idea.

Kofoot also noted one of the main inspirations to give away the donuts was the motivational messages written on the plates with the goal to have an “inspirational message” given to everyone.

Active Minds is a nonprofit organization founded by Allison Malmon after her only brother died by suicide. Since the organization’s inception in 2003, over 600 chapters of Active Minds have started at high schools and colleges across the United States, including at Ball State.

On that October morning out at the Scramble Light, Kafoot said the Active Minds club attempted to break “down stereotypes and stigmas that we often hear about mental illnesses or mental health issues.”

A Personal Connection

Kelsey Dunn has always had a keen interest in psychology, even though she originally applied to attend Ball State for musical theatre.

As a Georgia native, she originally found herself interested in psychology after her younger brother was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome, a disorder where people repeat movements or sounds uncontrollably, according to Mayo Clinic, ADHD and OCD. She said the family therapy sessions she attended to help understand her brother drew her closer to psychology, and in her second year of college, she changed her major from musical theatre to psychology.

Like Dunn, Kofoot’s passion for mental health awareness comes from her family. Her grand uncle, who has Down syndrome, was told by doctors he would not make it past his teenage years. Kofoot noted their close connection and how it motivated her.

“He was so happy telling about what’s going on in his life,” Kofoot said. “It was so fun for me to listen and to communicate with him.”

In high school, she was also part of a program named Best Buddies, where students can sit and have lunch with those who have disabilities. Kofoot said being able to communicate with these students helped “better connect everyone in the school.”

In her third year of college, Dunn joined Active Minds and became fundraising chair. She noted how her experiences with her own eating disorder, which caused her to take a semester off of school, helped her become passionate about mental health awareness.

“I didn’t have a lot of support [at school],” Dunn said. “Now that I like to talk about my experience openly, I know a lot of people who also struggle with the same things.”

Dunn, who is now president of Active Minds in her fourth year in college, noted the many stereotypes about eating disorders she encountered when she was getting help.

“It was hard to get … treatment and to ask for help,” Dunn said. “I wasn’t in the stereotypical eating disorder body.”

Dunn noted her goal with leading Active Minds is to “educate the next generation of [mental health] advocates” and to “make sure people are informed in their advocacy.”

STRESS-LESS WITH ACTIVE MINDS

Free food and drink, painting, stress balls and therapy dogs.

December 1: 7-9 p.m. Studebaker West First-floor Multipurpose Room

December 8: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Schmidt/Wilson Hall Lobby/MPR 1st Floor

December 8: 7-9 p.m. Noyer Complex Howick/Klipple Lounge

“Those lunches were my favorite lunches because [the students with disabilities at the table] knew how to make my day when I was having a bad day,” Kofoot said.

Dunn had come into one of Kofoot’s psychology classes to talk about Active Minds, and Kofoot wanted to “try it out.” In her first year of college, she felt like she was “missing out” because she wasn’t in any clubs, different from when she was in high school where she was class president and vice president of her school’s National Honor Society chapter.

Reaching Out to the Community

At the start of the fall 2022 semester, Dunn was the only member of the club that did not graduate. She then dedicated her resources to recruiting new people into the club, which led to new members joining at the activity fair before the start of the school year.

One of those new members was Madison Pierce-Holtzman. She first became aware of the club after her HONR 100 instructor mentioned the club during class.

“I went there, and I just loved it,” she said.

Pierce-Holtzman said she likes spreading awareness about mental health, as her family has a history with mental health disorders. She also noted how “warm and inviting” the members of the club were when she first went to a meeting.

“I don’t have to worry about being judged because these are people who have either struggled with mental health or … they know people who have struggled,” Pierce-Holtzman said.

Now the event chair for the club, PierceHoltzman’s responsibility is to get more involved with campus activities.

I know … it can be very stressful to just start college and [be] in the dorms. I just want to let people know we are here for them.”

- MADISON PIERCE-HOLTZMAN, Ball State Active Minds events chair

Members of Ball State Active Minds club pose for a photo after a meeting. BSU ACTIVE MINDS, PHOTO PROVIDED

Sparks wins MAC Player of the Week

Sophomore Payton Sparks was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) Co-Player of the Week after his performances at the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship Tournament. Sparks led Ball State in average scoring (16.3) and rebounding (9.7) over three games as the Cardinals went 1-2. Sparks produced a career-high 24 points along with a game-high 12 rebounds in the sole win over Missouri State.

Ball State picks up two wins on road trip

Picking up two road wins out west, the Cardinals improve to 4-2 on the season after wins over Utah State and BYU following a 35-point loss to No. 7 Notre Dame Nov. 20. Sophomore Madelyn Bischoff led Ball State against Utah State with 12 points in 22 minutes played while sophomore Ally Becki led with 17 points in 37 minutes against BYU.

Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Track and Field

Indoor

season

schedule finalized

The Cardinals kick off the indoor season Dec. 10 at the Tom Wright Open in Bowling Green, Ohio, with notable competitions at Indiana University (Gladstein Invitational) Jan. 20 and Notre Dame (Meyo Invitational) Feb 3. The MidAmerican Conference Indoor Championships will start Feb. 24 in Bowling Green with the NCAA Indoor Championships scheduled for March 8-11.

Filling in the gap

another name to praise the leadership of Goetz. Alongside seeing success on the field, Goetz was also named Nike Executive of the Year for the 2021-22 year.

had with Mearns over their years working together and that both wanted the athletic program to align well with the institutional core values and vision.

During his time here, Bothof is set to make $300,000 for the current fiscal year.

When Beth Goetz left, so did Karin Lee, who was a deputy athletics director.

Elijah Poe Reporter

$26,942,849. That’s Ball State University’s Athletic Department budget.

The next Ball State Athletic Director will be in charge of $26,942,849.

With Beth Goetz leaving for Iowa, Ball State University officials are now in the process of searching for the next athletic Director to lead the department.

“I know there’s a thought process, and it’s too bad Beth [Goetz] left, and that’s very true because she did do a wonderful job here,” Interim Athletic Director Ken Bothof said. “I think Ball State will be excited about the type of candidates that will be attracted to this position because of the work that’s been done by all the people in the athletic department. It’s in a better position, I think, than it was four years ago when Beth came into it.”

Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns also held Beth Goetz in high regard. Mearns hired Goetz in 2018. During her tenure, she saw the success of many teams winning the MAC, and teams going to the NCAA tournaments.

“Beth Goetz, you’ve heard me sing her praises as an outstanding leader for that department and a leader on campus,” President Mearns said. “And I think she has demonstrated over four years that you can raise the profile that we can compete in the Mac and compete nationally.”

Deputy Athletic Director Shawn Sullivan was

“You know, Beth came in mid-2018 and really created a pathway for our department of strong leadership, empathy and a strategic vision to move us onward,” Sullivan said. “That’s kind of what our mentality of onward came from. I was sad to see her go, and she was a terrific leader and [I’m] certainly happy for her to advance her career over at Iowa.”

Mearns stressed the importance of having the athletics department be an asset to campus life, whereas other institutions’ athletics is more isolated.

“What I think is really positive about our athletics department is they feel it is fully integrated into the life of the campus, which is what I like,” Mearns said. “So we want another leader of athletics to understand that relationship, that partnership. That being integral to the future is very important to us.”

This is not Mearns’s first time working with Bothof. Mearns hired Bothof to be the athletic director at Northern Kentucky where Mearns was previously president.

Before Ball State came calling, Bothof retired for a mere two and a half months before he got the call from President Mearns.

“So he explained all of those things to me, and really [Mearns] just said, ‘I think your leadership would be important here for the administration of the university during the time of the search.’ He does a great job in terms of ease [and] can be very convincing at times but also provided me [with], I think, an opportunity to get back on campus in the fall which is kind of nice to be here and involved from that standpoint as well.”

Bothof also talked about the relationship he has

“When you’re down two people, it’s really hard to just name an internal interim [athletic director] I think because now you are expecting people with other jobs now to do even more, so they already are going to need to do that.”

A deputy athletic director does a lot of things, Sullivan even described it as being a “mini general manager” for their respective sports programs. Sullivan oversees women’s cross country, track and field, women’s golf and men’s basketball.

Sullivan’s role is marketing and strategic initiatives. He deals in marketing, tickets and communications for day-to-day operations.

Mearns gave three qualities that are foundations to Ball State in what he is looking for in an athletic director here at Ball State.

“We want somebody who understands that we measure success in athletics really across all three dimensions,” Mearns said. “Competitiveness, academic excellence and how they represent our institution on campus and in the community with character and integrity. So that’s who we’re looking for.”

Bothof described what is important as an athletic director. He stressed the importance of understanding the university’s expectations and how the role of an athletic director fits into the school’s strategic plan and that they understand the importance of their role on campus through the strategic plan.

“Obviously, I think the ability to hire head coaches that also are a good fit institutionally, that understand that alignment, but it’s important that the head coaches that are hired understand that alignment as well. So those experiences and doing that through your career, I think are extremely important.”

Sullivan talked about the importance of Bothof. He said that Bothof has been a great extra set of eyes, and

- GEOFFREY MEARNS, President of Ball State

with his previous work at other schools, his listening and insights have helped in his interim position.

Ball State has hired the search firm TurnkeyZRG to recruit candidates for Ball State in their next athletic director hiring. Ball State is paying TurnkeyZRG $60,000 for the search.

TurnkeyZRG is actively working with schools like Miami [Florida], Auburn, Ole Miss and Clemson, to name a few. On the professional side, they are helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Mets, Dallas Stars and many other major market teams.

“The two first steps which we’ve undertaken is, I formed a screening committee that will help me evaluate the candidates,” Mearns said. “And then secondly, we’ve hired a search firm that has a lot of experience in the area of athletic directors, coaches [and] athletic staff to assist us in recruiting and evaluating those candidates.”

We want somebody who understands that we measure success in athletics really across all three dimensions ... Competitiveness, academic excellence and how they represent our institution on campus and in the community with character and integrity. So that’s who we’re looking for.”

Deshaun Watson is an example of the NFL’s double standard

Meghan Sawizke

Reporter

Editor’s Note: Meghan Sawitzke is a first-year journalism major and writes for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. This story contains discussions of sexual assault.

I used to be a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan, but it all changed when Deshaun Watson was traded, bringing the NFL’s history back to the surface. I wanted them to do well and maintain good standards for the sake of the city’s reputation, but I can no longer support a business or team that dismisses abuse towards women.

The NFL has held a double standard for years, allowing men to continue their careers simply due to their talent and wealth, regardless of their disrespectful actions towards women. There is a long history of unacceptable behavior — the most recent case being Deshaun Watson.

Watson was a quarterback for Clemson before being selected by the Houston Texans with the 12th overall pick of the 2017 NFL draft, indicating he was a highly sought-after talent. He was later traded to the Cleveland Browns who guaranteed him a five-year, $230 million contract following his suspension. In the exchange, the Browns gave the Texans three first-round picks, a third-round and two fourth-round selections. Not only did Cleveland give Watson one of the largest contracts in NFL history, but they also gave away a king’s ransom for him and did so knowing his off-thefield misconduct.

After being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by more than two dozen women, Watson was initially given a six-game suspension with no fine from the NFL before it was later extended to 11 games and a $5 million fine after the National Football League.

Player Association (NFLPA) voiced their displeasure in the decision. However, two separate grand juries did not indict him on criminal charges for lack of evidence.

According to ESPN and CBS Sports, Watson had another lawsuit filed against him Oct. 13, making the total 26. The New York Times reported Watson contracted at least 66 massage therapists over a 17-month period; the actual number may have been higher.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is one of the largest anti-sexual violence organizations to help survivors, educate the public, suggest training and provide public policy. Their research shows, “more than two out of three [sexual assault cases] go unreported.”

As my father always says, “where there is smoke, there is fire.”

He is a predator who should not be allowed to hide behind his talent.

In our sports-crazy society, people with talent, power and wealth have a free pass through the court of public opinion, and the NFL’s actions have continued to support this stance.

A Vice article written by Broadly Staff titled “There are 44 NFL players who have been accused of sexual or physical assault,” includes various insidents of abuse towards women among prior players in the NFL, some of which are as followed:

Ben Roethlisberger was twice accused of sexual assault. Jameis Winston was accused of rape. Bruce Miller was accused of assaulting his girlfriend and breaking her phone. Chris Courtney Upshaw was accused of domestic violence. Daryl Washington assaulted his ex-girlfriend and broke her clavicle.

Julian Edelman was accused of touching a woman inappropriately. Johnny Manziel was accused of domestic violence.

strategies to manage the negative press, while disregarding disrespectful actions towards women, a flaw is revealed.

Colin Kaepernick was a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and was blackballed by the NFL for exercising his First Amendment rights; he has not played since. He knelt during the National Anthem to protest against police brutality and shine the spotlight on a national issue. Although this does not correspond to abuse, this all is brought back to the NFL’s disciplinary actions from a business perspective.

From the league’s track record, the message is clear: if you strike a woman, the NFL will dismiss the matter after addressing the negative press, but if you exercise your First Amendment rights by kneeling during the anthem, you are effectively banned from the league.

Kaepernick was sure to provide reasoning for his actions and even spoke to United States veterans to show their respect. However, the owners viewed it as negative publicity, and they refused to have the stigma around their teams.

the career of a man who gave others a voice, but the Browns don’t do the same thing to a man with 26 lawsuits against him for zsexual assault.

The Cleveland Browns and NFL condone this behavior and even reward it by offering lucrative contracts and promising a successful career. Men like Deshaun Watson have lived an entitled life and can get away with things the average man would be instantly punished for.

Although the NFL took this opportunity to discipline Watson, I believe it was merely to manage the amount of negative press.

Regardless, I refuse to support a man who allegedly objectifies women and denies the accusations against him just to defend his power, wealth and his talent-driven career. Furthermore, I refuse to support a team and business that takes a man of this reputation under their wing and nurtures his repeated mistakes.

Contact Meghan Sawitzke with comments at meghan.sawitzke@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ MSawitzke.

owners can destroy a man’s career by giving others a voice, but the Browns don’t do the same thing to a man with 26 lawsuits against him for sexual assault.”

Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson throws a pass in preseason practice. Watson’s first game back after suspension will be Dec. 4 against his former team, the Houston Texans. ERIK DROST, PHOTO COURTESY

Richard Kann Columnist

Richard Kann is a fourth-year journalism and telecommunications major and writes “Yankee Fist” for The Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

Growing up, college was sold to me and my classmates as a necessary path on the long road of life, and why wouldn’t it be?

Many stable and reliable jobs require a degree from a four-year university at minimum, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. Naturally, enrolling in college seems like the most logical step for many students graduating from high school who wish to live a comfortable and successful life.

Curiously, some in my generation have come to disagree with this mindset, despite the marketing for higher education we were subjected to for 12 years of education. I am not going to disagree with encouraging students to get a college education; however, I believe the notion that college is a must-have for all students is a mistaken point of view.

In October 2021, Ball State’s Board of Trustees discussed the concerning topic of decreased freshman enrollment in a meeting. This educational recession was attributed to a five-year trend in Indiana, however, this is a part of a far bigger trend. Last year, the National Student Clearinghouse released a study showing two-year and four-year universities accumulated up to 1.5 million fewer students, 71 percent of those students being male.

Some may ask: why would younger generations of men abandon the chance to receive the gift of a higher education, something that very few throughout history have been able to take advantage of?

I think the problem with answering that question is rooted in the question itself. It makes the assumption that the problem lies in men who no longer wish to pursue higher education. However, in order to understand why men are no longer enrolling in college, we have to look at other factors, including our very own universities.

This is where I believe the problem lies.

This many men choosing not to enroll in college are not making these decisions simply out of laziness or out of spite for school. I believe they’re making fully conscious and well-informed decisions.

When I was in high school, I was surrounded by millennials who commonly joked about one thing: college debt. In fact, my senior year, when I got one of my first jobs as a fast food worker at Chick-fil-A, a good few of my co-workers were fully grown millennial adults who graduated from four-year colleges and were now working a second job as a fast food worker to help pay off their college debt. Data from the Education Data Initiative shows that, on average, 63 percent of bachelor’s degree holders owe up to $31,000 in debt, and those with a master’s degree owe up to $70,000 in debt.

Although I joked with my co-workers about this topic, it left me greatly disturbed and hesitant to pursue a college education. I mean, what’s the point in attending a university if the “stable” and “reliable” job I get as a direct result of my education can’t even solely support me upon graduation?

I would soon learn my career choice in journalism would require me to attend a four-year university or simply choose a different career. So, desperate to stop myself from being dragged into an abysmal hole of debt, I halted my enrollment to a university and instead enrolled into a two-year transfer college as both a cheaper alternative and so I could qualify for more scholarships at a four-year university.

This is just the path I chose. Meanwhile, many of my male friends and co-workers back home have chosen instead to enter the workforce early and work up into leadership positions to leverage their experience for a better job, apply to a trade school or even start their own business.

Although we took different paths, the reason I went to so many lengths to avoid debt and they chose to avoid college were ultimately the same.

Independence.

To clarify, the desire for independence is absolutely not exclusive to men. However, data is showing men and women are taking different routes to achieve independence, and for many men, the route they’re taking does not involve college.

For example, take a look at one of the most popular alternatives: trade school.

It was reported by a research group, The Best School, in a 2021 article that trade school enrollment had nearly doubled between 1999 and 2014. Why is this significant? If you look at Ball State, the male to female ratio of students is 40 to 60 percent. This ratio is pretty consistent with other universities, as women are more likely to enroll in a fouryear college than men now.

In The American Trade School, however, the ratio of male to female is 97 to 3 percent. Male enrollment in universities is decreasing, while male enrollment in trade school is doubling.

On top of this, a post-COVID-19 survey from BigRentz. com found 33 percent of Americans see trade school as a superior option to a university, and 58 percent of Americans view trade school as an equally-good opportunity to a university.Those surveyed noted a lot of reasons for

45%

Source: National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

choosing trade school over college such as less debt, a better chance at finding a job, job security, higher paying jobs, etc.

Many men are not forsaking a higher education but instead consciously choosing to pursue a different kind of education they believe will give them financial independence through a good job but won’t cripple them with debt.

Trade school isn’t the only alternative. Amidst the pandemic, there has been a massive trend in entrepreneurship, with data from the Census Bureau showing there has been a massive increase in startup businesses over the course of the pandemic. It’s estimated that 54 percent of Gen-Z wish to delay or skip college in favor of becoming entrepreneurs and starting their own business, according to an article from Forbes.

And why wouldn’t they? Entrepreneurship can mean starting their own restaurant, building a wooden furniture shop or by having a simple gaming channel on YouTube. All of these are very different types of entrepreneurship, but I believe they have one thing in common: you are in charge.

No one can tell you how to cook an omelet, build a chair or play Minecraft if you’re the one in charge. Many people want to be in control. I want that and some others might too. And from the looks of it, men in my generation are using entrepreneurship to do this.

Although, it’s understandable why educational institutions would find this to be concerning. This, in all honesty, is a good thing and should not be addressed by fear for the next generation but with encouragement and even support. Many men are choosing to pursue their interests to better themselves and their communities through a variety of different career paths.

They are choosing to express themselves and explore their own identity by succeeding and failing on their own terms while achieving independence.

Contact Richard Kann with comments at richard.kann@ bsu.edu.

Entrepreneurship can mean starting their own restaurant, building a wooden furniture shop or by having a simple gaming channel on YouTube.”

of Gen-Z report being likely to start their own businesses

DIRECTOR

In November, Ball State will prepare the leadership profile that is best fitting and TurnkeyZRG will, in return, do active recruiting in December. President Mearns is hopeful the process will conclude in late January or early February.

“We’re looking for somebody pretty special, Ball State has had a long history of good ADs, and so I’m confident we’re gonna get a great pool,” Mearns said. “And hopefully, continue that important tradition.”

Bothof, who was hired with the help of a search engine, described what that process was like.

“It really will vary somewhat by campus [the athletic director hiring process]. At Northern Kentucky, they utilized a search firm to help them more so with the logistical aspects of a search,” Bothof said. “In terms of setting up interview schedules [and] helping identify individuals that may have an interest with the good alignment of qualifications for the position itself. Working with the university, administrators, university leadership and others to help define what that role looks like for, at that time, Northern Kentucky University.”

Mearns also stressed the importance of being able to hire adequate coaches and the integral role of an athletic director’s relationship with a coach. He talked of Goetz’s hire of new head basketball coach, Micheal Lewis, as a great example.

ACTIVE MINDS

Continued from Page 12

“My main goal is to let people know that we’re around,” she said.

Kofoot said the support of anonymous donors has allowed the club to partake in more events. With finals week approaching, Active Minds will be holding a “Stress Less” event in various residence halls where members of the club will be having service animals available and passing out stress balls.

For Halloween, the club held a Trunk-or-Treat event where they passed out information for counseling resources.

- KELSEY DUNN,

President of Ball State Active Minds club

Dunn said one of the ways students can help break the stigma of mental health is to continue to talk about it. She noted talking about mental health has become more accepted in recent years. However, she said there is no stigma society has “completely broken.”

“I think we have a lot further to go with less common mental illnesses,” Dunn said.

Kofoot said the easiest way for students to help break mental health stigmas is to share information they see on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

During their weekly meetings, members of the club present about a mental health condition that they are passionate about to help educate themselves and other members of the club.

because it’s an important one.”

- SHAWN SULLIVAN, Deputy Athletic Director

Mearns said in the process, there are three head coaches who are on the screening committee that will evaluate and give their input on candidates.

“We’ll work here to support that change and whoever that individual is when they get on board and get them up to speed and be as supportive as we can whenever that person comes into that chair because it’s an important one,” Sullivan said.

Contact Elijah Poe with comments at elijah. poe@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ElijahPoe4.

Pierce-Holtzman said the “passionate” people involved in the club helped give her a support system in her first semester in college.

Dunn said that the club has grown significantly within the semester.

“I really care a lot about this club,” Dunn said. “I’m sad that … it’s starting to grow … right as I’m [graduating from college].”

She also said she hopes the people in the club will stay caring about the club and its progress after she graduates. She hopes Active Minds can do more across campus and grow up from the “little club that meets Thursday nights.”

Pierce-Holtzman hopes to reach out to incoming first-year students more in the future to let them know there is a space welcome for them.

“I know … it can be very stressful to just start college and [be] in the dorms,” she said. “I just want to let people know we are here for them.”

Contact Grayson Joslin with comments at Grayson.joslin@bsu.edu or on Twitter @GraysonMJoslin.

We’ll work here to support that change and whoever that individual is when they get on board and get them up to speed and be as supportive as we can whenever that person comes into that chair

I think we have a lot further to go with less common mental illnesses.”

EDITED BY KURT KRAUSS; SUDOKU BY MICHAEL MEPHAM