Unheard Voices
Students who can’t access student sections feel separated from their peers.
JESSICA BERGFORS,
BallStateDailyNews.com
VOL. 104 ISSUE: 06
CONTACT THE DN
Newsroom: 765-285-8245
Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com
EDITORIAL BOARD
Kate Farr, Editor-in-chief
Trinity Rea, Print Managing
Editor
Olivia Ground, Digital Managing
Editor
Katherine Hill, News Editor
Meghan Braddy, Associate News
Editor
Zach Carter, Sports Editor
David Moore, Associate Sports
Editor
Derran Cobb, Associate Sports
Editor
Ella Howell, Lifestyles Editor, Copy Editor
Maria Nevins, Video Editor, Podcast Editor
Layla Durocher, Social Media
Editor
Andrew Berger,Photo Editor
Isabella Kemper, Associate
Photo Editor
Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor
Brenden Rowan, Visual Editor
Corey Ohlenkamp, Adviser
CORRECTION
The Ball State Daily News (USPS-144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Thursdays during the academic year except for during semester and summer breaks. The Daily News is supported in part by an allocation from the General Fund of the university and is available free to students at various campus locations.
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JOIN THE DAILY NEWS
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In the Sept. 12 issue of the Ball State Daily News, the NAMI Indiana HelpLine was incorrectly cited as a crisis line on pg. 10. The NAMI Indiana HelpLine (1-800-677-6442 ) is available to statewide callers Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you leave a voicemail message outside of business hours, your call will be returned within the next business day.
To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
Carbon sequestration project
Sept. 15: The U.S. Department of Energy guaranteed a $1.5 billion loan for the Wabash Valley Resources (WVR) West Terre Haute project Sept. 16, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. The project aims to be the world’s first carbon-negative ammonia facility. WVR would be the first domestic producer in the Corn Belt to produce low-carbon ammonia for farmers in the region. WVR plans to pipe and inject 1.67 million tons of carbon dioxide per year a mile below the earth’s surface as part of a plan to produce “lowcarbon-intensity” fertilizer. Critics of the project cited environmental risks while supporters see benefits for farmers and emissions reduction.
Trump target of second assassination attempt
Sept. 15: Former President Trump was targeted in a second assassination attempt Sept. 15 at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt. Trump said he was safe and well, and authorities held a man in custody, according to the Associated Press (AP). The suspect camped outside the golf course for nearly 12 hours before a Secret Service agent hindered the attack, opening fire at the suspect. The gunman dropped the rifle and fled in an SUV, leaving the firearm behind along with two backpacks, a scope used for aiming and a GoPro camera, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. The man was later stopped by law enforcement in a neighboring county and subsequently arrested, according to AP.
Soccer begins Mid-American Conference play
Sept. 19: Ball State soccer is set to begin Mid-American Conference (MAC) play Sept. 19, as they host Bowling Green at home. The Cardinals non-conference record on the season is 5-2, and they are currently on a 4 game win streak, including 7-1 and 6-2 wins over Queens University of Charlotte and IU Indy. Additionally, junior forward Delaney Caldwell was named the MAC offensive player of the last week. Ball State earned a 6-23 record in MAC play last season, earning them a spot in the 2023 MAC Women’s Soccer Championship tournament, where the Cardinals lost to rival school Ohio University.
LIZ PETERSON, DN
TNS, PHOTO PROVIDED
KATE TILBURY, DN
ACROSS CULTURES BUILDING BRIDGES
Benny Buddies program aims to support international students by pairing them with domestic students at Ball State.
National State
Founding member of The Jackson 5 dead Colleges offering free admission
Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5, died at age 70 Sept. 15. Known for hits like “I Want You Back” and “ABC,” Tito and his brothers shaped Motown and pop music history. Jackson was raised in Gary, Indiana and is preceded in death by his younger brother, singer Michael Jackson. Jackson is survived by his siblings, including Janet and Jermaine.
Students can apply to IU Indianapolis and other Indiana colleges for free Sept. 23-27 during the state’s College Application Week, according to Mirror Indy. If you’re interested in applying to IU Indianapolis, use the code “INCOLLGO” on the application to waive the $65 application fee.
Local
Rumors of threats targeting Yorktown
Police last week investigated a report of a threat aimed at Yorktown schools. According to a Sept. 16 news release from Yorktown Police Chief Kurt Walthour, school administrators received information about a potential threat on Sept. 10. It was determined “no credible threat existed.”
International student success coach Jonathan Hooker poses for a photo Sept. 16 at the Rinker Center for Global Affairs. The global affairs program launched Benny Buddies Sept. 17, aiming to help ease the transition for international students on campus and promote inclusivity. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Ballot Bulletin for the Ballot
Check out these key dates to remember as Election Day 2024 draws nearer.
Olivia Ground, Katherine Hill Digital Managing Editor, News Editor
The 2024 election has left many Hoosiers thinking about not only who to vote for but also where to vote and how. A new state law passed in February 2024, which requires Indiana residents to obtain proof of residency upon registering to vote. Indiana is also among the top 15 states with one of the earliest voter registration deadlines — Oct. 7 — 29 days before the election. Voter registration is not offered on election day in Indiana. Any Hoosier can register to vote online by visiting indianavoters.in.gov. Voters can also register by mail
The First Gubernatorial Debate is televised by Fox 59/CBS 4 at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
by completing the voting registration form, which can be found online in both English and Spanish on the Indiana Secretary of State website. Hoosiers can mail their registration in. They can also visit their county’s voter registration office or the Indiana Election Division to drop off their registration application. Additionally, if you need to check your registration status, you can check online at indianavoters.in.gov or call 1-866-IN-1-VOTE.
Additional voting resources for Ball State students can be found online by visiting the “Cardinals Vote” website, run by the Center for Economic and Civic Learning page. According to the site, “Ball State has been awarded the Highly
7
Voter registration ends.
Established Action Plan Seal by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for its outstanding efforts in developing a nonpartisan democratic engagement action plan.”
Beyond the national presidential election, multiple state and Delaware county races are taking place. Indiana is holding an election for the governor seat, U.S. senator, District 5 House Representative, state legislators, city council seats, circuit court judges and more.
For those ready to vote, polls in Indiana are open from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. on election day, Nov. 5, 2024, according to the Indiana Disability Rights’ “Ways to Vote” website. Locations and
17
First day of absentee ballot registration begins. Submit applications to the Indiana Circuit court clerk in person or by mail, fax, email or online through the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.in.gov.
times for casting your vote can be found online at indianavoters.in.gov.
Students whose permanent residence is outside of Delaware County can request an absentee ballot by mail or in person, with information being available online via the Indiana Secretary of State website. The deadline to register for a mail-in ballot in Indiana is Oct. 24.
Contact Olivia Ground via email at olivia. ground@bsu.edu or Katherine Hill via email at katherine.hill@bsu.edu.
26 -
2
Offices of the circuit court clerks will be routinely open for a minimum of seven hours to permit early voting in Delaware County.
5 Oct. 3 Oct. 8 Oct. 24 Nov. 4
The Second Gubernatorial Debate is televised by Fox 59/CBS 4 at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
Early voting begins.
Deadline: By 11:59 p.m., all absentee ballots must be registered.
The Third Gubernatorial Debate is televised by WFYI public television station in Indianapolis.
Polls in Indiana are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the state’s “Ways to Vote” website. Polling sites throughout Muncie are available online at Delaware County’s official website.
Deadline: By noon, circuit court clerks must receive absentee ballot applications. Applications may be submitted to the circuit court clerk in person or by mail, fax, email or online through the Indiana Voter Portal at indianavoters.com.
This includes the state and federal levels, as well as Federal Post Card Applications from military/overseas voters requesting to vote by email or fax.
Muncie hosts Old Washington Street Festival
The annual festival celebrates the city’s Gas Boom Era and helps preserve homes in the Emily
Attendees at the Old Washington Street Festival browse artisan booths Sept. 14 in Muncie, Ind. ELLA ABSHER, DN
Patrons of the Old Washington Street Festival look at jewelry at a booth Sept. 14 in Muncie, Ind. ELLA ABSHER, DN
Author J. Wolf Scott sells their fantasy books at the Old Washington Street Festival Sept. 14 in Muncie, Ind. ELLA ABSHER, DN
The band Mojo Gumbo performs at the Old Washington Street Festival Sept. 14 in Muncie, Ind. ELLA ABSHER, DN
The Charles Over Mansion in the Emily Kimbrough Historic District is pictured Sept. 14 in Muncie, Ind. ELLA ABSHER, DN
Benny Buddies
launches to help transition
international
students to Ball State’s campus.
Meghan Braddy Associate News Editor
Ball State University’s new Benny Buddies initiative addresses a critical issue on college campuses: international students struggling to find a sense of belonging.
Led by Jonathan Hooker, international student success coach at the Rinker Center for Global Affairs, the program aims to bridge cultural gaps by pairing international students with domestic students, fostering meaningful connections that go beyond the classroom.
“Many international students come here knowing very few people, if any,” said Shane Lanning, director of international student success at the Rinker Center. “They’re trying to adjust to a new academic system, a new culture and even a new way of living. Benny Buddies is about addressing that [sense of] isolation and helping them connect with others on campus.”
For international students like Fatma Badie, a first-year graduate student from Egypt who is majoring in environmental science, Benny Buddies provides an essential opportunity for connection. “I came here with basically no one,” Badie said.
“I wanted to join something that would provide me with a circle of support, people I could form friendships with.”
The Benny Buddies program provides a structured way for students to develop friendships through shared experiences and cultural exchange. Hooker, who has experience with similar initiatives, felt compelled to revive the concept at Ball State after learning the university’s previous program had been discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I wanted to join something that would provide me with a circle of support, people I could form friendships with.”
- FATMA BADIE, First-year graduate student from Egypt
Many international students come here knowing very few people, if any. Benny Buddies is about addressing that isolation and helping them connect with others on campus.”
- SHANE LANNING, Director of International Student Success
He recognized how crucial it is to create opportunities for international students to feel supported in their new environment, especially in one potentially very different from their own.
“These students come from all over the world and many face homesickness, culture shock and even loneliness,” Hooker said. “Programs like Benny Buddies give them a community where they can feel more connected and understood.”
Badie said she hopes to better understand American culture while continuing to practice her own.
“I wanted to see if I can learn more about American culture through my friends in Benny Buddies, but I also want to represent my own culture,” she said. “ I’m a hijabi, I’m Muslim and I’m from the Middle East. I want people to ask me questions and get to know my culture, so I can help humanize the image of Muslims and Arabs.”
Lanning also highlighted the broader implications of failing to address the integration of international students on campus.
“If international students don’t feel supported or included, it can affect their academic performance, mental health and overall experience at the university,” he said. “We’re not just talking about having fun social events; we’re talking about creating a support system that directly impacts student’s success.”
The program’s Sept. 17 launch began with a multicultural “speed-friending” event, a way for participants to break the ice and meet potential partners. The goal was to encourage long-lasting relationships by matching students based on their interests, backgrounds or academic paths.
The buddy pairs were encouraged to get together regularly and attend group events, such as scavenger hunts, cooking competitions and game nights.
“What we want to do is create a flexible, fun atmosphere where students feel comfortable sharing their experiences,” Hooker said. “When international and domestic students interact, they start to see the world from each other’s perspectives, which can change the way they approach not just their friendships but their entire college experience.”
Badie added that these interactions also help her navigate life in Muncie.
“There are things that domestic students know, things you won’t find on a webpage. Having a friend here who can help me … makes a huge difference,” she said.
While international students often struggle with finding a community, Hooker and Lanning pointed out that American students also stand to gain from these interactions.
“Our jobs are getting more globally connected,” Lanning said. “So much of our future workforce will involve working with colleagues from all over the world. The skills students develop through programs like this — communication across cultures, empathy, understanding — are going to be essential.”
Lanning also said that international students now comprise “nearly 10 percent” of Ball State’s student body.
“These are students who bring so much diversity and richness to our campus community,” he said. “It’s essential that we make sure they feel included, supported and valued. That benefits everyone.” Hooker echoed these sentiments, adding that fostering cross-cultural friendships is key to creating an inclusive campus environment.
“When you bring people from different backgrounds together, they begin to challenge stereotypes and build real understanding,” he said. “We’re hoping that Benny Buddies will do just that.”
Both Hooker and Lanning stressed that while Benny Buddies is a social program, its impact can go much deeper. By helping students form meaningful relationships, the initiative aims to address some of the broader systemic challenges international students face, including feelings of alienation and the difficulty of navigating a new cultural landscape.
“The connections students make in college can last a lifetime,” Hooker said. “This is about more than just getting through the semester, it’s about building a community where everyone feels they belong.”
For Badie, participating in the program early in her academic journey has been beneficial.
“I’ve just moved here two months ago, and as a first-year PhD student, I’m not overwhelmed with coursework yet,” she said. “This is the perfect time for me to get involved, build friendships and have a sense of community that will carry me through when my studies become more intense.”
Students interested in joining Benny Buddies can sign up through the Rinker Center’s social media pages or by contacting Hooker via email at jonathan.hooker@bsu.edu.
As the program continues to grow, Hooker hopes it will serve as a model for how universities can better integrate and support their international student populations.
“College is a time for expanding your horizons,” Hooker said. “Benny Buddies is just one way we’re trying to make sure that happens for every student, no matter where they come from.”
Contact Meghan Braddy via email at meghan. braddy@bsu.edu or on X @meghan_braddy
A wall of photos from international trips is pictured Sept. 16 at the Rinker Center for Global Affairs. As the program continues to grow, Jonathan Hooker, international student succeess coach at the Rinker Center, hopes it will serve as a model for how universities can better integrate and support their international student populations. ANDREW BERGER, DN
DNSports
The Edwards family and Delta football has been a staple for 38 years.
Zach Carter Sports Editor
With Dave Edwards and his youngest son Bronson feeling the urge always to have a clean house, the Edwards family home is normally organized and in good condition.
But for the living room’s organization, the entire family knows the day it’s at its peak: Sunday.
“I’d say its [peak is] up there between [Sunday] and Christmas,” oldest son Brady Edwards said. Why?
It’s the day the entire Edwards family — Dave, Kelli and their three kids Brady, 24; Braxton, 21; and Bronson, 18 — all watch football. But NFL Sundays are not the only time the family tunes in to watch the action on the gridiron.
For the last 38 years Dave has been an assistant football coach at Delta High School. And for the last 25 years, his wife Kelli, who also works for the school, has been there watching from the stands. On top of this, Dave coached all three of his sons and currently coaches with two of them while one plays for the Delta Eagles.
When I look back on it, it has helped our relationships because it’s just a common ground for all of us.”
- BRAXTON EDWARDS, Delta football defensive assistant coach
Dave’s final season as a football coach has become a full-circle moment.
“Football’s been my life,” Dave said.
‘I want to do that for other kids’
Growing up in a single-parent household, Dave’s family did not have much. His mom, Nancy, worked multiple jobs to keep the lights on. Due to the fact she also dealt with some health problems, things were sometimes tight at their trailer park home in Delaware County.
But there was one thing Dave always had: football.
“The only thing that kept me out of trouble was her threats to take football away from me if I screwed up,” he said.
After a family friend helped pay for Dave to play at the metro level, he fell in love with the game. Since he had never spoken a word to his dad, he bonded with his coaches, who became that male role model he needed at a young age.
“[Coaches] weren’t the only male role models, but they were some of the best males that I had as a kid,” Dave said. “And then I thought, man, I want to do that for other kids. So that’s why I really wanted to coach.”
After suiting up for the Eagles and then going on to play for Ball State, Dave was approached in his junior year of college after suffering an injury. Delta head coach Chuck DeNeal wanted him to join his coaching staff. At first, the school administration ruled he was too young to be the freshman coach, but one year later, he was hired to assist with the varsity team.
See FOOTBALL, 08
Field Hockey Ball State earns first win of the season
The Cardinals earned their first victory of the year in a contest against Saint Louis. Ball State was able to squeak out a 3-2 victory in their second overtime game of the season. Up next for the red and black is the Mid-American Conference (MAC) opener as they travel to take on Kent State Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
Volleyball Cardinals take on Wright State
Ball State volleyball has yet to play at home this season as they have taken part in three road tournaments. The red and black bolstered a 5-4 record in those tournaments. Ball State’s home opener for the 2024 season takes place Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. against Wright State. This is the Cardinals’ final non-conference match of the season. Men’s Tennis
Cardinals close out Ball State Fall Invite
Ball State finished its 40th annual Ball State Fall Invitational on Sept. 15 at the Foster Adams Family Tennis Complex with a doubles contest against IU Indy. In the match, the Cardinals won three out of four matches against the Jaguars. Ball State will host the Cardinal Invitational, featuring Bellarmine, Butler and Xavier Sept. 28-29.
Senior quarterback Bronson Edwards throws the ball at a game against Yorktown Sept. 13 at Yorktown High School. Edwards is the starting quarterback for the Delta Eagles and is coached by his father, Dave, and his older brothers, Brady and Braxton. ANDREW BERGER, DN
FOOTBALL
Continued from Page 07
Dave has stayed as a defensive assistant since he started as a full time assistant coach in 1987. The entirety of the current Delta coaching staff has been coached by Dave, except for two.
Since the time he and Kelli were married, she has been at one place on Friday nights: a football field. She still remembers one of the first games she attended and not knowing much about the sport at the time.
“I asked [the other wives] if the flags they were throwing were color-coded,” Kelli said. “Like if Delta had blue and gold ones or if there were different colors for different teams, and they just looked at me and said ‘Oh, no.’ They looked at me like I was so dumb.”
Aside from working in the Delta High School front office, she also helps with the football boosters and makes sure behind-the-scenes activities are complete. Kelli also has her own fantasy league that includes other football wives and moms. Over the years, it has become very competitive.
“I was gonna remind the girls to set their lineups one time, just to be nice,” she said. “And [a fellow player] was like, ‘You don’t do that. They’ve been in this league, and they know what they’re doing.’”
When their oldest son Brady was born, it did not take long for football to become integrated into his life. Home videos show the Edwards’ firstborn with a helmet on before he could walk.
“Brady went outside behind our pole barn and had his hands over his head for like an hour, not talking to me. It was bad.”
‘I tell him I love him’
While he’s coached many players in his tenure with the Eagles, Dave believes coaching his sons is something that never gets old. However, he understands the pressure that comes with being the “coach’s kid.” While he’s heard some comments about that, Dave expected one thing from all three of his sons: to earn a spot.
“They had to prove themselves to be able to play — even more so than other kids before,” Dave said. “I want to see them on the field because I don’t want anybody ever to think, ‘Oh, they’re playing because their dad’s a coach’ … If they can’t stand on their own to play and be accountable for what they do and how they do it, then I don’t want them out there.”
Brady and Braxton overlapped two years at Delta. While the memories of being on the same team are something they will never forget, there are a few the two brothers cherish, even if they weren’t always so pleasant. One of those came when Brady injured his foot.
While Braxton claims he “pancaked” his older brother, Brady remembers it in a way where he just took an awkward step. Dave remembers it differently.
“I think they both embellish this thing because I think Brady was trying to play defense, and he was trying to prove to me that he could play defense
[Coaches]
weren’t the only male role models, but they were some of the best males that I had as a kid. And then I thought, man, I want to do that for other kids. So that’s why I really wanted to coach.”
-
DAVE
EDWARDS, Delta football defensive assistant coach
“[Dave] would flip on the Delta film to scout,” Brady said. “I would kind of watch with him, and I would put on a helmet and run around the living room trying to copy what I saw.”
With Dave’s one rule for his sons being that they had to play some type of sport before they were 12 years old, the trend continued with Braxton and Bronson as the love passed to them. Now, Dave and Brady root for the Dallas Cowboys while Braxton supports the Green Bay Packers. Bronson also went in a different direction as an Indianapolis Colts fan.
When those teams play each other, Kelli roots for whatever family member is outnumbered.
“People say, ‘We’ll pray for you,’” she said. “That’s what they tell us … All of our friends know that this is going to be a bad Sunday.”
The difference in teams has brought some tense moments in the household. Brady still remembers the Cowboys’ “Dez [Bryant] caught it” game against the Packers during the 2014-15 season. While Braxton was thrilled, his father and older brother had to walk it off.
“We were at our old house,” Braxton said.
and he could tackle, even though he couldn’t use one hand very well [due to having mild cerebral palsy],” Dave said. “I think he hurt his foot playing defense and didn’t admit it because I kept telling him, ‘I don’t want you playing defense. You’re going to get hurt, and we need you on offense.’”
To him, each one of his sons brings a different talent to the sport. Brady was the smartest and used unique angles while Braxton’s drive and strength were important. For Bronson — who is the Eagles’ current starting quarterback — he is just different from both of his siblings.
“I knew from the time he was two years old that he was an athlete,” Dave said. “He’s different, and he’s very athletic. My other boys were as normal boys are. They played with cars and trucks and action figures, but all [Bronson] wanted to do was play ball.”
While Bronson still wears the Delta jersey every Friday night, Brady and Braxton are now on the sidelines with Dave. The brothers both started as middle school coaches and have worked their way up over the last few years.
The Edwards family takes a photo at Delta High School’s football field Oct. 27, 2018. All of Dave and Kelli’s sons have played football for the Delta Eagles, following in Dave’s footsteps. KELLI EDWARDS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Offensive Delta coach Brady Edwards coaches the Eagles against Yorktown Sept. 13 at Yorktown High School. Edwards is the eldest brother in the Edwards family. ANDREW BERGER, DN
SIDELINED SPIRIT
Accessible seating in Ball State’s student sections has led to students voicing concerns.
Campus
10
Ball State University’s Latinx Student Union is hosting one of their largest events of the semester, Fiesta on the Green, Sept. 20. The event celebrates the kick off of Hispanic Heritage Month and will include dancing, food, music and games. Anyone is welcome to attend, and the event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the University Green across from Shafer Tower.
Campus
Fiesta on the Green Kinky Boots
The Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance is presenting a production of Kinky Boots at the University Theatre. The show opens Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m., and other 7:30 p.m. showings are Sept. 21 and 25-28. There are also shows at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 28-29. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance through the College of Fine Arts Box Office.
Community
Food Truck Friday
The fifth week of Food Truck Friday, sponsored by Ivy Tech, will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 20. The trucks will be parked on High Street by Ivy Tech and behind the Horizon Convention Center. The 14-week event is held each Friday at the same time and place with rotating food trucks. The last Food Truck Friday will be Nov. 22.
First-year graduate student James Nichols poses for a photo Sept. 17 outside of Worthen Arena. Nichols is one of the students who hoped to address accessible seating in student sections last year. He talked to disability services when he first felt divided from his peers during the 2023-24 football season. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
First-year graduate student James Nichols poses for a photo Sept. 17 inside of Worthen Arena. The staircase Nichols was photographed in front of is the staircase most able-bodied attendees enter the stadium at. Nichols said that, at times, he felt excluded when attending games at Ball State. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
A lack of accessible seating in student sections leaves some feeling isolated.
Dillon Rosenlieb, Ella Howell Reporter, Lifestyles and Copy Editor
When most people stroll down memory lane to their college days, they’re likely to recall the rhythmic bounce of a ball, the satisfying swish of a net and the electrifying buzz of the crowd at an athletic event.
Beyond the thrilling plays and scoreboard drama, a more personal memory often stands out: the person sitting next to them.
For some students with a disability, the vibrant and collective pride of the student sections — something many students yearn to be part of — remains out of reach.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) clearly outlines the need for inclusive seating arrangements. According to the ADA, “Public entities must provide wheelchair spaces and companion seats in assembly areas that are an integral part of the seating plan.”
Scheumann Stadium and Worthen Arena are focal points for sports on Ball State’s campus. Here, students can come together in the student sections to cheer on their teams. Yet, for some, this highlights the struggles perceived by members of one of the campus’s largest minority groups.
For students with disabilities, the sense of community experienced in the student section can be hindered by a lack of full accessibility for mobility devices. Designated accessible seating
areas are adjacent to but not a part of the student sections in.
“I cannot dictate student behavior when it comes to those things, but we have to provide the access, which we do,” Ball State’s Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell said. “We have the capability to distribute several thousand tickets to students for game day, and we’re not limiting it to one section.”
accessibility constraints as a wheelchair user.
“Football at my high school was hard because I couldn’t get up in the bleachers to be able to sit with my classmates and friends. I would just be at the bottom,” Hershberger said. “I would have liked to be able to go up there my senior year. We did have a slab of concrete poured so that my friends could sit at the bottom row of the bleachers by me.”
My freshman year, when we were being introduced to the sports team and everything, I didn’t feel like I was going to be able to connect with my peers.”
- BANDITH CARR, 2024 Ball State graduate
Sydni Hershberger, a third-year exceptional needs: intense interventions major, often encounters feelings of isolation due to not being fully able to immerse herself in the school spirit and social camaraderie that the student sections offer.
In high school, Hershberger faced barriers that limited her ability to fully engage in athletic events and school pride. This sense of separation was compounded when her friends ascended the bleachers while she remained set apart due to
Hershberger once again confronts the challenge of fully enjoying an athletic event due to the limited group-friendly nature of accessible seating options at Worthen Arena.
The design of the accessible section inadvertently necessitates a division among her friends. Some stay by her side while others find seats across the stadium in the student section, echoing the separations she experienced in high school.
Attending a sporting event for Hershberger
involves much more than simply purchasing a ticket and driving to the stadium. Essential to her attendance is not only access to accessible seating within the venue but also accessible parking to accommodate her specially-equipped van. This becomes particularly challenging during home football games at Scheumann Stadium, where the influx of fans creates significant foot traffic, complicating her travel and parking. To mitigate these obstacles, Hershberger arrives early to ensure she secures both the necessary parking and seating. These logistical hurdles often overshadow the excitement and enjoyment that college athletics typically offer.
“Parking comes into that issue because there’s a lot of sporting events where people like to take up just the front, normally the handicaps first, so that you can get in the stadiums faster,” Hershberger said. “But I need the handicapped space for my wheelchair and my ramp for my car.”
These accessibility barriers not only complicate the everyday navigation of life for Hershberger but can also create a divide between individuals using mobility devices and their peers. This divide can significantly impact social interactions and experiences on campus, leading to feelings of isolation and exclusion, Hershberger said.
“They go in one door, and I have to go completely around the building to the other door,” Hershberger said. “That cuts our conversations or just cuts things in general. Seating, public accessible seating,
not being able to sit where all my peers sit or where my friends [sit] on a day-to-day or at sporting events or in the lecture halls, [is] hard.”
Bandith Carr graduated in May and plans on returning to Ball State for his master’s degree. For him, the experience of attending sporting events has been limited. Carr said he often feels disconnected from both the action on the field and the camaraderie that the student section typically fosters.
“I felt very isolated and kind of different from everyone because of my disabilities,” Carr said. “I did want to hang out with [my friends], but I wasn’t able to … [My seat] was just for the disability section and not for everyone. They didn’t have seating close to people with disabilities.”
Worthen Arena Seating
Some of my students that I was friends with shared that it was really discouraging when we’re supposed to be a community that really promotes accessibility, and they were being quite literally excluded from the student section and the student experience.”
- JAMES NICHOLS, Gradutate student
Outside the realm of sports, Carr believes that Ball State could significantly improve its efforts to include the disability community in various campus events, such as pep rallies and other similar gatherings. He feels these events should be more accessible and welcoming, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can participate fully.
“My freshman year, when we were being introduced to the sports team and everything, I didn’t feel like I was going to be able to connect with my peers,” Carr said. “I was put in the disability section, which is very separate from the normal seating, which I didn’t really like because I wanted to be closer to people.”
The Ball State Beneficence Pledge states that members of the Ball State community “pledge to value the intrinsic worth of every member of the community. To respect and learn from differences in people, ideas and opinions.”
Carr believes that the lack of accessibility and inclusivity at these events undermines the university’s broader efforts to foster an inclusive environment.
Carr feels that if these gatherings were more inviting and accessible to people with disabilities, it would significantly enhance their experiences. “I think it does kind of diminish [Ball State’s] efforts in some ways because they’re trying to be inclusive, but being inclusive means you have to actively have other people, no matter what disability or abilities that they have to participate in,” Carr said.
See VOICES, 14
Third-year journalism student Trinity Rea reads one of their books Sept. 16 in Bracken Libary. Rea said books gave them a place to escape while they dealt with internal and outward struggles in their own life. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Trinity Rea is a third-year journalism major and writes “Bury the Hatchet” for the Daily News. Their views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
Growing up, there was nothing I wanted to do more than read. I would spend hours sitting alone in my room, immersed in worlds far from my own. The bookshelf in my family living room, consisting of novels catered toward my parents and a handful of picture books, acted as my personal library for a long time.
In fifth grade, while my younger brother would tear up that lower row of books for kids his age, I was deemed just old enough to read most of the stuff on the top shelves.
I felt so special.
I took pride in my ability to read those books, and even more in the fact that they gave me a place to escape while I dealt with internal and outward struggles in my own life.
Floating between friend groups, hobbies and spaces was just natural to me. As I felt a familiar feeling of disconnect within myself rise, I would project the reality of that feeling outward.
I began to understand why I felt so disconnected when I first read Virginia Woolf’s, “A Room of One’s Own.”
The book is an extended essay based on a series of lectures delivered by Woolf in 1928. The lectures focused on social injustice and the lack of free expression women were allowed. By no means is the direct purpose and theme of the book intended to shape one’s worldview — I’d argue the essays intended to “fix” it — but it changed mine for the better.
“A Room of One’s Own” is what I consider to be my first introduction to classic literature, something that allowed me to change my perspective of the world. By putting myself in the shoes of a writer a century or two ago, I was able to further my knowledge and understanding of the world around me.
Understanding what I felt through classic literature made me feel less alone in my emotions.
Woolf’s writing pulled me in and provided me with something I had yet to experience in my life: A true understanding of myself and my relation to everything around me. While I did not identify directly with the proposed fictional characters in Woolf’s work, I found comfort in her writing and her approach to the world in her lifetime.
According to a study published in the Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics, the importance of literary classics lies primarily in the fact that “it asserts values that are independent of the preferences and whims of the individual.” Classics hold continued significance because they are said to contain a “great experience of mankind.”
My first experience with a classic did exactly that — showing me the importance of literary classics as a whole. This importance goes beyond my personal taste and individual preference. To me, classics assert and embody universal ideas that are relevant to all of humanity.
After this first experience with Woolf, I immediately began to explore more of her work, like “To the Lighthouse” and “Orlando.” I began to live and breathe classical literature.
During a hard time in my life, I read “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, then “Tess of the D’Ubervilles” by Thomas Hardy. Austen and Hardy showed me the power of self-reflection and growth. Within each book, the main characters struggle to confront their own biases but later learn the reality of their pride.
As someone who was just about to graduate high school, the message of each novel resonated with me immensely. I was experiencing large waves of regret, remorse and fear as I stepped into the next chapter of my life. It led to outward frustration and struggles in my relationships.
Reading this allowed me to better recognize the root of my emotions. And like the main character of “Pride and Prejudice,” Elizabeth Bennet, I recognized my integrity and remained true to it. While this did not result in an immediate reward, I have experienced fulfillment in the long term.
I took away a lesson and understanding I otherwise would not have found.
reflect a mess of scribbled handwriting, tape and sticky notes — each full of lessons and reminders taught to me by words written a century ago.
One annotation in particular, located on page 105 in my personal copy, is something I always find myself looking back on.
A sticky note I wrote in 2020 holds the words, “External validation is futile, writing and creating is all that truly matters. Focus on authenticity and fulfillment.”
This annotation is based on the quote from the book, “Praise and blame alike mean nothing. No, delightful as the pastime of measuring may be, it is the most futile of all occupations, and to submit to the decrees of the measurers the most servile of attitudes. So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say.”
During days when I feel I am not enough, I hold myself to what I’ve since learned is concrete in my life: the ability to stay true to myself. Without classic literature, I would not have reached this feeling of fulfillment and understanding.
Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
I fell in love with Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre” and its lessons of resilience and emotional strength some years later.
As I struggled to confront issues within my identity and self-autonomy, I read about Jane Eyre’s similar journey — one that ended with a message of the importance of selfempowerment and honesty. I gained the strength to love myself authentically and felt okay to confront the somewhat painful emotions inside of myself.
I no longer questioned my desires. Instead, I embraced them and made peace with myself.
I’ve learned an immense amount through classics. They opened my eyes to the idea of human connection throughout the centuries, and this has helped me feel less alone in my struggles.
I have read “A Room of One’s Own” an additional five times since I first picked the book up just over four years ago. Underneath my copy’s bent and worn front cover, its pages
Edith
Print Managing Editor, “Bury the Hatchet”
Trinity Rea “A Room of One’s Own”
Virginia Woolf
Third-year journalism student Trinity Rea reads “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott Sept. 16 in Bracken Library. For Rea, books taught them about resilience and emotional strength. ANDREW BERGER, DN
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTATION
VOICES
Continued from Page 11
Carr recommends taking proactive steps to foster a more inclusive environment for the disability community and the campus society as a whole. His vision is for Ball State to create spaces where everyone can equally enjoy the sights and sounds of the game together.
Faith Graves, a third-year student majoring in special education, also feels that the university does not adequately prioritize equal access for students with disabilities. She often finds herself feeling as though her voice goes unheard when she raises concerns about accessibility issues on campus.
This sense of exclusion affects her academic and social experiences but also discourages her from participating more fully in campus life. Graves believes that more effective communication and genuine engagement with students with disabilities are essential for fostering an inclusive environment where every student’s voice is valued and heard.
“I have reached out to disability services a couple of times about this issue, and I know other people who have as well, but they won’t do anything about it because I think, personally, it’s a pride thing, and they don’t want to say, ‘We’re not accessible,’” Graves said.
Director of Disability Services Courtney Jarrett said she has not received any complaints so far this school year but that their office has received complaints in the past regarding the accessibility of the student section.
FOOTBALL
Continued from Page 08
To the three, being able to experience this moment with Dave is a blessing.
“It’s kind of been building [toward] this for a while,” Brady said. “We kind of knew this year was coming, and we’re just trying to take it day by day, practice by practice and game by game because this will never happen again. This is a onetime thing.”
Brady also works with his dad at Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. While Dave was always okay with his sons going in another direction, Brady was fine with going down the same path and poked fun at the idea.
“He’s like, ‘Dad, I’m gonna end up being you,’” Dave said. “I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ He goes, ‘I’m gonna be a Farm Bureau agent and a Delta football coach.’ And I go, ‘Is that terrible?’ And he’s like, ‘No, it’s not terrible. I’m gonna be the new version of you.’
Just like when they played, the Edwards’ coaching styles also vary. While they have their differences, there is one thing that the three of them have in common: Dave’s love.
Before each game, he finds each son and hugs them.
“With Bronson, I talk to him before every game,” Dave said. “I tell him I love him. I say play hard, be a leader and then I almost don’t say another word to him for the entire game.”
Each time the moment happens, Bronson takes it in.
She addressed the students’ concerns in an email to Gonzo Barajas, the executive director of auxiliary services for sports and recreation facilities operations and event management, which was sent in September 2023.
She explained there were a couple of wheelchair users “bummed that they couldn’t sit in the student section” and asked about who she could talk to about moving the location of the student section to a place accessible by a ramp.
Jarret said Barajas responded to her email via phone call to inform her that the sports facilities department is not responsible for the location of the student section but rather the student organization Cardinal Chaos is. Jarret said she was told students should reach out to them with concerns.
James Nichols is a first-year graduate student and one of the students who hoped to address the issue last year. He talked to disability services when he first felt divided from his peers at the beginning of the previous football season.
“Some of my students that I was friends with shared that it was really discouraging when we’re supposed to be a community that really promotes accessibility. They were being quite literally excluded from the student section and the student experience,” Nichols said.
He said they did not hear back from Cardinal Chaos regarding their accessibility concern during last year’s football season, however, Nichols received an email in January 2024 inviting him and the rest of the Alliance for Disability Awareness to a women’s basketball game in Worthen Arena.
Having concerns following the disappointment from the previous semester, he reached back
“It is something I will hopefully never forget,” he said. “Playing varsity football only happens for a couple years. You only get to have those types of moments however many games you play.”
To Dave, he wants to be the father he never had. He wants his three sons to remember he is always there — good or bad. Football has always been an avenue for that.
“I never heard my father say, ‘I love you,’ but I’ll tell my kids I love them multiple times every day,” Dave said. “I don’t care how old they are. I’ll tell them just about every time I hang up the phone with them because they’re going to make sure they know that I love them, and they’re going to make sure they know I care about them.
“I want to be involved with them too, so when they have their own kids, that’s an example of what they could be.”
‘38
years is a long time’
Throughout their entire marriage, Dave and Kelli have never done anything on fall break. It’s always been Delta Eagle football. Their best friends were made from working at the concession stands during athletic events. To them, there’s been no reason to go anywhere else.
“I always say it takes a village to raise a kid, and our village is so supportive,” Kelli said. “We have so many special men and women, especially dads, that if my kids needed anything at all at any time, I know they could name off 20 men right now that would come and help.”
While Dave knows this is the last go around before retirement, the fact he’s doing it with his
out. He asked if the student section at Worthen is accessible to those who use mobility aids, highlighting his concern after not previously hearing back from the organization.
“Our members would love to be included and be able to access the section along with the rest of our peers. I would love to meet with someone to further discuss potential accessibility options regarding the student section for my students or help with the process to ensure accessibility,” Nichols said via email to Cardinal Chaos.
The email reply stated that, similar to Scheumann, while there was accessible seating in the arena, there was none located in the student section, with the caveat that they were going to work on the accessibility for the 202425 school year.
However, athletics said Cardinal Chaos doesn’t control the location of the student sections and there were no plans to improve the accessibility of either Worthen or Scheumann in preparation for the 2024-25 school year. Athletics emphasized that while working with them, the student organization is not a spokesperson for them.
Mitchell said that so far in his 18 months at Ball State, he had never been contacted by anyone with accessibility concerns.
He emphasized that if such concerns exist, he is open to discussions. While Mitchell welcomes conversation, he said he and sports facilities can’t make any promises regarding this specific concern at this time.
“I’m not committing today to changing the configuration because I’m not so sure that what we have isn’t already the best option,” Mitchell said.
sons around him brings him comfort with that decision. However, he knows it will be hard to step away and expects to drop by a practice or two in the future.
“If [my sons] are coaching on Friday night, it’ll be hard to not go to the game, to at least stand on the sideline or show up at a practice or two. But it’s time for me to step away. We got a lot of good young coaches that are ready.”
To the rest of the family, Dave’s love for football has helped them become the close-knit group they are today.
“Naturally, whenever everybody gets around to do something, it builds a better connection,” Braxton said. “When I look back on it, it has helped our relationships because it’s just a common ground for all of us.”
As his coaching career comes to a close, Dave can’t help but look at the journey. Countless number of games, practices and plays line the home stretch. But as he gets to the finish line, he knows it’s been a path that was well worth it.
“It’s funny because life hits you so fast,” he said. “From ‘Hey, we’re having a baby,’ to ‘Hey, we’re having another baby,’ to ‘Hey, we’re having a third’ ... You have three boys, and you’re just trying to do everything, but you still want to coach. But you still want to be active with them. You have no idea what’s going to happen. I had no idea that the two oldest ones would be on staff with me [for my last season] … I’m proud of my boys.”
Whether or not his sons continue to coach or decide to give up the clipboards and headsets, they will never leave the game that has done so much for them.
He also pointed out that the student section at Scheumann is in sections V and W and a portion of the accessible seating overlaps with section V. However, Ball State’s history of filling the student section hasn’t been consistent, often leaving a gap. Mitchell said that while Cardinal Chaos did not decide where the student section is located, neither did he. It was established before he accepted his current position.
“I can unequivocally state that I have not been contacted. And I’m sensitive to these concerns and the individuals who have expressed these concerns … I’m happy to help. I just need to know,” Mitchell said.
Despite claims of equal access to the stadium, the perspectives of students who rely on mobility devices reveal a significant divide.
Every game day, as cheers rise from the crowded stands, students like Hershberger, Carr, Nichols and Graves remain on the sidelines — not just those of the field but of the college experience itself. While most recall the rhythmic bounce of a ball and the swish of the net, these students miss the thrill of shared victories and camaraderie.
The vibrant, collective pride that electrifies the air, drawing classmates closer in shared highs and lows, is a scene they observe from afar. Until the full roar of the crowd includes everyone, the true spirit of unity and inclusion remains out of reach, leaving the tapestry of campus life incomplete.
Contact Dillon Rosenlieb via email at dillon. rosenlieb@bsu.edu and Ella Howell via email at ella.howell@bsu.edu.
“My placemat at my front door says ‘Faith, Family and Football,’ which is a mantra that our entire family lives by,” Brady said. Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X at @ZachCarter85
Bronson Edwards carries footballs at Delta High School’s football field Sept. 24, 2017. Bronson is now the high school’s quarterback. KELLI EDWARDS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Crossword & Sudoku
14 Beginner’s book 22 Comedian Delaney
“Yes!”
24 Propeller part
Summer on Cape Cod, e.g.
“Chandelier”
“Catch-22” pilot played by Bob Balaban
Pay-to-play need
Spine-opening yoga pose DOWN
Phishing hook
Animal nutritionist who founded a pet food company in 1946
Pharmacopeia entry
Some MIT grads
John Swinney, for one
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” writer/illustrator
Kelp and nori
Switzerland’s __ Léman
Still waiting for a callback?
School songs
Words to live by
26 South American domain name
27 Election advice from young Grace Bedell to Mr. Lincoln
28 Fairy __: cotton candy, in Australia
30 “The Pianist” Oscar winner
33 Word with blood or water
Firmly fixed 36 Pre-euro Spanish coins
37 Impressionist painter born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
39 Surfer’s need 40 Was fully groan?
42 Electronics component 44 Swarming pest 45 Site that may host an edit
46 Iowa college town
Chap 50 TV pioneer 51 DJIA part
sept. 25 10 - 1:30
