BSU 3-15-2018

N D DAILY NEWS

LEARN THE HISTORY BEHIND ST. PATRICK’S DAY 404 New food truck: Dining’s mobile venue offers vegan and vegetarian options outside Pruis Hall. 410

Alumna’s job search: After being turned away from her dream job, Emily Halley found a way to help save lives with marketing. 420

ALWAYS A

FIGHTER After surviving abuse and overcoming homelessness, David Spikes finds passion in the boxing ring. 412

03.15.2018

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Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from March 12 through 14 on…

BallStateDaily.com Students leave their mark on new college

Lane shifts on State Road 3 this summer

Golf struggles in Spring Break Shootout

4March 12: The College

4March 12: Lane shifting will

4March 13: Ball State women’s

of Health invited students and community members to sign a 40-foot beam that will be placed in the facility at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Martin Street.

Nearly 7,000 students across seven academic programs will use the new building, which is expected to be completed in Summer 2019.

begin on eight miles of State Road 3 between Muncie and New Castle throughout the summer for new concrete pavement overlays.

The passing and left turn lanes of northbound and southbound State Road 3 will close between County Road 200 North and County Road 950 North.

KAITI SULLIVAN, DN

golf had a rocky couple days at the annual Spring Break Shootout in Dade City, Florida. After the twoday tournament March 12-13, the team finished ninth among 13 others. The Cardinals will tee off in the EKU Colonel Classic on Friday, March 30 and Saturday March 31 in Richmond, Kentucky.

Stephen Hawking dies at 76

Indiana unemployment rate remains low

Ball State wins 3-2 over Fort Wayne

4March 14: Stephen Hawking,

4March 14: The Indiana

4March 14: Ball State men’s

whose brilliant mind ranged across time and space though his body was paralyzed by disease, died early March 14. The best-known theoretical physicist of his time, Hawking wrote about time and black holes in his book, “A Brief History of Time,” which became an international bestseller.

Department of Workforce Development said in a press release that the unemployment rate in Indiana dropped 3.3 percent in January – lower than the United States average of 4.1 percent. The state’s unemployment rate has now been below the national rate for over four years.

MADELINE GROSH, DN

4-DAY WEATHER

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EDITORIAL BOARD Casey Smith, Editor-in-chief Allie Kirkman, Managing Editor Brynn Mechem, News Editor Brooke Kemp, Features Editor Kara Biernat, Sports Editor Kaiti Sullivan, Photo Editor Carli Scalf, Copy Editor Garret Looker, Opinion Editor Ryan Shank, Video Editor Nick Williams, Social Media Editor CREATIVE SERVICES Emily Wright, Director Elliott DeRose, Design Editor

4ON THE COVER: David Spikes, 20, shadow boxes in an empty gymnasium Sept. 18, 2017, at the Muncie PAL Club. Shadow boxing helps boxer create muscle memory when they need to fight. BREANNA DAUGHERTY, DN

volleyball returned to Worthen Arena — in a battle of ranked teams — for the first time in a month.

The team earned a 3-2 victory over No. 15 Fort Wayne. The Cardinals entered the week ranked first in the nation in digs per set, and senior Matt Walsh is 10th in the country in blocks per set.

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Muncie

The Amazon employee

EXPERIENCE

With Indianapolis on the list of possible locations for a second Amazon headquarters, employees reflect on their experiences with the company. 405

MCS students take part in walkout Muncie Central high school students left their third period classes Wednesday to participate in the national walkout in remembrance of the Parkland, Florida, victims. The students met outside at the flagpole and read out the victims’ names before heading inside to hear from police officers about the importance of gun safety and emergency preparedness.

Campus

Cardinals advocate for gun control More than 500 members of the Ball State community lined McKinley Avenue from the Scramble Light to Ball Communication Building Wednesday as they advocated for gun control. Walkout organizers placed 17 chairs each with a victim’s photo and a balloon attached to it in front of the Teachers College. At the end of the walkout, the balloons were released in remembrance of the victims.

Student Government

Bontrager elected SGA president pro tempore

The Amazon Spheres under construction at the Amazon Urban Campus in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle. Amazon has unveiled its 20 finalist cities in which to build its second headquarters. TNS PHOTO

Senator Kam Bontrager was elected for Student Government Association president pro tempore for the 2018-19 academic year Wednesday.

Bontrager was one of three students, including senators Joshua Borges and Ashley Smith, running for the position. He won with 10 votes, while Smith received eight votes, Borges received nine votes and a one vote abstained.

ON BALLSTATEDAILY.COM: INDIANA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STILL LOWER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE

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Hannah Gunnell Reporter “St. Patrick really existed,” said associate professor of history Fred Suppe. “We know this because we actually have two documents that he wrote.”

Maewyn Succat, or more popularly, St. Patrick, lived around 400 A.D., historians estimate. Despite leaving behind written documents, they were left undated, which is why the exact time span of his life is unknown.

He wrote a spiritual biography, which he titled “Confession,” Suppe said. This document contains information about his early life and his vision from God. Despite the country’s involvement in the holiday, St. Patrick wasn’t actually Irish. He was born into a Christian family in the town of Bannavem Taburniae off the coast of Britain, which was part of the Roman empire at the time. His father was a priest and his grandfather was a deacon, an ordained minister who works underneath a priest.

Suppe said when St. Patrick was 16 years old, Irish

invaders raided his town, capturing him and “many others.” As St. Patrick wrote in “Confession,” he spent the next six years enslaved in northern Ireland herding animals.

Near the end of his six years, St. Patrick received a vision from God –– an angel in a dream –– that told him to leave Ireland. He escaped slavery and traveled from northern Ireland to a port in the southeast coast of Ireland, where he found a merchant ship and “talked his way onto it,” Suppe said.

“And after many adventures, and we’re not sure exactly how much time, he finally made his way home to where he had grown up,” Suppe said.

After being home for a few years, St. Patrick received another vision from God telling him to return to Ireland and bring the Christian faith with him.

Suppe said historians estimate this was around 432 A.D. St. Patrick then returned to northern Ireland, which was subdivided into many tribes, and gained permission from local kings in order to preach to the people. The kings approved, and after a second 60-day enslavement, he succeeded in converting many of the

people in Ireland to Christianity.

He also established the Bishop Reich of Armagh, a Christian hierarchy in Ireland, which still exists today as a Christian center, Suppe said. For these successes, St. Patrick is credited as the first person to bring Christianity to Ireland.

“He is a figure [to the Irish] like George Washington is to the states,” Suppe said.

The year of the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration is unknown, but Suppe said St. Patrick was popularly remembered by the O’Neil family, who were a dominant royal Irish family. The O’Neil family promoted and sponsored St. Patrick and the celebration of his achievements.

By the year 700 A.D., scholars had written biographies about St. Patrick, so Suppe believes his celebration began annually by that year.

St. Patrick’s Day officially became recognized as a holiday in the 1800s. The booming celebration of St. Patrick’s Day came after Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom in 1801.

“Many Irish nationalists weren’t happy about that,” Suppe said. “They didn’t like being called ‘West

PEXELS, PHOTO COURTESY

St. Patrick and his slavery — the origins of St. Patrick’s Day Britain.’

And so, dur i ng the 1800s, many Irish nationalists were looking for things that were distinctively Irish that the Irish could use as symbols of their identity.”

Shortly after declaring the day a holiday, many Irish families immigrated to the United States, and out of homesickness began celebrating St. Patrick’s Day as a way to remember their Irish heritage, Suppe said.

In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is often celebrated with parades.

“Here we are in ‘merica adopting a holiday that belongs to another tradition,” Suppe said.

Contact Hannah Gunnell with comments at hrgunnell@bsu.edu.

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Amazon employees share varied experiences from time with company With Indianapolis on list of possible new headquarters, work conditions in question Elena Stidham Reporter Two days. That’s how long it takes a package to ship from Amazon to the buyer’s home.

In two days, a warehouse is bustling with employees who said they are overworked in order to send that package. In two days, the order is shipped by people who don’t feel human — or at least, that’s what one Amazon employee said.

In the fall of 2013, Gawker.com began reporting on the treatment of Amazon’s workers.

The scenarios ranged from employees being overworked and collapsing from heat exhaustion to being fired for crying on the job.

In November 2017, Alan Selby, an investigative reporter for Mirror, went undercover with a hidden

camera to try and investigate the way Amazon treats its employees, later writing an article where he said, “Staff are just cattle — there to serve robots.’”

While Selby’s report took place in the United Kingdom, similar occurrences have been reported in Indiana.

Freshman telecommunications and film media major Ebone Rowe quit Amazon after a month of working at a warehouse in Whitestown, Indiana, because she said the management treated her “like a slave.”

“The pay seems good at first and most people are aware that it is hard work, but it’s not until you start working there that you understand just how hard it is,” Rowe said. “You’re working constantly and actually being timed and tracked the whole time.

“If you’re moving too slow, you risk getting fired. If you’re not stowing or picking enough hours within a certain amount of time, you’re also at risk of getting fired. They’re not really fair when it comes to important events in your life where you might have to call off.”

In an Amazon warehouse, the performance of an

employee is determined by a point system. Rowe said employees started with six points, and if the employee ran out of points, they were fired. Calling off for other responsibilities, emergencies and other obligations would cause point deductions.

“Calling off [work] causes you to lose points no matter what the situation is,” Rowe said. “I tried to call off for college orientation and it wasn’t excused and I was docked 1 1/2 points.”

Rowe wasn’t the only employee who said Amazon was unfair to her schedule. Bella Bradbury, a freshman integrative studio practice major at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis’ Herron School of Art, said at first she had permission to change her availability, but later a new manager told her otherwise.

“After I started my classes, however, it became apparent that one day a week I would have trouble getting to class from work,” Bradbury said. “They would not let me leave early anymore. I tried coming in earlier and working different days to make up for this time taken, and then eventually was let go.”

Shevaun Brown, Amazon regional operations PR

manager, released a statement on behalf of Amazon addressing its open door policy, which would allow employees to take care of issues at the warehouse.

“Amazon has an open door policy that allows associates to bring their comments, questions and concerns directly to their management teams, including all the way up to our CEO if needed,” Brown said in an email. “We feel we can best address our associate’s needs by encouraging this open door policy in our workplace.”

However, Bradbury said Amazon didn’t have a welcoming atmosphere, and that this only added to the problems she had with the warehouse.

“The warehouse was brand new, but nothing had color to it,” Bradbury said. “It literally was as if you walked into a prison. It had this really bright lighting too, and it only gave this horror movie kind of feel.

“We had huge fans but no AC. In the summer it was almost unbearable, and during the colder months I worked there, you had to wear clothing to fit the weather, which was almost impossible because you’re lifting heavy boxes.”

4See AMAZON, 27

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Ball State says

#Enough Students and faculty lined up along McKinley Avenue March 14 for the Ball State Walkout in honor of the Parkland shooting victims and to protest gun violence. The event was organized by freshman Darla Thomas, BSU Democrats and elementary education professor James Stroud. Some wore shirts that said “#NEVERAGAIN Books not Bullets” and bracelets that said “Enough” and “Never Again.” University police estimated 500 people participated in the event.

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03.15.18

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Parents of student injured on spring break express gratitude for Ball State support Sara Barker Reporter Bill and Diane Akers got the call around 1:45 a.m.

It was from the hospital saying their son, Andrew “Drew” Akers, a Ball State junior marketing major, had been transported after being hit by a car during spring break.

“Dr. Lozada says, ‘This is Dr. Lozada from Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.

This is a call nobody ever wants to make,’” Drew’s mom, Diane, said.

Before any of our family ever got [to the hospital], one of his fraternity brothers was actually with him in the emergency room holding his hand.”

- BILL AKERS, Andrew Akers’ father With the help of family, Drew’s parents immediately arranged a flight to Florida. However, Drew was never alone. Someone was by his side from the moment the accident happened to the time his parents made their way to Florida to reunite with their son.

Drew was struck while walking across the street to catch an Uber, his parents said. The driver did not stop, but the cars behind them did.

“There happened to be a nurse who actually pulled over to the right lane where Drew had been

thrown and blocked the path so that no other cars could run over him and got out of her car,” Diane said. “She didn’t know if he’d be alive, she thought he’d be dead — but she got a pulse and immediately flagged down a police officer and called for help.”

His parents credit the nurse with saving Drew’s life and are meeting with her soon to thank her in person.

“To me, she’s like a guardian angel, to be there right when this happened,” Bill, Drew’s father, said.

“Who knows what would have happened if she hadn’t have acted as quickly as she did?”

Diane’s sister and mom went to the hospital, to find that a member of Theta Chi, Drew’s fraternity, had stayed with him after the accident.

“Before any of our family ever got [to the hospital], one of his fraternity brothers was actually with him in the emergency room holding his hand,” Bill said.

When Bill and Diane arrived at the hospital, Drew was in a medically-induced coma to help him recover from the two skull fractures, facial fractures and two brain bleeds he suffered due to the March 5 accident.

Now, Drew is awake and responding to visits with his family — including a visit from his grandmother — and through FaceTime, he’s been able to talk with his two siblings.

“He had just had the tube taken out and [Drew’s grandma] said, ‘Oh Drew, I can’t wait to see your pretty blue eyes,’ and he woke up and winked at her,” Diane said.

Bill and Diane have been staying with their son for the maximum hours the ICU allows — about 12 hours a day. Soon, though, Drew will be moved out of the ICU and into a section that allows for longer visitation.

Though they’ve found themselves with an extended stay a thousand miles from their home in Fishers, Indiana, support from friends and complete

strangers alike has found its way to the southern tip of Florida.

Drew’s Theta Chi fraternity brothers visited him in the hospital before they traveled back to Muncie at the end of spring break, and Gage Carroll, the fraternity president, established a GoFundMe for medical expenses.

As of right now, Theta Chi has raised more than $27,000 for Drew and his family.

“We have just been blown away,” Diane said.

Other members of Ball State Greek Life have supported Drew, as well. Bill said a woman in Alpha Phi, who has never met Drew before, emailed him and said she and her sisters were praying for Drew, collecting donations for the family and making him a card.

Other strangers to the Akers family have reached out, too. A woman who used to go through the Target checkout line Drew was a cashier at wrote to his parents to tell them how she was praying for their “wonderful” son.

Diane said Father Brian Doerr at St. Francis of Assisi in Muncie prayed with his congregation for Drew, as well.

For now, it will likely be a few more weeks until

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Drew can return to Indiana and finish rehab, his parents said.

“It may be six to eight weeks. We don’t know,” Diane said. “It will just depend on the process. But he’s doing amazingly well.”

Contact Sara Barker with comments at slbarker3@ bsu.edu or on Twitter @sarabarker326.

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Ball State Food truck opens with fresh options Dining introduces a mini food truck Gabbi Mitchell Reporter After a week’s worth of slumber, Ball State Dining welcomed students back to campus with warm hot chocolate and new, fresh food options.

Monday afternoon Dining introduced a new mini food truck operating in the space between University Theatre and Bracken Library. The new mobile venue is open to students beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Karen Adkins, director of dining services and dining initiatives, said the new addition was created in order to give students more options while emphasizing the university’s commitment to sustainability.

“We listened to our customers,” Adkins said.

“We wanted to roll it out and see what our customers think.”

The mini food truck, which sells healthy options including daily vegetarian and vegan meals in plant-based to-go containers, features two to three rotating entrees each day of the week, along with two signature entrees available all week.

Recipes are crafted by Chef Stepfanie Miller of Elliott Dining.

Adkins said the university has been planning to bring a food truck to campus since last spring and hoped for warm weather for its grand opening.

“We didn’t get our wish, but we’re out here anyway,” Adkins said. “We [wanted to] get everybody in that healthy mindset of the spring, and we were hoping to have sunshine and warm weather to kind of boost that thought process.”

All of the menu items, which will vary throughout the year, are less than 550 calories.

Free samples will continue to be passed out to students throughout the remainder of the week.

Contact Gabbi Mitchell with comments at gnmitchell@bsu.edu or on Twitter @Gabbi_Mitchell.

A Ball State student receives their food from the food truck in front of Pruis March 13. The truck offers vegan and vegetarian options. REBECCA SLEZAK, DN.

HOW TO FIND THE FOOD TRUCK When: The food truck is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Where: The truck is parked in the space between University Theatre and Bracken Library.

Megan Bivensfromm, general manager of Elliott Dining Hall works March 13 at Ball State University’s new dining food truck. Bivensfromm and chef Stepfanie Miller created the menu for the food truck. REBECCA SLEZAK, DN.

Food is served on March 13 from Ball State’s Dining Food Truck. The food truck is open outside Pruis Hall.

REBECCA SLEZAK, DN

DNSports

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Women’s Basketball

Ball State to host 1st game of WNIT

A

WILD

After missing out on the NCAA Tournament, Ball State women’s basketball was one of three MAC schools that accepted a bid to the WNIT. Ball State will host Middle Tennessee State on March 14. The winner of Thursday’s contest will go on to play the winner either IUPUI or Purdue.

RIDE416

Baseball

Cardinals return to the Midwest for opener

After playing the last four weekends down South in the sunshine, Ball State baseball returns to Indiana for its home opener. Ball State will open up a four-day series with Dayton on Friday at First Merchants Ballpark.

First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Carmen Grande grabs another award

ROBBY GENERAL, DN

Carmen Grande was named to the 2017-18 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America First Team. She became the first player from the program to receive the honor since Kate Endress, the only other player to do so, in 2004-05. The junior guard holds a 3.98 cumulative GPA as a mathematical science major.

ON BALLSTATEDAILY.COM: MEN’S VOLLEYBALL PICKS UP 4TH WIN AGAINST A RANKED OPPONENT

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03.15.18

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Amateur Muncie boxer uses rough childhood as motivation in the ring Elizabeth Wyman Reporter Dodging left hooks in one corner of the ring, David Spikes finagles his way out of his opponents grip, feet bouncing simultaneously to the hip-hop music playing over the speakers.

The dim light projecting over the ring highlights the sweat dripping from his face, off his blue helmet all the way to his worn, white boxing gloves.

“I’m the fastest ever. No one can beat me. No one touch me,” Spikes mutters to himself during fights.

“I just carry myself like that and they end up slipping

No one wants to believe you or try to help you if they do not see a purpose or see desire from you. I keep that desire even through the pain; you got to want it.”

- DAVID SPIKES, Boxer

up, bad. I like to get in the guy’s head because if you can beat them mentally, you can physically.

Sometimes I’ll first crack a smile I’ll wave at them.

I know they’re going to be mad at that.”

Fighting is enjoyable for Spikes — at least now it is.

But homeless and alone just two years ago, fighting was his only option.

Muncie Pal Club Just beyond the train tracks that separate the North and South side of Muncie sits the Muncie Pal Club. A one-ring boxing gym that shares a street with a nightclub and a church, holds the capabilities of turning amateur boxers pro. It was by chance Spikes stumbled upon the gym — and the sport of boxing.

“It gave me that purpose again,” Spikes said.

“I was able to set goals again and do things to accomplish it.”

Pal Club, which stands for Police Action League, initially created by the police department, has been around for decades.

“The whole idea behind it was to get the police mixed in with these communities that they can lose touch easily,” Steve Douthitt, Pal Club director said. “Boxing is a poor people sport, generally. It doesn’t take much money to get into it.”

While the police presence has dwindled since the club’s beginning, the club goal remains the same.

“This gives a lot of people a chance to pursue a dream,” Douthitt said. “They’re coming in here, working out, it’s positive and they’re around other people.”

Fighting to survive

Spikes self-describes his life journey as a “typical sad story.” He doesn’t cut himself any slack though.

The 20-year-old native of the south side of Chicago was in a dark place when he moved in around the corner from the boxing club.

“It’s been a long journey,” Spikes said. “I’ve been through the most crazy stuff.”

At the moment he discovered Pal Club he was homeless and in a new city.

Spikes initially moved to Muncie with his mother’s husband — the father of his two half brothers. With his mother no longer in the picture and his biological father never being in the picture, this was his family. He thought.

“He [stepfather] treated me like crap,” Spikes said.

“He would try everything to break me down. I refuse to let him get in my head and break me down.”

The mental and physical abuse became debilitating for Spikes. He no longer wanted to do anything anymore, even play football, which was his life at that point.

“Having someone tell you you’re nothing you’re constantly hearing that everyday and your whole purpose is to make them proud,” Spikes said. “It takes your ability away.”

At five years old, Spikes’ mother abandoned he and his brothers in their Chicago apartment.

“My mother left me and my brothers to die basically,” Spikes said. “She was gone for like a month or so. It was just God, he told me the correct things to do and me and my brothers managed to survive.”

Spikes lived with his brothers’ grandmother for a few years growing up.

“She developed a love for me,” Spikes said.

A love Spikes is now discovering again at Pal Club.

Boxing family When he found a passion for boxing at Pal Club, he found something he rarely experienced growing up — a family.

“I’ve created a family because of my boxing.

Not being homeless again, I was homeless before I developed a relationship with a lot of people here,” Spikes said.

Those relationships are apparent as Spikes struts through the club high-fiving and conversing with everyone he sees.

“Hey Afro,” Ashley Calhoun says to Spikes as he play-punches her 8-year-old son, Max. Most parents of fighters come to the Pal Club to watch their kids’ fight.

Spikes doesn’t have family there.

“He’s got no one,” said Rob Calhoun. “He calls Ashley and I mom and dad.”

These people are his family and role models — especially Douthitt.

“I call him pops and everything, he’s really a good figure,” Spikes said. “I call him pops because I don’t have that father figure.”

BREANNA DAUGHERTY, DN

Douthitt watches Spikes get better every day admiring his work ethic and determination.

“He works harder than anybody else by far,” Douthitt said. “Unbelievable how a guy like that can make it through without getting on drugs and getting in trouble.”

With the support of his boxing family, Spikes was able to get his own apartment in town changing the title “homeless boxer” to “boxer.”

A new love Growing up, football consumed Spikes’ life. One of those special athletes coaches demand be on the field for offense and defense — that was Spikes.

But the will to fight was always in his blood.

Spikes initially learned to fight after getting repeatedly jumped on the streets of Chicago.

“The way I speak everyone always thought I was soft person and they prey on the weak so everyday I pretty much had to fight,” Spikes said. “A lot of times I would get jumped because a lot of guys couldn’t fight me one-on-one because I was quick.”

It wasn’t until Pal Club that he was able to hone

his skills and put them to use. His 6-feet, 132 pound frame aids him in quick movements within his sphere. His style mimics that of legendary boxer, Floyd Mayweather. The rolling shoulder defense is Spikes’ go-to method.

Even though a boxer and enduring multiple blows to the body is imminent, he doesn’t like getting hit.

“I block a lot of movements I don’t like to get touched,” Spikes said. “A lot of guys’ styles is to take a punch. Those are the guys with the short careers.”

Next up for Spikes is the Golden Gloves at the end of the month. One of these days Spikes will become a professional boxer. When that happens he plans to write a book about his life, boxing and his desire to succeed against the odds.

Until then, he keeps fighting.

“No one wants to believe you or try to help you if they do not see a purpose or see desire from you,” Spikes said. “I keep that desire even through the pain; you got to want it.”

Contact Elizabeth Wyman with comments at egwyman@bsu.edu.

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03.15.18

DNSports

David Spikes, 20, has been training at the Munice PAL Club and at home since he moved to Muncie two years ago. Spikes runs and trains multiple times a day to achieve his goals of becoming a professional boxer.

At 5’11� and 132 lbs, Spikes falls into the lightweight category in boxing. BREANNA DAUGHERTY, DN

DNSports

03.15.18

14

@BSUDaily @BSUDaily First Round March 15-16

1 16

Virginia (31-2)

Creighton (21-11)

9

Kansas St. (22-11)

12

Regional Semifinals March 22-23

16

LIU Brooklyn (18-16)

16

Radford (22-12)

Regional Finals March 24-25

E

National Semifinals March 31

11

St. Bonaventure (25-7)

11

UCLA (21-11)

National Semifinals March 31

First Four E

DAYTON

March 13-14

Kentucky (24-10)

Davidson (21-11)

4 Arizona (27-7) 13 6

Buffalo (26-8)

Miami (Fla.) (22-9)

Loyola-Chicago (28-5) 3 Tennessee (25-8)

11

14 7 10 2 15 1 16

Wright St. (25-9)

Nevada (27-7)

Texas (19-14)

Cincinnati (30-4)

Georgia St. (24-10)

Xavier (28-5)

NC Central/Texas So.

8

Missouri (20-12)

9

Florida St. (20-11)

5 12 4 13 6

Ohio St. (24-8)

S. Dakota St. (28-6)

Gonzaga (30-4) UNCG (27-7)

Houston (26-7)

San Diego St. (22-10) 3 Michigan (28-7)

11

14 7 10 2 15

Montana (26-7)

Texas A&M (20-12)

Providence (21-13)

North Carolina (25-10) Lipscomb (23-9)

Final Four

SAN ANTONIO

March 31 and April 2

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP April 2

Regional Finals March 24-25

NC Central (19-15) 16

W Texas Southern (15-19) 16

UMBC (24-10)

8

5

Second Round March 17-18

@B @B

MW

Regional Semifinals March 22-23

Second Round March 17-18

Arizona St. (20-11) 11 Syracuse (20-13) 11

CONTACT Gymnastics Name:

@BallStateDaily @BallStateDaily

Second Round March 17-18

INFORMATION

03.15.18

DNSports

Ball State looks for consistency before MAC Championships

Email:

First Round March 15-16

Twitter:

(20-11) 11

(20-13) 11

15

Villanova (30-4) 1

LIU Brooklyn/Radford 16 Virginia Tech (21-11) 8 Alabama (19-15) 9

West Virginia (24-10) 5

Murray St. (26-5) 12

Wichita St. (25-7) 4

Marshall (24-10) 13 Florida (20-12) 6

St. Bonaventure/UCLA 11 Texas Tech (24-9) 3 S.F. Austin (28-6) 14 Arkansas (23-11) 7

Butler (20-13) 10

Purdue (28-6) 2

CSU Fullerton (20-11) 15 Kansas (27-7) 1

Penn (24-8) 16

Seton Hall (21-11) 8 NC St. (21-11) 9

Clemson (23-9) 5

New Mexico St. (28-5) 12 Auburn (25-7) 4

Charleston (26-7) 13 TCU (21-11) 6

Arizona St./Syracuse 11 Michigan St. (29-4) 3 Bucknell (25-9) 14

Rhode Island (25-7) 7

Oklahoma (18-13) 10 Duke (26-7) 2

Iona (20-13) 15

The Cardinals are gearing up for the conference championships, but one more challenge lies ahead.

Saleem said. “We want to go out and have fun while we are performing.”

Two gymnasts who have remained consistent for the Working off of a redemption performance at Western Cardinals are seniors Baylee Bell and Jordyn Penny Michigan last weekend, Ball State gymnastics (9-8, on beam. For the past four meets, Bell and Penny have 3-3 MAC) will face Central Michigan (8-7, 4-1 MAC) finished in the top two for the Cardinals.

“Jordyn and I are looking to stay consistent with our in the final meet of the regular season.

Contest Entry: Participants can Ball State saw vast improvement last weekend in performances and stay confident in our skills going receive one posting (1) entry the contest.

Kalamazoo, its into third-highest team score of forward,” Bell said. “Being successful at this meet will help Participants willposting be entered in the the season after its second-lowest score of us going into MAC next week with a positive attitude.”

Having success in this meet is huge for the Cardinals. the season weekout prior Eastern Michigan. contest by afilling theagainst Vie sponsored According to turning head coach Joanna Saleem, bracket and it in to either thethe team is The Chippewas currently sit in first place in the MidAmerican Conference and will be hosting the MAC getting back to the gymnastics is used McKinley Avenue office initAJ 246toordoing. @BSUDaily @BallStateDaily “They went out and remembered what it was like to championships next weekend. email sports@bsudailynews.com their weren’t According to Saleem, the experience on the floor will compete and have fun,” Saleem said. “They Firstcompleted bracket.

Second Regional National National Regional Regional Second First ToRegional enter, either click be extremely helpful going championships. any emotions Semifinalsor side Finals thoughts Semifinalsthat Semifinals into the Finals Semifinals Round Round Round distracted by Round 17-18 March 22-23 March 31 March 31 March 24-25 22-23 March 17-18 March 15-16 Firstgoing Four to be a nice March 15-16 the link to download the bracket ora great pick “It’s opportunity toMarch compete there were going onMarch a week before.

TheyMarch did24-25 job of 11 St. Bonaventure (25-7) 16 LIU Brooklyn (18-16) NC Central (19-15) 16 Arizona St. (20-11) 11 letting the Eastern Michigan go and getting back and come up a physical copy at themeet Unified Media DAYTONback next weekend for MAC championships,” E March 13-14 W Texas Southern (15-19) 16 MW E Syracuse (20-13) 11 16 Radford (22-12) 11 UCLA (21-11) Saleem said.

“We’re still going to treat this like another to the basics.”

Information Center on the second floor 1 Virginia (31-2) Villanova (30-4) 1 meet before we compete in MACs.” One thing the team has struggled with this season (24-10) LIU Brooklyn/Radford 16 16 UMBC of the Arts and Journalism Building at The Cardinals will take the floor at 7 p.m. Thursday is staying consistent. After last week’s finish, the Virginia Tech (21-11) 8 8 Creighton the top(21-11) of the stairs coming up from in Mount Pleasant.

Cardinals 9 Kansas St. (22-11)are looking to stay on the rise and maintain Alabama (19-15) 9 the Atrium.

Regardless of how you fill Contact Jack Williams with comments at jgwilliams@ consistency by treating this meet like any other.

(24-10) West Virginia (24-10) 5 5 Kentucky out“The the bracket, it needs to iseither be meet,” bsu.edu or on Twitter @JackWilliamsBSU. big message is that this just another (21-11) Murray St. (26-5) 12 12 Davidson Jack Williams Phone: Reporter

TERENCE K. LIGHTNING JR., DN

CONTEST RULES

emailed to sports@bsudailynews.com or bring it to the McKinley Avenue office in 6 Miami (Fla.) (22-9) AJ 246. Standing will be updated daily 11 Loyola-Chicago (28-5) throughout the tournament on the Ball 3 Tennessee (25-8) State Daily website, ballstatedaily.com.

14 Wright St. (25-9) Brackets must be turned in before March (27-7) 7 Nevada Texas 10 Contest Entry: canthe receive 13th(19-14) at 11 a.m. Participants The winner at end of Cincinnati (30-4) 2 one entry intomust the contest. the (1) tournament pick up Participants their prize 15 Georgia St. (24-10) will enteredApril in the contest byteams filling out on be or before 9th.

Official will 1 the Xavier (28-5) sponsored bracket and turning it in be Vie selected on Sunday, March 11th.

NC either Central/Texas 16 to theSo.McKinley Avenue office in AJ 8 Missouri Contest Eligibility: Contest is open 246 or(20-12) email sports@bsudailynews.com 9 Florida St. (20-11) to Ball State University their completed bracket. undergraduate To enter, either 5 Ohio St. (24-8) and the graduate students, faculty, staff or and click link to download the bracket 12 S. Dakota St. (28-6) Muncie residents.

There will be one (1) pick up a physical copy at the Unified 4 Gonzaga (30-4) Information Center3 on the second winner that will receive certificates UNCG (27-7) 13 Media the Arts andfor Journalism Building Houston 6 floor fromof(26-7) hotbox pizza a large, onethe of theastairs coming from 11 at San Diegotop St.pizza, (22-10) topping Ball State hatupand a Michigan (28-7) 3 the Atrium.

Regardless of how you out Ball State sweatshirt. The value offillthe 14 Montana (26-7) the bracket, it needs to either be emailed HotBox certificates is $12.53 each, 7 Texas A&M (20-12) to sports@bsudailynews.com or bring the hat(21-13) is valued at $21.98 and the it 10 Providence to the McKinley Avenue office in AJ sweatshirt is valued at $36.98. The246.

Carolina (25-10) 2 North Standing will be updated daily throughout (23-9) 15 Lipscomb total prize is valued at $96.55. The odds of winning depends on the best bracket sent in to McKinley Avenue at the end of the tournament. Contest is sponsored by Unified Media, College of Communication, Information, and Media, Ball State University, 2000 W. University Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47306.

4 Arizona (27-7)

13

Wichita St. (25-7) 4

Buffalo (26-8)

Marshall (24-10) 13

Final Four

SAN ANTONIO the tournament on the Ball State Daily March 31 and April 2 website, ballstatedaily.com. Brackets must be turned in before March 13th at 11 a.m.

NATIONAL The winner at the end of the tournament CHAMPIONSHIP must pick up their prize on or before April April 2 9th. Official teams will be selected on Sunday, March 11th.

Contest Eligibility: Contest is open to Ball State University undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and Muncie residents. There will be one (1) winner that will receive 3 certificates from hotbox pizza for a large, one-topping pizza, a Ball State hat and a Ball State sweatshirt. The value of the HotBox certificates is $12.53 each, the hat is valued at $21.98 and the sweatshirt is valued at $36.98. The total prize is valued at $96.55. The odds of winning depends on the best bracket sent in to McKinley Avenue

Florida (20-12) 6

St. Bonaventure/UCLA 11 Texas Tech (24-9) 3

CONTACT INFORMATION

Name: Email:

Twitter: Phone:

CONTEST RULES

Contest Entry: Participants can receive one (1) entry into the contest.

Participants will be entered in the contest by filling out the Vie sponsored bracket and turning it in to either the McKinley Avenue office in AJ 246 or email sports@bsudailynews.com their completed bracket. To enter, either click the link to download the bracket or pick up a physical copy at the Unified Media Information Center on the second floor of the Arts and Journalism Building at the top of the stairs coming up from the Atrium. Regardless of how you fill out the bracket, it needs to either be emailed to sports@bsudailynews.com or bring it to the McKinley Avenue office in AJ 246. Standing will be updated daily throughout the tournament on the Ball State Daily website, ballstatedaily.com.

Brackets must be turned in before March 13th at 11 a.m. The winner at the end of the tournament must pick up their prize on or before April 9th. Official teams will be selected on Sunday, March 11th.

at the end of the tournament. Contest is sponsored

by Unified Media, College of S.F. Austin (28-6) 14 Arkansas (23-11)Information, 7 Communication, and Media, (20-13) 10 Ball StateButler University, 2000 W. University Purdue (28-6) Indiana 2 Avenue, Muncie, 47306.

CSU Fullerton (20-11) 15 Kansas (27-7) 1

Penn (24-8) 16

Name:

Seton Hall (21-11) 8 NC St. (21-11) 9

Clemson (23-9) 5

New Mexico St. (28-5) 12

Email:

Auburn (25-7) 4

Charleston (26-7) 13 TCU (21-11) 6

Arizona St./Syracuse 11 Twitter: Michigan St. (29-4) 3

Bucknell (25-9) 14

Rhode Island (25-7) 7

Phone:Oklahoma (18-13) 10 Duke (26-7) 2

Iona (20-13) 15

Contest Eligibility: Contest is open to Ball State University undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and Muncie residents. There will be one (1) winner that will receive 3 certificates from hotbox pizza for a large, onetopping pizza, a Ball State hat and a Ball State sweatshirt. The value of the HotBox certificates is $12.53 each, the hat is valued at $21.98 and the sweatshirt is valued at $36.98. The total prize is valued at $96.55. The odds of winning depends on the best bracket sent in to McKinley Avenue at the end of the tournament. Contest is sponsored by Unified Media, College of Communication, Information, and Media, Ball State University, 2000 W. University Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47306.

DNSports

03.15.18

16

Men’s Basketball

A wild ride: Looking at the top moments from the Ball State men’s basketball season Banner chasing: Men’s hoops has eyes on MAC Championship — Ball State was

Robby General Reporter The up and down year that Ball State men’s basketball had has officially come to an end.

Each of the previous two seasons, the Cardinals have played in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) following their exit from the Mid-American Conference Tournament. According to the Star Press, however, Ball State won’t play in a postseason tournament this year.

After losing to Kent State in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals, Ball State finishes with a 19-13 record, falling one win short of a thirdstraight 20-plus season under the direction of fifth year head coach James Whitford.

It’s hard to remember a season, if there’s ever been one, that had the countless crucial moments that this year’s Ball State team went through both on and off the court. Relive some of the biggest storylines, good and bad, from this season:

The Good

There were plenty of bright spots and memorable moments for Ball State:

Ball State “knocking on the door” of previous era’s success — Over the summer,

Whitford picks up a pair of Southeastern Conference transfers, bringing his roster total to eight former Indiana All-Stars. K.J. Walton from Missouri and Brachen Hazen from Arkansas gave an even brighter outlook for the future of Ball State men’s basketball.

vocal about wanting a successful season. It’s been 18 years since the Cardinals hung a banner from the rafters of Worthen Arena, but Whitford and company were confident of their mission to change that.

Persons hits last-second 3-pointer to beat No. 9 Notre Dame — In the first of many

Ball State gets hot with ninth straight victory — Learning from their early season

struggles, Ball State pushes past Eastern Michigan and becomes one of the nation’s hottest teams.

Fans take notice, attendance increases at Worthen — Ball State finished the regular

season 14-2 at home and for good reason — fans made it hard for opposing teams to win. A season average of 3,720 fans marked Ball State’s best attendance average since the 2011-12 season.

Instant classic? Ball State beats Akron in record-breaking game – With what started out to be a slow-paced contest quickly turned into one of the most exciting games of the season.

Ball State rallied past Akron in an 111-106 double overtime thriller.

second-best team in the conference, one would expect a close game. The Cardinals didn’t think so, however, beating the Rockets by 26-points at home. The win showed that the Cardinals seemingly found their new identity late in the season.

ROBBY GENERAL, DN

GENERAL, DN

last-second shots for Tayler Persons, the junior point guard helped lift Ball State past Notre Dame on the road. The early-season win marked the program’s first victory over a Top 25 opponent since 2001.

Ball State dominates Toledo, making them the hottest MAC team? – Playing the

Sophomore forward Tahjai Teague dunks the ball during the game March 8 against Kent State.

Teague scored 17 points throughout the game.

Junior guard Taylor Persons dodges a Kent State player during the game on March 8. The Cardinals lost 73-76. ROBBY

Sellers breaks program’s all-time 3-point record – Despite the loss, a packed

crowd watched senior Sean Sellers break Ball State’s all-time career 3-point record. Just five minutes into the game, Sellers hit his 225th 3-pointer, breaking the record previously held by Jesse Berry.

The Bad

With all the good things that happened, there was equal amount of adversity and heartbreak, starting with some early news that shook the entire Ball State community.

The death of Zach Hollywood – Ball State was sent reeling after the death of men’s basket-

ball player Zach Hollywood. The 19-year-old was found dead in his apartment after what was determined to be a suicide.

Ball State doesn’t actually receive AP Top 25 votes – In a mixup with college basket-

ball reporter Seth Davis it appeared that Ball State earned AP Top 25 votes. It didn’t. Davis meant to put in Baylor not Ball State in his preseason selection, giving false hope to the Cardinals faithful early on.

Tough schedule results in 2-4 start for Ball State – Ball State knew the beginning of its

season was going to be tough and it showed in the first six games of the year. Losing to Dayton on a last-second shot, Bucknell, Oregon and Oklahoma wasn’t the ideal start for Ball State.

Nine-game winning streak snapped in 20-point Buffalo loss – As quickly as Ball

State appeared to be piecing everything together, it came to a sudden halt in a huge home loss.

Buffalo, as expected, went on to win the MAC Tournament and Ball State suffered a few more blowout losses throughout the season.

Jontrell Walker preliminarily charged with domestic battery – In Ball State’s vic-

tory over Akron, it was without one of its most prolific 3-point shooters. Transfer Jontrell Walker was found guilty of domestic battery charges earlier the morning leading up to the game.

Senior Jeremie Tyler dismissed from team – Things quickly went from bad to worse

as Ball State senior Jeremie Tyler was dismissed from the team because of a “violation of team rules.” It marked the fourth time Tyler was suspended from the team in his career with the latest coming at the beginning of the 2017-18 season.

Season characterized in quarterfinal loss to Kent State – Ball State had every

chance to move onto the semifinal game of the MAC Tournament against Buffalo but Kent State had other ideas. The Cardinals season seemed to culminate in a tight 3-point loss to the Golden Flashes in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.

Contact Robby General at rjgeneral@bsu.edu or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.

DNOpinion

03.15.18

17

Demi’s Diems

Change does not come from silence;

itcomes from noise.

There is no other time to speak your truth.

March, write, talk for your beliefs.

Demi Lawrence is a freshman telecommunications journalism major and writes “Demi’s Diems” for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Demi at dnlawrence@bsu.edu.

Change requires action.

Action can be perceived as many different things, from simply just discussing a topic with friends to writing to government officials. Without action, how can anyone expect to get anything done? Legislation won’t write itself, and society’s ideas won’t Demi change on their own. We need a catalyst Lawrence to drive this change we so much desire. A Columnist, popular medium of action used in society Demi’s Diems today is the act of peaceful protesting.

Stated in the United States Constitution, the right to peacefully assemble and protest is protected by the First Amendment. The history behind peaceful protesting can go back centuries, but what comes to my mind when I hear those words are marches like the March on Washington in 1963. Hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech.

As we know it now, this march was a huge driving force for in the passing of the Civil Rights Act by President Johnson in 1964. This act ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race in America, something we are so simply taught in high school history class today.

I don’t think 21st-century America really understands how pivotal this piece of legislation was for people of color in America. History was being made right before the eyes of thensegregated America, and this simple, peaceful protest showed those in favor of segregation that they would soon be defeated.

4See CHANGE, 18 Kennedi Barnett is a freshman journalism and telecommunications major and creates illustrations for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Contact Kennedi at kpbarnett@bsu.edu.

ON BALLSTATEDAILY.COM: MUSINGS FROM MOORMAN: EVIL WILL NOT ABIDE BY GUN REGULATION

DNOpinion

03.15.18

18

Adult-ish

The big ole ball of paint After visiting the World’s Largest Ball of Paint, Audrey reflects on the layers of life we put on to hide our true selves.

Audrey Bowers is a junior English education major and writes “Adult-ish” for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Audrey at albowers3@bsu.edu.

The world’s largest ball of paint lies in the middle of the country, in Alexandria, Indiana, which is about a 30-minute drive from Ball State University.

It’s a sight that I probably would’ve missed if I wasn’t looking for it.

Traveling to see this spectacle felt really weird and monumental at the same time. When I heard about this ball of paint for the first time, I had Audrey this intense urge to go see it, even if it meant Bowers making my life a little less convenient. Seeing this Columnist, enormous ball of paint felt like something I owed Adult-ish to myself for whatever reason.

As I see the world’s largest paintball for the first time, I feel like a child, enthusiastic and giddy over this quirky landmark, not sure why I am so excited. The ball is painted a bubble gum pink, the color that the person before me chose to paint it. The walls of the room are covered with the signatures of those who came to see the ball. Glenda, a nice lady who keeps the ball of paint going, writes the number 25,872 on the ball in black Sharpie. That’s my layer, I think, it’s up to me to leave my mark here.

Before leaving to see the massive ball of paint, I told myself that I would paint it yellow if they had that color. I couldn’t help but to beam with joy when I saw that they did in fact have yellow. The world could use a little more yellow and this ball of paint felt like a good place to start, even if it was only temporary. Painting the ball wasn’t an easy task; its circumference was 10 feet and I didn’t bring any pals with me to help. I was tempted to give up halfway through because I was tired, my back hurt and my upper body strength was lacking. Upon learning that most people who visit paint the entire ball, I knew what I had to do. I couldn’t give up on the ball of paint. I covered every inch of it with yellow paint while my body screamed at me. When everything was said and done, I felt really proud of myself, like I did something that mattered.

As I would run out of paint, Glenda would give me a new paint roller saturated in yellow. While I painted, we talked about the ball of paint itself, where I’m from (Ball State), and where I’m really from (Southern Indiana). This conversation reminded me of my many different personas that I emulate for the world to see or that I don’t emulate for the world to see. I’d rather just say that I’m from

CHANGE Continued from Page 17

That’s all it takes. Sure, the march alone did not end segregation, but it was an integral domino in the effect.

Like I said before, protesting can be simple. It can be as simple as choosing not to dine at a certain restaurant, or buy from a certain retailer. Or it can be bigger, like a march or a petition to government officials. Protesting doesn’t have a “one size fits all” option, it can be as big or as small as we dream it up to be.

People are going to disagree with you. They’re going to think you’re fighting for an invisible cause. Or worse, they’re going to

Ball State rather than reveal where I’m really from, because it feels easier at this point. In some ways, you could say that I have almost as many layers as the world’s largest ball of paint.

Looking back on this event, I think about how the world’s largest ball of paint started off as a mere baseball. The reason why the baseball grew so large was because of each and every layer of paint added to it over time. Each layer becomes and is a part of the ball of paint, but the ball of paint is really just an average baseball deep down inside.

The baseball represents the core of who we really are, the human part, our vulnerability. The human part of ourselves makes mistakes, thinks weird thoughts in the middle of the night and is hidden so far within ourselves that we often aren’t even aware of it. It holds our

secrets, flaws, mistakes, imperfections, weaknesses, fears, hopes and desires. It’s that part of ourselves that we often try to protect without even thinking about it.

The layers of paint surrounding the baseball can represent many things, like the labels we assign ourselves, the positions and job titles we hold, the roles we play in the lives of others, those moments we post online for the entire world to see and the things we can’t seem to stop bragging about.

Someday, I wish to feel content with as much of who I am as possible, even the parts of myself that I would never dare write a column about. The core of me. The real me. The me that is flawed but still is somehow always capable of becoming better while never really changing at all.

I wish I could say that driving thirty minutes west of Muncie and painting a layer of paint changed me, my life or the way that I view the world catastrophically. It didn’t really.

Maybe it’s too soon to tell whether or not it changed anything. Yet that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t worth it or that the experience wasn’t remarkable. I remember sitting in my car and beaming with pride as I posted pictures to my social media pages. I remember smiling as I looked at my certificate that stated I went and painted that ball of paint, being a part of something so extraordinary in such a small way.

The world’s largest ball of paint is actually one of the places that Theodore and Marley visited in the book “All The Bright Places”

by Jennifer Niven. I think it just might be one of my bright places, if only for a moment or so in time.

The world’s largest ball of paint is in Alexandria, Indiana. Alexandria is only a 30-minute drive from Ball State. AUDREY BOWERS, PHOTO PROVIDED

think you’re fighting against an invisible issue. Stand strong, be sturdy. If it matters to you, I promise it matters to someone else in this world, too. You may think “Well, I’m only one person,” but what if everyone thought that? What if all 250,000 people thought that the day of the March on Washington? Political desegregation would have come much later, if at all, had people had this mindset.

One is better than none. What you care about matters. Educate yourself, and peacefully show your dismay. Change does not come from silence; it comes from noise.

We as Americans possess this unalienable right, and therefore we should exercise it. March, write, talk. If you don’t like something that’s going on in our country and want to change it, take action.

Because change requires action.

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Sunday 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

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DNLife

03.15.18

s s e r g o r p R O F ER M I R P A

19

Film Production

Alumnus pursues career in film

22 4

While many people interested in movie production would move to the Coast, Mitch Hannon was able to find a “fulfilling” career in postproduction editing and visual effects that didn’t require him to leave Indiana. 422

DIY

3 projects to inspire St. Patrick’s Day spirit

Looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Make your living space festive with these do-it-yourself projects.423

Events

72 hours in Muncie

GAN REA

TT LLIO N; E D , EN ALL

N ATIO STR U L L I , DN OSE DER

The Ball State Daily news has your weekend guide to events happening around Muncie. 424

ON BALLSTATEDAILY.COM: LATINX STUDENT UNION HOSTS MONTH OF EVENTS

DNLife

03.15.18

20 Emily Halley poses third from the left and is pictured with the other 2017 Olympus Fellows.

EMILY HALLEY, PHOTO PROVIDED

Graduate finds new passion in unexpected healthcare marketing job Carli Scalf Copy Editor Every day Emily Halley gets up, goes to her office in Southborough, Massachusetts, and makes a difference with marketing.

As a fellow for the Olympus Corporation of the Americas, she takes on a variety of projects — from social media marketing to catalog generation — that help to sell the company’s life-saving medical equipment.

While she calls working in the healthcare and medical field her “new dream job,” a year ago, Halley wouldn’t have been able to predict her success.

As a college senior, Halley was sure she wanted to work in the toy industry — specifically, at the American Girl Company, where she had been dreaming of working since receiving her first American Girl Doll at age 5.

In February 2017, Halley created a cardboard cutout doll, named Rowland, who would “carry” her resume from Indiana to Wisconsin in an attempt to catch the company’s attention. Rowland had a travel blog, a social media campaign and a feature story in The Daily News.

After sending the resume, Halley waited. And waited. And waited some more. Until finally, after passing her self-imposed deadline,

Emily Halley sits at the Hubspot Inbound Conference in September 2017, which she attended for Olympus. She was able to see Michelle Obama and many other inspiring leaders during the conference. EMILY HALLEY, PHOTO PROVIDED

she put aside American Girl and accepted the offer for a fellowship with Olympus. While she did eventually hear back from the company, it was only with a quick, one-line email response.

“It was a little heartbreaking at first, but if I had worked at American Girl, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to move out of the Midwest.

Olympus challenged me to try something new,” she said.

After graduation, she packed her bags and moved to Southborough, Massachusetts, still feeling unsure about whether she had a real passion for her new career. Now, after 8-and-a-half months with the company, Halley said she couldn’t be more pleased with her new path.

A fellowship with Olympus consists of three rotations through different departments at the company, with the idea that fellows will be able to find the team that best fits their skill set by the end of a 21-month period. Halley said the rotation has allowed her to expand her knowledge and try new things without having to commit to one set position.

She urged job-hunting graduates to think not about what company they want to work for, but what kind of work experience they want to gain.

“We think about entering an industry instead of thinking about the skills we can develop, and I think that’s what really matters when finding your first job,” she said. “Seniors put so much pressure on themselves to find a position that is either in their dream field or that they’re super passionate about, but perhaps they just don’t know what’s out there yet.”

While the transition from life in the Midwest to the East Coast has been challenging at times, Halley said having strong support from those around her, including coworkers, new friends and her parents and boyfriend, who both live out of state, has made the change much easier.

“When you move, it’s really easy to just come back to your apartment and binge watch Netflix and not really socialize, but if you’re able to explore your new area, it makes it so much easier to call some place home,” she said.

Next month, Halley will move to Hudson, Massachusetts, a smaller community 20 minutes away from Olympus that reminded her of her hometown of Goshen, IN. She will live in an apartment above New City Micro Creamery, her favorite ice cream shop.

“I’ve been able to find a little piece of home in Hudson, in their passion and the community that Hudson has fostered,” she said.

As Halley continues to settle into her new home and new job, she is excited about the new opportunities in front of her. She sees

her job at Olympus as a blessing in disguise that has opened her up to new skills, interests and passions she might not have discovered in her original field of interest.

“In the movie ‘The Circle,’ Emma Watson’s character says she is most scared of unfulfilled potential, but I’m scared of unfulfilled

It was a little heartbreaking at first, but if I had worked at American Girl, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to move out of the Midwest. Olympus challenged me to try something new.”

- EMILY HALLEY, Ball State alumna passion,” Halley said. “I never would have found these other passions if I had stayed in the toy industry.”

She urges seniors to keep an open, positive mind if their first job isn’t what they’re expecting.

“Not getting a dream job doesn’t mean you’ve failed; you’re just going to take a different path.”

Contact Carli Scalf with comments at crscalf@bsu.edu or on Twitter @carliscalf18.

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CHECK IN BEGINS AT 2:30 Email kappakappainternphilanthropy@gmail.com for questions or to make a team.

21 03.15.18

SPRING COMMENCEMENT CONTEST win a FREE cap & gown for graduation

direct message a picture of your favorite Ball State memory to @BSUDaily on Facebook

Visit ballstatedaily.com/sponsoredcontent to view contest rules.

DNLife

DNLife

03.15.18

22

Ball State student earns internship through Young Entrepreneurs Across America

REAGAN ALLEN, DN

Freshman Sean Wolfe improves management, communication skills by running a painting business Melissa Kraman Reporter Editor’s note: Intern Spotlight is a Ball State Daily News series profiling Ball State students and their internships. If you have any suggestions as to who we should feature next, send an email to features@bsudailynews.com.

Through a Young Entrepreneurs Across America, or YEAA, internship, freshman computer science major Sean Wolfe is gaining experience by running a business.

As an organization, YEAA works to develop young students into effective entrepreneurs by offering them a real-world opportunity to run Student Painters, a house-painting business.

YEAA supplies training, resources and mentors to each intern so they are properly equipped to take on the venture, but it is up to the intern to guide the business to success.

Currently, Wolfe is working to expand the business

by hiring paid, full-time summer employees and marketing around Muncie with flyers and posters.

Wolfe said he is inspired and motivated at the idea of running his own business, but likes having the safety net and support of YEAA. “It’s rare, especially for a college student, to get this opportunity. It’s incredible how much learning experience we get through YEAA to actually run our own business,” Wolfe said. “It’s cool to show people there’s a lot of opportunity out there, and that you don’t have to be a senior to get an internship.”

Wolfe was hired as an intern in September, but his training began just two weeks ago. He is now a branch manager for the business in Muncie and will continue his position until August.

There are also other Ball State interns who collaborate, attend weekly meetings and are branch managers for their hometowns through YEAA. The interns also attend conferences about sales, estimates, acquiring and managing student painters,

the process of painting houses and cold-calling.

“It’s a lot of hands-on training,” Wolfe said.

“For example, to practice cold-calling, one branch manager would pretend to be the housekeeper and another would be the manager.”

Wolfe said his biggest challenge has been coming out of his shell, but he gets motivation by striving to be the best person he can be. He said he is seizing the opportunity to become a more communicative, outgoing person.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned already in just two weeks is that confidence is key. You have to be able to talk to people,” Wolfe said.

“I’ve developed so many soft skills, like being able to relate to people, communicate with them and interact, which is what employers are looking for nowadays. It’s what a lot of the world runs on.”

Charles Beck, Wolfe’s mentor, works with Wolfe on marketing, sales and estimates, as well as teaching him how to talk with homeowners.

Beck also played a role in helping Wolfe find his “why” by guiding him through a three-week course designed to help interns discover what drives them.

“Sean’s way out of his comfort zone [is] doing this, which is a good thing, he’s learning a lot,” Beck said. “He’s a very hard worker and he’s persistent. Even though he’s out of his comfort zone, he’s making it happen.”

Aside from breaking through his shell, Wolfe also said he has learned organizational and time management skills that help him stay on top of his various responsibilities.

“You have to learn from new experiences,” Wolfe said. “If you live day-to-day doing the same thing, not risking anything, you never actually grow. Taking risks, taking that huge internship, or class that you’re scared of, will help you develop.”

Contact Melissa Kraman with comments at mmkraman@bsu.edu or on Twitter @missy_kraman.

23 03.15.18

DNLife

Alumnus pursues film career while living in the Midwest Mitch Hannon creates visual effects and does post-production editing for Hoosier company Pigasus Pictures.

Alumnus Mitch Hannon is a visual effects supervisor for Blueline. He has worked on different aspects of several different films. MITCH HANNON, PHOTO PROVIDED

Ball State alumnus Mitch Hannon passed up the clogged streets, deafening noise and bustling walkways of a big city to pursue his passion for filmmaking in Indiana.

As the visual effects supervisor for Blueline, a design agency in Bloomington, Indiana, that works with the Hoosier film company Pigasus Pictures, Hannon is currently working on the upcoming fall film, “Ms. White Light.”

Hannon said his enthusiasm for film work started when he was six years old, working with his dad to create Star Trek parodies that starred his family as the crew of the USS Enterprise.

“Whenever the ship got attacked, someone was standing by the light switch flicking it on and off, and we were all in our seats flailing around,” Hannon said.

Hannon graduated from Ball State in 2015 with a degree in sales and promotion, but instead of traveling to New York or California, Hannon decided to settle down with his wife in Indiana.

“I’m very much in a fulfilling and exciting career right now

3 festive do-it-yourself decorations to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Sabrina Schnetzer Reporter Here are some easy-to-make, last-minute decorations for your dorm room or apartment to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

• Clover foam shapes • String • Hot glue gun • Scissors • Pennies

St. Patrick’s Day Wreath

Directions:

What You Need:

1. Cut string to desired length and hot glue the clover shapes to the string, spacing them out evenly along the string.

2. Hot glue pennies to the back of the clover at the bottom of the garland. This will add more weight to keep the garland straight.

3. Repeat until you have four or five garlands.

4. Hang the garlands on your wall for a festive backdrop for pictures.

• Foam ring • Twine • Fake flowers • Green ribbon • Scissors

Directions: 1. Tie the twine in a knot around the foam ring. Wrap twine around the ring until it is covered three-fourths of the way. Cut the twine with scissors and tie it off.

2. Cut the stem of the fake flowers so there is only 1 ½ inches of stem left. Stick the stem into the exposed part of the foam ring.

3. Repeat step two until there is no foam visible.

4. Tie a bow with the green ribbon onto the foam ring.

5. Hang the wreath on your door.

Shamrock Photo Backdrop Garland What You Need:

St. Patrick’s Day Table Centerpiece What You Need: • Green marbles • White candle • Round glass container

Directions: 1. Place the candle into the container.

2. Lay the marbles around the candle in the container.

3. Place the centerpiece on your table to display your St. Patrick’s Day spirit.

Contact Sabrina Schnetzer with comments at slschnetzer@bsu.edu.

here in the Midwest,” Hannon said. “I have a lot of friends and colleagues who do have aspirations of going to those hot spots in film production. It’s great, but I think I just really want to have stability for family and doing what I enjoy doing.”

Working with Pigasus Pictures has allowed Hannon to participate in creating and editing many different films, including the 2017 award-winning feature “The Good Catholic.”

“There’s so many talented people in Indiana,” said Zachary Spicer, cofounder of Pigasus Pictures. “When you’re a kid growing up in Indiana, and you dream of [being a filmmaker], [there’s] this idea you have to go to New York or Hollywood in order to work in that industry.

“So one of two things happens: the realities of life weigh heavier than the dream of actually doing it … or you do and you have to uproot and leave your home and leave family and friends behind.”

In Indiana, however, Hannon said he has learned a lot through his experiences that applies to any filmmaker pursuing their dreams.

“Make things, and make a lot of things,” Hannon said.

“Acknowledge that the first couple things you make should not be as good as the last couple things you make.”

Contact Adam Pannel with comments at arpannel@bsu.edu.

Gifts to Ball State make incredible things happen bsu.edu/foundation

Adam Pannel Reporter

Last year, donors gave more than $17.2 million.

More than 32,000 gifts made by alumni & friends.

DNLife

03.15.18

24

72HOURS

1 Friday

6:30 P.M. THE UNIVERSE OVERHEAD

Join planetarium director Ron Kaitchuck as he reviews and explains astronomical discoveries, including findings from space probes and images of giant stars. The program will run every Friday and Saturday throughout March, with performances Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.

The programs will be held at the Charles W. Brown Planetarium.

YOUR WEEKEND GUIDE

Tt Shinkan Designer

PEXELS, PHOTO COURTESY

Friday

7:30 P.M.

48TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSIC

The Festival of New Music brings together composers and musicians to perform five concerts over the course of three days. In addition, every year the festival features a special guest. This year’s guest composer is computer algorithm addict and former metal guitarist Chris Arrell. Friday’s concert starts at 7:30 p.m and Saturday’s concerts are at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. All concerts are at Sursa Hall and are free to the public.

Saturday

10 A.M. SHAMROCK SHUFFLE Scotty’s Brewhouse is hosting its annual Shamrock Shuffle, which includes 5K, 10K and half-marathon runs. Runners will start and end at Scotty’s Brewhouse in The Village, and all finishers will receive the Excalibur Sword medal. The run starts at 10 a.m., and everyone is encouraged to either participate or cheer on contestants.

25 03.15.18

4

DNLife

Saturday

6 P.M.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Celebrate the holiday with the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade held in Downtown Muncie. Line-up begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Muncie Central Fieldhouse parking lot, and the parade will start at 6 p.m. It will proceed south on Walnut Street to Charles Street and return via Mulberry Street.

6 Saturday

8 P.M.

BASHVILLE BOYS, PHOTO COURTESY

THE BASHVILLE BOYS The Guardian Brewing Company is celebrating the holiday by hosting The Bashville Boys, a punk-inspired bluegrass band. Those 21 and older are invited to enjoy a night of music and a new beer release. The concert will start at 8 p.m.

71 P.M.

RABLIN’ ROVERS, PHOTO COURTESY

Sunday

Saturday

7:30 P.M.

PAPER DECORATING

ST. PADDY’S DAY AT THE HEOROT

The Muncie Saint Paddy Day parade will begin at 6 p.m., and attendees are invited to enjoy a St. Paddy Day beverage from the Heorot patio. At 7:30 p.m., the Ramblin Rovers Band will perform. From 7-9 p.m. at Valhalla, located next to the Heorot, there will also be a Quiet Man Irish Whiskey sampling with the Quiet Man Girls. The event is free for those 21 and older.

Guest artist Tracy Jarrett will teach attendees the art of traditional paper decorating using modern materials. The workshop includes all the material needed to decorate 3-4 pieces of paper. The event starts at 1 p.m. at Madjax.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram and on our website at

MUNCIE LIQUORS.COM

Plus, download our free Muncie Liquor app to find our weekly specials and those crazy app giveaways.

And, don’t miss our weekly specials in the Daily News and on BallStateDaily!

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415 S. Tillotson | 284-3744 Voted Muncie’s Finest & Best of Ball State

DNPuzzles

03.15.18 26

Crossword & Sudoku

CROSSWORD EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS; SUDOKU BY MICHAEL MEPHAM ACROSS 1 Croquet surfaces 6 Chic 11 Christopher A. Wray’s org.

14 Roundish 15 Course without much challenge 16 Neurotic cartoon dog 17 Dual-purpose machine 19 Trauma ctrs.

20 Airport limo driver’s concern, briefly 21 “Later, dude” 22 Scrawny 24 One in the woods?

26 End of the end of “Gone With the Wind” 28 Water filter brand 30 Socialite adopted by the media 31 In-house trial 36 Cool drink 37 Lower 40 Court org.

42 Shut the door on 43 “How pathetic!”

46 “Tree of Smoke” novelist Johnson 50 Place to order matzo ball soup 55 Facebook entry 56 Yarn coil 57 Words of urgency

59 WWII battle site, for short 60 Rock concert effect 61 Certain investor ... and, based on the word hidden in each, what 17-, 26-, 37- or 50-Across is?

64 Tokyo-born artist 65 Jazz pianist Chick 66 Flash of light 67 Word with cell or cent 68 Vacuum attachments 69 Like R.L. Stine stories DOWN 1 Serious state of decline 2 Personification 3 Pungent condiment 4 __ degree 5 Flow slowly 6 Four-door ride, usually 7 Call in a pool game 8 Until now 9 Manhattan liquor 10 Walmart rival 11 Like some revealing slips?

12 Name associated with alpine rescues 13 Fashion magazine 18 Actor Stephen 23 Tango land: Abbr.

25 Words to a traitor 27 Vishnu worshiper 29 Fizzy prefix

32 Take the wheel 33 Appreciative text 34 __ hall 35 Bus. card address 37 Baal 38 Like 2017 39 Lose it, in a way 40 Requests 41 Trilogy starter 44 Sushi fish 45 Decent sort 47 “Darned if I know” 48 “Cross my heart!”

49 Tempestuous 51 Some designer gowns 52 Award show VIP 53 Haas of “Witness” 54 Suffix suggesting resemblance 58 Outfits 62 And 63 Business letters

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27 03.15.18

AMAZON Continued from Page 5

Temperature was a common complaint among many warehouse workers across the country. According to an article on The Morning Call, an Amazon worker in Pennsylvania reported seeing their co-workers pass out from the heat — a scenario Bradbury said wasn’t uncommon.

“It had been known for people to pass out. Working like that you would just get so hot and although they put water stations in the building, you can’t leave your spot,” Bradbury said. “They encouraged people to drink water and keep cool, but you feel as if you can’t because you’ll end up having to work three times as hard to make up for it.”

Bradbury said the only time workers were able to get a drink of water was during their 15-minute shift break.

“Everyone takes it at the same time, and only when the shift manager says it’s time for a break. It honestly felt like absolutely nothing. Your feet still hurt when you go back to work, and you even had to be back in position before time ran out,” Bradbury said.

“It was practically a ‘use the restroom, get water, smoke if you need it’ break.”

However, Brown said Amazon invested $52 million into air conditioning for all warehouses, and employees have multiple ways to unwind during breaks.

“In all of our fulfillment centers we have breaks that are longer than legally required. In large fulfillment centers we have decentralized

break rooms, which mean that for shorter breaks employees do not need to travel long distances to reach a break rooms area,” Brown said. “In these areas we have seating and vending machines; many provide leisure activities such as multiple flat screen TVs, internet access stations, table top soccer, billiard tables, etc.”

Additionally, Brown said many benefits come with working for Amazon, ranging from higher pay to programs to help employees with their future careers.

“We’re proud that our fulfillment center employees earn, on average, 30 percent more than traditional retail employees and receive comprehensive benefits package starting on day one, including healthcare, vision, dental, 401(k) and company stock awards,” Brown said. “Amazon also offers full-time employees innovative programs like Career Choice, where the company will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.”

Rowe, Bradbury and other Amazon employees have said life in the warehouse was full of hard work from the beginning of the shift until the end.

“No one really takes the time to get to know you. It’s as if they would rather have robots they can turn on and off rather than humans who complain about things,” Bradbury said. “The managers don’t really communicate unless they’re telling you what to do, and that really makes you feel like less than human.”

However, the warehouse wasn’t the only place where workers said they felt dehumanized.

“We really are disposable employees,” said Michael Canner, an Amazon Flex [delivery] driver. “Flex drivers are extremely

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disposable and you feel that way. They will fire you over things you can’t control like packages going missing from door steps. We even take pictures of the packages, but when you talk to support they tell you that those are not used to determine whether the package was delivered.”

Canner said Flex drivers are a lot like contractors. They have no boss to answer to and they choose the work they want through an app. Each delivery block consists of a timeframe, a route and the pay. Each has a different pay for varying amounts of time, so the Flex drivers can choose which delivery block would be best for them to take.

However, Canner said sometimes a block doesn’t go as planned.

“I was once given a three hour that took six to complete. I also have been given routes in other towns that took a lot of time. This is rare though, and most of the time I get done ahead of time. It balances out,” Canner said.

Canner said one of the main issues he had with Amazon didn’t come from blocks being inaccurate — it came from a lack of blocks.

“Amazon hired a lot more Flex drivers for the holidays, which cut us down on work that would be available to spread around. Then, they partnered with more van companies and took at least half of the available deliveries from us,” Canner said. “So, where I was able to get at least a block a day or more, now I can barely get a few a week.

A lot of people depended on this as their job, and Amazon totally — for lack of a better term — screwed us.”

“Amazon is great at taking care of customers, but they will absolutely sacrifice you as an employee to show that.”

Some employees, like Andie McKeighan, recalled a different experience. McKeighan said at her warehouse on the north side of Indianapolis, the managers do more than communicate — they give her incentives and other perks despite an intense workload.

“This year I won a gift card for being the most productive person on my shift within an hour. It’s a great place to work if you want to be proud of what you do,” McKeighan said. “It can be crazy around peak, which is pretty much all of the holiday season, but that’s to be expected anywhere.

“Even then, [the management is] always bringing us pizza and dinner and all sorts of other stuff.”

McKeighan said she was aware of negative employee reviews, but believed her positive experience was because of her warehouse.

“I think it has to do with the specific warehouse I’m at. It’s new and extremely small compared to other warehouses, so any complaints that people have are addressed quickly and taken care of,” McKeighan said.

Despite employees expressing feeling inhuman, an Amazon customer can still expect to see their package two days after they make a purchase.

Contact Elena Stidham with comments at emfloyd2@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ElenaStidham.

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