DN THURSDAY, SEPT. 19, 2013
THE DAILY NEWS
BSUDAILY.COM
‘Helping is not only by war’ Syrian student talks about his country, family, U.S. action RACHEL PODNAR CHIEF REPORTER | rmpodnar@bsu.edu
updates and frequents YouTube videos, Facebook statuses and tweets from his friends in Syria. “Different media don’t have [the kind of access social media has],” he said. “I get to watch what they are posting; I spend a lot of time looking at Syrian social media. I see people killing each other, bombing. I also see refugees.” Alsaman, 28, spent the first 26 years of his life in Damascus, the capital of Syria. He came to Ball State after graduating with a degree in architecture from the University
The desktop of Syrian student Louai Alsaman’s computer constantly rotates headlines about the civil war in his country. Alsaman said he pours over American, Syrian and international
of Damascus. He is studying for his master’s in architecture as part of the Fulbright Scholar Program. But he is always worried about his family back home. “I have lost a couple of friends,” Alsaman said. “There are bombings, shelling [and] suicide bombing everywhere in Syria. I am pretty worried about the people there. I have my old friends there, my family is living there, so I am always in contact with them — all the time.” His mother, father and brother live in New York City, but the rest
of his extended POLITICAL family and his SOLUTIONS friends are still in FOR SYRIA Syria. His brother Guest columns moved to New by student York for a medical political clubs internship a few speak about the situation years before he overseas came to Ball State. His parents came + PAGE 6 to visit their sons, but decided to remain in the United States for their safety.
See ALSAMAN, page 3
THE TRUE
IDENTITY OF
ALTER EGO
Meet the people behind local comic shop reopening downtown including lecturer, award-winning writer |
T
RYAN HOWE 72 HOURS EDITOR features@bsudailynews.com
he face of 111 E. Adams St. has been taken over by the supernatural. The most recent edition to downtown, Alter Ego Comics, sits nestled in its new digs, showing Downtown Muncie exactly what they are about. At one end of the storefront, Yoda is perched in his tan coat while at the opposite end, neon signs of Superman and Batman’s logo illuminate the sidewalk. Inside the glass doors, comics, posters, art, action figures, “Magic: The Gathering” cards, toys, backpacks and masks line the yellow and brown walls. Behind the counter sits owner Jason Pierce. “Since the move, we have had a lot of people stop outside to look at Yoda, then come in and see what Alter Ego is,” he said. “There is a lot more foot traffic here than the last location on McGalliard [Avenue].” After almost nine years on McGalliard Avenue, Pierce said he didn’t pass on the opportunity to move to a larger, more convenient location. The move added a whole new section to Alter Ego that is opening up opportunities he didn’t previously have. As he walked through the store to show off the new additions, including display cases of iconic comic paraphernalia and action figures, a projector screen, a couch and a full-size Darth Maul, he could barely hold in his excitement. “The other store was, well, let’s just say it — quaint,” Pierce said. “I could touch the ceiling standing
ALTER EGO REOPENING WHAT
Celebrate the reopening of Alter Ego downtown. Get a picture with a 1966 Batmobile and a DeLorean and get comics signed by Mark Waid, Art Baltazar and Mike Norton. WHEN
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday WHERE
111 E. Adams St. COST
Free
flat footed. Here, I am still bringing in stuff to fill up the store.” The move across town is not the only change the store recently has undergone. Pierce gained two new partners in running the comic shop. Locals Mark Waid and Christina Blanch offered to help Pierce with the move over dinner one night. The couple wanted to help Pierce with the move and also taking the store to the next level. Blanch — a Ball State lecturer who created the massive open online course, or MOOC, for “Gender Through Comic Books,” which featured Stan Lee — helps Pierce run the store day to day, while Waid works on comics. Waid, an award-winning comic writer and New York Times bestselling, spends his days writing “Daredevil” and “The Indestructible Hulk” at Marvel and “Green Hornet” at Dynamite.
DN PHOTOS COREY OHLENKAMP
See ALTER EGO, page 4
Alter Ego Comics co-owner Christina Blanch talks with customer Ethan Crouch, a sophomore computer science major. Crouch was unsure of what comic series he would like to try, so Blanch and co-owner Jason Pierce offered suggestions at Alter Ego Comics.
Banks to reunite with old teammates SGA PRO-TEMPORE ELECTED BY SENATE Running back knew his opponents from high school team
New platform’s goal to listen to students, improve relationships
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DAKOTA CRAWFORD CHIEF REPORTER @DakotaCrawford_
Ball State running back Horactio Banks will find two of his best friends and past teammates on the opposite sideline this Saturday. Tracing all the way back to Pop Warner days, Banks has been close with Darius Scott and Demarius Reed of Eastern Michigan University. The three went on to play high school football together at Simeon, a school of about 1,500 students in Chicago. “I grew up with those guys, all the way until I got here,” Banks said. Reed, a 5-foot-10 junior wide receiver for the Eagles, nearly took the next step with Banks. The two both paid visits to Muncie coming out of high school.
See BANKS, page 7
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CHRISTOPHER STEPHENS ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR news@bsudailynews.com
DN PHOTO MARCEY BURTON
Ball State sophomore Horactio Banks runs for a touchdown Sept. 7 at Scheumann Stadium. Banks graduated high school with players from Eastern Michigan University and will face them in the game Saturday.
The Student Government Association new pro-tempore will focus on ensuring student’s voices are heard as his top priority, he said after winning the Senate election Wednesday. Jack Hesser, a sophomore microbiology and botany major, ran against Bryan Kubel, a sophomore political science major. Alyssa France, SGA vice president, said Hesser will function as a mentor and teacher. Hesser replaced France, who moved up to vice president as Chloe Anagnos became president after Malachi Randolph resigned earlier this month. Hesser said the main thing he wants to focus on in his new 5. SUNNY role is to make sure the senators he helps actively represent their constituents.
“I want to encourage [the senators] to meet with their students,” He said. “Those 50 people in that room are representing thousands of students outside it.” Hesser’s platform is about looking to “improve Senate relationships, get out to students and work on administrative aspects.” Hesser said WHY SGA after talking to MATTERS TO students, writ- BALL STATE ing legislation See the paper’s is the best way explanation of for the SGA the organization’s Senate to enact role for students long standing + PAGE 6 change on the university. “I think that legislation is such an incredible tool to make their constituents’ voices heard,” Hesser said. He said one tool he uses to collect student’s advice or critiques is SGA’s survey, “Got Probs?” So far this year, the survey has already received three 21. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS 4. MOSTLY SUNNY times the responses it did last year, Hesser said. THE PULSE OF BALL STATE
See SGA, page 5
THE PULSE OF BALL STATE
SMARTPHONES: FIND OUT WHAT YOUR SMARTPHONE SAYS ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY PG. 4 1. CLOUDY
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