Stay up to date with 2024 election information. 12
Section and Indiana’s education department has over 2,500 unfilled positions, underscoring the nation’s upheaval in teacher turnover. 04
Election security
Indiana changes voter requirements. 14
Indiana govenor candidates establish their game plans. 16
BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
PHOTO PROVIDED
Kindergarten teacher Jordan Parsons helps her class learn about shapes Oct. 1 at East Washington Academy. As of Sept. 29, 2024, there were 2,708 unfilled positions through the Indiana Educator Job Board. ANDREW BERGER, DN, JULIAN BONNER, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
BallStateDailyNews.com
VOL. 104 ISSUE: 08
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.
Call 765-285-8134 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mon. -Fri. Subscription rates: $45 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Daily News, AJ278, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306
JOIN THE DAILY NEWS Stop by room 278 in the Art and Journalism Building. All undergraduate majors accepted and no prior experience is necessary.
In the Sept. 26 issue of the Ball State Daily News, elements from Freepik were used on pg. 09 and went un-credited.
To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
Helene death toll rises
Sept. 26: Hurricane Helene made landfall Sept. 26 and devastated the southeast U.S., killing over 150 people, according to the Associated Press (AP). At least 179 people in six states were reported dead, with at least 40 fatalities in North Carolina’s Asheville area. The storm caused severe flooding and cut off many methods of transportation. Federal and state officials are looking to provide aid, though damaged infrastructure hinders efforts. President Biden pledged federal support and plans to visit affected areas later this week. Rebuilding is expected to take months.
Kris Kristofferson dead at 88
Sept. 30: Kris Kristofferson, country music singer and actor, passed away at 88 at his Maui home surrounded by family, according to family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland. Known for writing hits like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” Kristofferson also had a successful acting career, starring in films like “A Star is Born” and “Blade.” A Rhodes Scholar and former U.S. Army captain, he was part of the legendary country music supergroup “The Highwaymen” alongside Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Kristofferson retired from performing in 2021 but made occasional guest appearances. No cause of death was disclosed.
Cardinals face Chippewas on the road
Oct. 4: Ball State women’s volleyball heads north to face Central Michigan in back-to-back matches Oct. 4-5. The Cardinals are coming off two consecutive losses to Bowling Green and are currently the No. 9 team in the Mid-American Conference. The team’s overall record on the year is 7-6. Freshman outside hitter Carson Tyler leads Ball State with 144 kills on the season and has earned a Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Week award.
TNS, PHOTO PROVIDED
TNS, PHOTO PROVIDED
ANDREW BERGER, DN
National
Teacher Turnover:
‘Set Up to Fail’ ‘Set Up to Fail’404
Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. President, celebrated his 100th birthday Oct. 1 with longtime friends, family and fans. The birthday marked the first time an American president has lived a full century. Having spent the past 19 months in hospice care, Carter according to the Associated Press.
children with high
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced a cross-agency initiative Sept. 30 to provide more support to children with high acuity mental and behavioral health needs, as well as keep youth in crisis in the least restrictive setting possible, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle. The ongoing initiative will receive some financial support from the state’s allotment of the National
Shots fired outside
University Phillips 66
and Muncie Police Department (MPD) investigated “reports of shots fired in the area of Reserve and University, ” according to an emergency alert message sent Oct. 1. At 10:46 p.m., around 20 minutes after the original alert, an “all clear” was sent. MPD later
Fourth-grade teacher Heather Veatch works on division with her students Oct. 1 at East Washington Academy. According to the NEA, educators have spent upwards of $750 from their own pockets on student supplies. ANDREW BERGER, DN
The flux of teacher turnover: Why are they really leaving?
Kate Farr Editor-in-chief
Alyson Baugh just entered her final semester of undergraduate studies at Ball State University, the largest teacher preparation provider in Indiana, according to Ball State’s Teachers College website. Like many other education majors in her shoes, she has worries as she enters the transitional period between schooling and her teaching career.
Baugh, a fourth-year English education major, has wanted to be a teacher since childhood. While she’d loved reading and writing all through grade school, what gave her the push to pursue teaching was her eighth-grade English teacher.
While she desired to be a teacher for years, Baugh said she’d most likely only teach for a couple of years before shifting out of the field and becoming a curriculum writer. Besides apprehensions around the planned and “strict” nature of teaching, Baugh was driven away from her original career plan due to larger concerns.
“Teachers are very underappreciated and overworked,” Baugh said via email. “Teachers are responsible for hundreds of kids over at least six periods … usually upwards of thirty at a time. On top of that, teachers are underpaid and are told to teach an impossible load of curriculum in a limited amount of time.”
Teachers are essentially being set up to fail … It’s no surprise people don’t want to go into the profession just to be underappreciated and overworked and underpaid.”
- ALYSON BAUGH, Fourth-year English major at Ball State
Education Resource Strategies, a national nonprofit that helps with resource management in school systems, found that 23 percent of teachers left their school during the 2022-23 school year — a higher percentage than pandemic rates (20 percent). The flux of current teacher retention begs the question: Why are they really leaving?
The National Education Association (NEA), which represents nearly three million educators, published a study in 2022 that unveiled the concerns of teachers. Key concerns identified by NEA’s research might answer why Indiana, among other states, is seeing staff shortages.
The 2022 NEA member survey found that 55 percent of educators across the nation indicated plans to leave the profession earlier than they expected. Those surveyed cited burnout and stress as a “serious problem.” And due to the fact over half a million educators exited the public school system post-COVID-19 pandemic, 74 percent of NEA members stated they’ve had to fill the gaps left behind by former colleagues.
“Teachers are essentially being set up to fail,” Baugh said. “… It’s no surprise people don’t want to go into the profession just to be underappreciated and overworked and underpaid. And the ones who do choose to teach often get burnt out from the sheer amount of work they’re doing.”
Taylie Heady, an elementary education major at Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has already decided in her second year of school that she won’t be staying in the state post-graduation.
“One concern I have about my profession is the pay, I will admit,” Heady said via email. “I believe that, if teachers were only expected to show up at 7:00 a.m. and leave at 3:00 p.m., the pay and benefits would be enough. However, many teachers are expected to do work before and after school in order to facilitate learning in their classrooms.”
From dry-erase markers to hand sanitizer, educators spend upwards of $750 from their own pockets on supplies for students, according to the NEA. It adds up, and Heady said that many teachers “struggle” to make paychecks stretch.
“Most teachers also use their own personal
funds within their classrooms,” Heady said. “Because of the hours teachers must spend working outside of the classroom and the money they must spend on their classrooms, teachers should be better compensated.”
I’ve never met a person who couldn’t list a handful of teachers who made them who they are today.”
- DELANEY SHOEMAKER, Third-year math education and data analytics double major at Ball State
At a state level, Indiana is ranked 36th nationally in terms of average teacher salary and 28th in starting salary for teachers, according to NEA data. With an average teacher’s starting salary of $42,735 and the state minimum living wage being
A fifth-grade student does online work in Michale Kissick’s classroom Oct. 1 at East Washinton Academy. In recent surveys many teachers have voiced feeling like they are being set up to fail. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Third-year math education and data analytics double major Delaney Shoemaker Sept. 30 in front of Ball State’s Teachers College. HB 1447 was introduced during Shoemaker’s senior year of high school. ANDREW BERGER, DN
$60,485, it doesn’t come as a surprise that a 2024 survey found Marion County educators specified “better pay” as one of the things that would keep them in the teaching professions.
The survey, organized by the nonprofit RISE Indy, drew responses from nearly 575 public school educators in the greater Indianapolis area.
We cannot fully protect and shield children from the world they live [in]. We can teach them about it and prepare them … We won’t prepare them for the world by
Fourth-year English major at Ball State
While nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents felt they were “satisfied” with their workplaces, teachers 34 and younger had a satisfaction rate nine percentage points lower (56 percent).
“I will not be able to live comfortably on a teacher’s paycheck, and I will likely be [living] paycheck to paycheck,” Baugh said. “That’s also just factoring in myself. It would be even harder if I chose to have a family.”
Dea Bell, assistant superintendent for Muncie Community Schools, said that educators feel most supported when they are “paid a decent wage” and “have their concerns addressed.”
“Many young professionals believe ‘the grass is greener’ outside Indiana,” Bell said. “If we provide a good living wage, enjoyable working conditions and opportunities for advancement, then I believe we can keep a lot of young teachers from leaving the state.”
As of Sept. 29, there were 2,708 unfilled positions through the Indiana Educator Job Board. Nearly half of those were teacher positions with an “until filled” deadline.
“There’s no singular reason [why] K-12 education is struggling to fill openings — it’s a combination of things,” Bell said. “Probably near the top of the list are low pay and lack of respect.”
Beyond the scope of salary and benefits, recent policy changes at state, local and district levels — as well as the autonomy of teachers in their classrooms — have also affected overall job security.
Only 13 percent of teachers surveyed by RISE Indy agreed that recent policy changes made them feel secure. 56 percent of teachers do not agree that changes in policy have increased their sense of security.
In 2023, Gov. Eric Holcomb signed Indiana House Bill (HB) 1447, which allows parents and community members to request books be banned
Fourth-year English education major Alyson Baugh Sept. 1 outside of Ball State’s Teachers College. Baugh has expressed the concern of politics “ruling the classroom.” ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
START LISTENING, FROM DAY ONE.
WCRD is a student-run radio station that operates as a fully FCC-licensed station broadcasting local news, music and more. WCRD offers comprehensive sports coverage of Ball State and surrounding area high school games not documented by any other stations. WCRD offers game play-by-play and coaches’ interview shows for Ball State varsity sports and much more for your listening pleasure or participation.
Political Perspectives
Shelby Anderson Reporter
Editor’s note: The Ball State Daily News reached out to all student organizations on campus via email and social media. Legal Studies Student Association (LSAA), Mock Trial Association at Ball State, Ball State’s College Republicans and Feminists for Action did not respond with comments.
Student Government Association (SGA)
Youth voices matter:
Vice President Brenna Large said students need to start looking at local elections with as much focus as the presidential election because “every vote counts.”
“It’s expected that the presidential election this year will be determined by, potentially, only a few thousand votes,” Large said. “So, it’s really important that [students] do vote because it really can influence the outcome.”
Encouraging young voters:
Large said the way they will encourage voters is by making sure they are registered to vote, as well as explaining to them that their vote matters.
“ … Young people are going to be a driving force in this election,” she said.
Election investments:
Large said the Center for Economic and Civic Learning has put money into their initiative to get Cardinals out to vote.
Incentives:
The organization is hosting plenty of tabling events, Large said, as well as working with the political sciences department to have an election night watch party.
Different from past elections:
This year, the organization is trying to encourage more students to vote because of the presidential election, Large said. She wants to “work with as many groups on campus because we feel that is the best way to get people involved.”
Overall mission:
Check out Ball State’s different political student organizations and how they are preparing for the general election.
Large said SGA’s mission is to get Cardinals out to vote this fall for the political party of their choice.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Youth voices matter:
“Everyone’s vote matters and we should make our voices heard,” Communications Director Laura Forbes said. She also thinks it’s important that candidates hear from the younger generations.
Encouraging young voters:
Forbes said the organization has a campaign called, “Yes! You Can Vote!” The campaign encourages people to register to vote and debunks misconceptions about the voting process. Their efforts target younger people who are turning 18.
Election investments:
Forbes said the organization[ACLU] put money into their campaigns but did not disclose a specific amount. Forbes said they put the money toward voter education for previously incarcerated people.
Incentives:
The organization has an emailing list to keep receipts informed, Forbes said. They also create posters on social media and are working with other partners and businesses to help spread the word.
Different from past elections:
Forbes said this year they are sharing stories from people who were formerly incarcerated.
Overall mission:
She said ACLU’s mission is to increase voter turnout by debunking common misconceptions about voting.
Ball State College Democrats
Youth voices matter:
Vice President Hunter Case said student voices do matter. “[Voting] directly affects everybody, especially at local levels,” Case said.
Encouraging young voters:
Case said they’re encouraging young voters by organizing tabling events to help register students to vote.
Election investments:
Case said the organization did not put any money in for its campaign, and they don’t plan to because they have funds from the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council (SOFAC).
Incentives:
Case said they are also doing tabling, as well as “partnering with other political organizations to get election information out, not only encouraging people to register to vote but just making sure they know where they can vote.”
Different from past elections:
Case said the organization has not developed any new initiatives and its primary focus is getting people out to the polls.
Overall mission:
Their mission is also to increase voter turnout in the state, starting with young voters, Case said. He said young voters are the future.
Young Democratic Socialists of America (YSDA)
Youth voices matter:
“Every vote matters. Our generation in college right now has the potential to be the largest voting block in America, we could swing the whole election if enough of us just went to the polls and voted,” said Justin Gehring, social media chair for YSDA. “[Student voices] need to be heard and can be heard,” he said.
Encouraging young voters:
Gehring said YSDA has been hosting tabling events around campus. The tablings help students check their voter registration status and become informed about the voting process.
Election investments:
Gehring said YSDA funds are low, but most of their funding has gone toward snack purchases for students during routine meetings. He said snacks help encourage students to come join the group and register to vote.
Incentives:
The organization has been holding tabling events, as well as providing snacks for students in collaboration with the Honors College. Together, the YSDA and the Honors College ran “Votes and Floats” where if students registered to vote, they got a rootbeer float.
Different from past elections:
“We’re trying to get the word out about how everybody’s vote matters, no matter who you’re voting for,” Gehring said, asserting that voting is a “civic duty.”
Overall mission:
Gehring said YSDA’s mission is to help students and young voters understand what socialism is because it is not a dominant political party, according to 2014 voter ideology data in Indiana from Pew Research Center.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.
Promotional campaign efforts for American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) during National Voter Registration Week 2023. The union works to promote the civil liberties of incarcerated individuals. LAURA FORBES, PHOTO PROVIDED
JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION
FAMILY WEEKEND FESTIVITIES FAMILY WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
All are welcome to celebrate Family Weekend at Ball State and partake in the scheduled activities.
Thursday, Oct. 3
Faculty Recital
Sursa Hall, 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 4
Field hockey game vs. Longwood University
Briner Sports Complex, 11:50 a.m.
Dean’s List Celebration
Teachers College first floor, 4 - 6 p.m.
“Halloween Celestial Origins”
Charles W. Brown Planetarium, 6:30 p.m.
“Friday Night Filmworks”
Pruis Hall, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5
Spirit and Traditions
University Green, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Football game vs. Western Michigan
Scheumann Stadium, 2 p.m.
“Earth, Moon, and Sun”
Charles W. Brown Planetarium, 3:30 p.m.
“Saturn and Beyond”
Charles W. Brown Planetarium, 5 p.m.
“Halloween Celestial Origins”
Charles W. Brown Planetarium, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 6
Soccer match vs. Buffalo
Briner Sports Complex, 12:45 p.m.
Ball State’s student section is photographed during the first game home against Missouri
ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
GENERAL ELECTION
VOTE FOR ONE CANDIDATE ONLY
(Nicole Shanahan FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
(Kamala D. Harris
(Tim Walz
(Donald J. Trump
(JD Vance
(Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Using your right to vote is crucial.
Scarlet Gallagher
Columnist, “Sprouting Thoughts”
Scarlet Gallagher is a second-year international business major and writes “Sprouting Thoughts” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
Low voter turnout is an issue that’s plagued the United States for many years. Within Indiana, it’s no different.
Indiana ranks second last among all 50 states, including Washington D.C., plus it has very nearly the worst turnout in the country, according to the 2023 Indiana Civic Health Index.
Voting is an important right, one that many people around the world don’t have. Whether it be because they live in a country where there is a dictatorship or because they are barred from voting because of their gender, race, religion or ethnic group — or a multitude of other discriminatory reasons — these people have no voice and no say in their own government.
work for the majority of the time the polls are open, as Election Day always falls on a Tuesday, discouraging or even preventing some workers from being able to vote.
There have been efforts to make Election Day a holiday, with legislative proposals made in Congress by several politicians, including by U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo in February. None of them have been successful so far.
people who are unable to physically enter an inaccessible polling location to still cast their vote outside the polling place.
Furthermore, a large percentage of college students are nonvoters, with the overall student voting rate in 2022 only at 31.3 percent, according to a Tufts National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement report. Reasons for this low number echo many of the reasons other Americans don’t vote, such as transportation or schedule conflicts.
People have made huge sacrifices fighting for democracy. Millions of Americans are unable to vote even though they want to. And yet, many Americans choose not to vote. According to the Pew Research Center, the 2020 presidential election saw a third of eligible voters not cast a vote, and it was the election with the highest voter turnout since 1900.
One common reason given by those abstaining from voting is that they don’t feel the results of the election will personally impact them, according to an Ipsos poll taken in 2020. Others feel that their vote won’t matter or make a difference.
The idea that an individual vote doesn’t matter not only quickly adds up the more people who feel that way, but it also simply isn’t true, especially in state and local elections. Many races at these levels are won by only a handful of votes. In one of Iowa’s House of Representatives districts, the winning candidate in 2020 won only by six votes.
Voting can directly impact your life, ranging from the taxes you pay to the civil liberties you have. It is a way to have your voice heard in politics.
Those who choose not to vote are not the only ones who do not cast a ballot. Millions of Americans are involuntarily prevented from voting, whether because they lack transportation to the polls, are unable to vote because of work or have been disenfranchised by the state after being convicted of a crime, among other reasons.
It can also be difficult for them to decide whether to register in their hometown or the town of their university, but either one is a valid choice. Another option that might be the best fit for a college student is a mail-in absentee ballot. There is a page with voter information specifically for college students on the Indiana State Government website.
Existing barriers to voting are not the only ones making voting challenging. There have also been a number of legal changes related to the election and voting process since 2020, causing confusion and uncertainty. According to a 2024 Brennan Center research brief, which focused on swing state policy changes, there have been extensive changes enacted by states since the last presidential election.
In the majority of cases, these changes were restrictive ones, such as Florida imposing new restrictions on voting by mail. However, there have been a few changes expanding voting access, like in Michigan where new laws made voting by mail easier, increased the number of early voting days and expanded the list of accepted voter IDs.
Policies like the ones Michigan has enacted, as well as sameday registration and accessible voting options, help encourage higher voter turnout. Unfortunately, they are in the minority right now, likely contributing to low voter turnout.
Voter registration purges, a sometimes-flawed process designed to clean up registered voter lists, have also become an issue. According to the Brennan Center’s research on voter purges, the rate of voter purging has significantly increased over the last several decades, with election denial groups pressuring government officials to remove large amounts of voters using unreliable information.
It is not enough to only register to vote — eligible voters must now frequently check their registration to ensure they have not been removed. You can do so by going to Indiana Voters and using ‘‘Confirm My Voter Registration.” Don’t allow yourself to be wrongly disenfranchised.
According to a Global Citizen article, at least 21 million Americans didn’t have a government-issued photo ID at the time of the last presidential election, which prevented them from being able to vote. This is still the case as this year’s election approaches.
Additionally, Election Day isn’t a federal holiday in the U.S., unlike many other countries. This means many Americans are at
The process of registering to vote can feel intimidating and discourage people from voting.
Many groups have organized to try and provide assistance to voters and combat barriers to voting. There are nonprofit resources such as VoteRiders and Vote411, which work to inform citizens about voting requirements and help them get registered. There are also initiatives like curbside voting that help disabled
The Indiana registration deadline is Oct. 7 for all methods of voter registration, and absentee ballots must be requested by Oct. 24. You can register to vote online at Indiana Voters if you have a valid driver’s license or other state-issued ID. The website also provides information on polling locations and what will be on the ballot, as well as allows voters to double-check that they are registered.
If you haven’t already, take an hour to register to vote and plan how you will vote in the upcoming election. Whether by mail or in person at the polls, there are options available to you and services to help ensure you are able to exercise your right to vote.
Contact Scarlet Gallagher via email at samantha.gallagher@ bsu.edu.
VOTER
RACE THE POLLS TO Oct. 7 Oct. 7
is Indiana’s voter registration deadline.
Brick By Brick
According to USA.gov, the Electoral College decides who is elected president and vice president of the United States. The Electoral College consists of a selection of electors, and each state receives as many electors as it has members of Congress. In total, there are 538 electors.
After casting a vote and submitting a ballot for president, the vote adds to a statewide tally. In all states, including Washington, D.C. — yet aside from Maine and Nebraska the candidate with the most tallies gets all the electoral votes for the state.
A projected winner is announced on election night, but the actual Electoral College vote takes place in mid-December when electors meet in their respective states.
The U.S. Constitution doesn’t outline a requirement for electors to vote for their state victor, however, some states do. If an elector votes against their state’s popular vote, they have the potential to be fined or disqualified as an elector and replaced. In some cases, electors are prosecuted by their state.
In order to secure the presidency, candidates must win 270 electoral votes, which means securing a little over half of the total electors. Securing these votes requires candidates to campaign, specifically in battleground and swing states.
According to the website Political Dictionary, “Presidential campaigns are waged mainly in these battleground states as the outcomes in most other states on the electoral map are mostly known well ahead of the election.”
Each state has its own voter registration deadline. Indiana’s registration deadline is Oct. 7, and potential voters can register online, by mail or in person. Indiana residents can head to indianavoters.in.gov to check their registration, request a mail-in ballot and find information about their local polling place.
The website also provides information on candidates, poll booth hours, campaign financial records and more. Out-of-state or overseas voters can head to the National Association of Secretaries of State “Can I Vote” website. This website provides information on voter registration deadlines across the country, mail-in ballots, and absentee and early voting.
Scan this QR Code to check your voter registration status.
Head to the Stands
Delaware County poll booth locations can be found online on the Delaware County, Indiana Voting and Elections website. The website provides information on where one can vote based on the precient they live in and how to find that precinct information. Here are some poll locations in Muncie, located close to Ball State’s campus:
Delaware County Polling Locations
Westminster
Presbyterian Church
2801 W Riverside Ave
Delaware County Fairgrounds
1210 N Wheeling Ave
First Presbyterian Church
1400 W Riverside Ave
Oakwood Building 2501 N Oakwood Ave
In
the Oval
The 2024 presidential election frontrunner candidates are Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and former President Donald Trump (R). The two candidates are projected to have similar opportunities to obtain victory if they win key battleground states.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the top election issues Americans are searching on Google are voter registration, crime, health care, social security, economy and immigration. Here is where each candidate stands on key issues according to AP:
KAMALA HARRIS DONALD TRUMP
- Wants to reinstate Roe v. Wade
- Middle class tax cuts
- Address and fight to stop climate change
- Endorsed comprehensive immigration reform
- Wants to continue his 2017 tax cut plan
- Massive Increase to tariffs
- Support fossil fuels
- Wants to use the National Guard to “round up migrants”
‘NOT AN OPTION’ ‘NOT AN OPTION’
New voter registration residency requirements pose potential barriers for Ball State students.
Voter laws in Indiana might pose trouble for first-time college voters.
Abigail Denault Reporter
During this 2024 general election, potential voters in Indiana may have more trouble getting to the ballot box.
Indiana House Bill 1264 went into effect July 1 as Public Law 65. The bill introduced new residency requirements for first-time voter registration in the name of “election security.”
For new voters, they might notice these changes in the online voter portal, which asks for a current and valid Indiana driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number. That information will then be compared to Indiana ID records to prove the voter’s residency.
Linda Hanson, president of the League of Women’s Voters — a nonpartisan organization that promotes voter rights and informs people on how to vote — said the legislation was meant to make elections more secure, but it also “makes [voting] much more difficult.”
She said those who do not have either an Indiana driver’s license or an Indiana social security number will then have to produce additional residency documentation. This could come in the form of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check — “whatever paycheck [or] government document that shows your name and address” — or a valid voter ID with your photo, address and expiration date.
These materials must then be presented to the election or county voter registration office before polls close on election day.
“If you’re living in a dorm or you’re living in a retirement home or kind of a condo arrangement where you don’t get utility bills — something in your name and address — you won’t have those either,” Hanson said. “There are multiple forms of residency ID that get complicated, and it makes [registration] much more stressful — that much more effort to [vote].”
Sage Waters, a second-year teaching major at Ball State University, is one such student impacted by the new legislation, which could stand in the way of her original plan to vote in Muncie.
The option, she said, would have been more convenient than voting back in her home state of Ohio. It also makes it easier since she will be living in the area for three more years, and possibly more, if she ends up teaching in Indiana.
Waters said she was not aware of the new legislation, and she assumed she would be able to register to vote as she had been taught in high school in Ohio. She said she does not receive much mail to her Ball State address, which would have helped her to establish her residency.
Yet, Waters is still determined to try.
If [college students] cannot get proof of their residency, they really want to start considering getting that absentee ballot for them because not voting is not an option.”
- CHELSEA MCDONNELL,
Director
of Outreach for MADVoters
“It is definitely discouraging, but I’m still going to try to [register],” Waters said. “I know how vital it is [to vote], not just for the presidential stuff, but in general … Being a college student, I already have a lot on my plate. I just don’t feel like it should be as challenging.”
However, college students are not the only ones feeling the impact of the legislation. WaTasha Barnes Griffin, CEO of YWCA Central Indiana, works with voter initiatives through Project 50 and Martin Luther King Dream Team. Here, she aids in making sure other groups with barriers, such as women in “transient living situations,” have the information and resources to vote.
She said the organizations she works with help women obtain the necessary materials needed
to vote by finding solutions for issues, such as a permanent mailing address and a form of ID. They aid those individuals through the process of getting an ID and set them up using the address of the shelter, a P.O. box or a church.
“We want women to know that they can vote even though they don’t have their own permanent address,” Griffin said. “We need their voices because they are impacted in ways that many of us are not, and it is imperative that their voices are heard.”
Director of Outreach for MADVoters Chelsea McDonnell added the new legislation has impacted some groups of people unexpectedly, such as those in nursing homes.
Regardless of their situation, for those still wanting to register to vote, the registration deadline is Oct. 7.
“They have to be registered to vote by Oct. 7 or they cannot vote,” McDonnell said. “If they cannot get proof of their residency, they really want to start considering getting that absentee ballot because not voting is not an option.”
For those who can make it to the polls, the process will take time. Hanson said voters should be ready to vote as early as they can in case there are any complications.
At the same time, these challenges may not be enough to stop a large portion of young first-time voters. Griffin and McDonnell both said they are seeing a major upward trend of young people being civically engaged and interested in voting, especially in this year’s elections.
I know how vital it is [to vote], not just for the presidential stuff, but like, in general … And being a college student, I already have a lot on my plate, and I just don’t feel like it should be as challenging.”
- SAGE WATERS, Second-year teaching major at Ball State University
“The [baby] boomers and the Gen X’s, they have it ingrained that it is important to go vote,” Griffin said. “Generation Z, they are out there watching. They are out there speaking, and they are not just talking — but they are actually walking that — particularly related to the national presidential election.”
Contact Abigail Denault via email at abigail. denault@bsu.edu.
A NAACP welcome booth is photographed Sept. 26 at The Clubhouse in downtown Muncie, Ind. A few different community organizations put on a drive in hopes of building a value of voting in the younger generation. ANDREW BERGER, DN
A Glance at the Gubernatorial Election
Take a look at Indiana’s govenor candidates and their potential stances, policies and plans for office.
Jennifer McCormick (D)
• Protect reproductive rights and freedom
• Expand access to childcare and pre-K
• Increase the base salary of educators
• Support unions
• Implement 40 percent increase in homeowner property tax deduction
• Cap property tax bill increases at 10 percent
• Create a 33 percent increase in renters tax deduction
• Establish the Indiana Cannabis Commission
Source: www.mccormickforgov.com
Mike Braun (R)
• Back the “America First” policies that were created in 2017 after the inauguration of President Donald Trump
• Identify as Pro-life with plans to “help mothers and their infants receive the care and social support they deserve”
• Increase salaries of police
Source: mikebraunforindiana.com
Donald Rainwater (L)
with Terry Goodin
• Start a plan to legalize medical marijuana and eventually transition into recreational usage
• Create and implement an overall water management plan
• Join the U.S. Climate Alliance
with Micah Beckwith with Tonya Hudson
• Reform the residential and agricultural property tax system
• Abolish the state personal income tax
• Eliminate the gasoline excise tax
• Streamline vehicle registration and abolishing vehicle excise taxes
• Advance cannabis reform in Indiana through decriminalization and legalization
Source: rainwaterforindiana.com
• Ensure “hard time in state prison” for those who commit “violent crime, attack a police officer, or poison our kids with fentanyl”
• Would not implement mask mandates or state lockdowns
• Endorsed by Donald Trump
• Plans to “Reduce the size of government”
• Enforce “Voluntary vaccination”
• “Pro-life Libertarian” that is upholds “Nonaggression principle”
• Wants to“Reinvigorate” vocational education in Indiana’s K-12 schools
• Abolish statewide standardized testing
DONALD RAINWATER FOR GOVENOR, PHOTO PROVIDED
ERIC PRITCHETT, DN FILE
JENNIFER MCCORMICK FOR GOVENOR, PHOTO PROVIDED
Field Hockey
Ball State hosts Longwood
GAVE GAVE ME ME SHOT’ SHOT’
Ball State welcomes Longwood University to Muncie Oct. 4 with the contest starting at noon. The Cardinals are 1-7 on the season and are 0-2 in Mid-American Conference play. The Lancers are 3-5 and are on a three-game losing streak. Junior midfielder Emma Van Hal leads Ball State with four goals scored on the season.
Men’s Golf
Ball State starting quarterback Kadin Semonza’s journey has been full of new experiences.
Ball State Athlentics
Cardinals induct Hall of Famers Cardinals compete in Badger Invitational
Ball State finished in a tie for 10th place in Wisconsin University’s Badger Invitational. Leading the Cardinals was redshirt senior Ali Khan, who finished the event one over and in the 25th spot. Behind him was Carter Smith, who was eight over and came in 40th. Ball State will have a slight break until the Cardinals compete at Little Rock Oct. 14-15.
Ball State will induct six individuals and one team for the 2024 Hall of Fame Class. This class includes the 1999 Ball State baseball team, football alums Sean Baker and Keith Wenning, swim and dive alum Dave Garrow, softball alum Jenny Gilbert, cross-country/track and field alum Linise Gordon and volleyball alum Megan Hammons. The induction ceremony will be held in Worthen Arena Oct. 4, and the class will also be honored at the football game against Western Michigan Oct. 5.
ANDREW BERGER, DN BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
Kadin Semonza’s football career has included challenges.
Zach Carter Sports Editor
Ball State redshirt freshman Kadin Semonza’s college football experience started quickly.
Going from Huntington Beach, California, to Muncie, Indiana, in the dead of winter as a 19-yearold — and then starting against the No. 1 team in the country last season in his first collegiate start — Kadin had to adapt at a rapid pace.
“I felt a lot of pressure,” Kadin said. “I put a lot of hard work and preparation into the product you see on Saturdays.”
The Cardinals’ starting quarterback is said to be one of the biggest leaders on the team, one of the hardest-working players, as well as considered “the gut” by multiple people in the program. If you ask his parents Matt and Jaclyn Semonza,
“We always tried to surround him with a great atmosphere and great people,” Matt said. “That foundation of people around him showed him the right way and what he needs to do to be the
‘I always thought I’d be in this position’
Growing up, Kadin’s love of sports came naturally as the Semonza family enjoyed watching them. He played baseball, basketball and football growing up, but his time on the gridiron helped the future Cardinal realize football was more than a game. Soon after, his dream of playing college
“I always had a dream of playing in the NFL, and this is one step along the way,” Kadin said. “… I always thought I’d be in this position.”
When he started playing football, he played every position but quarterback. Around the time he turned 12 years old, his youth team needed a quarterback and he stepped into his current position.
He received the opportunity to become the starting quarterback at Mission Viejo High School during his sophomore year. After that, he kept the job, leading the Diablos to a 33-6 record and throwing for 6,709 yards, 77 touchdown passes and
“Kadin’s one of those guys that you look at and say, ‘He’s got it,’’’ former Cardinal football player Clayton Coll said. “The ball comes off his hand differently. The spiral, the release, it just comes off different, and you recognize that early on.”
While he worked immensely to get better, Kadin credited the environment in which he played. To him, California high school football is on a
“[It’s the] best there ever is,” Kadin said. “A lot of people disagree with that. They say Florida or Texas or all that kind of stuff, but I truly do believe that California high school football is the best you’ll find.”
He said he believes the detailed play calling and pace of the game are similar to college and even professional football. Yet, it’s not just about the way the game is played, but who has played in the Golden State and where they are now.
I
felt a lot of pressure. I put a lot of hard work and preparation into the product you see on Saturdays.”
- KADIN SEMONZA, Redshirt freshman
Kadin said guys like Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the NFL’s 2023 No. 1 pick; Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, the NFL’s 2023 No. 2 pick; and the Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are all inspiration for him.
“It’s not surprising because I’ve been around a lot of those guys and then people who are closer to me who are also at the college level,” Kadin said.
‘Damn, this guy has it figured out’
While his stats and performance in high school seem impressive, the recruiting process wasn’t the smoothest for Kadin. As the oldest child, this was unfamiliar territory for him and his family.
“He had some opportunities where he had a university that was highly interested in him, was talking to him all the time, and then all of a sudden, stopped calling him,” Matt said. “For a young high school kid, they start to wonder, ‘Maybe I’m not good enough.”
But when Ball State assistant head coach Kevin Lynch’s brother Joey – who was the offensive coordinator and quarterback’s coach at Vanderbilt at the time – was scouting a teammate of Kadin, Kevin was informed about the Diablos’ starting quarterback. After getting an invite to a Ball State football prospect camp during his junior year of high school, Kadin took the opportunity and ran with it.
Cardinals’ head coach Mike Neu watched as the quarterback balled out over 2,000 miles away from home.
Freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza prays before facing Missouri State Sept. 7 at Scheumann Stadium. Semonza had four passing touchdowns in the game. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Freshman quarterback Kadin Semonza celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown against Missouri State Sept. 7 at Scheumann Stadium. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Bringing back the legacy
Bringing back the legacy
Muncie Burris senior Lilly Howell wants to revive Burris volleyball tradition and hang more state championship banners.
putting the puzzle together. Now that we put it together and everything is in place, we’re going to
Although they returned with a mostly new set of players, Howell believes the Owls still have a target on their back. After winning it all last season, most teams play them harder than they do others.
“Teams are going to want to say, ‘Oh, I beat the state champion,’ so we’ve just had to work around that, and we’ve had to realize that we have to play hard every single game,” Howell said.
She said this has been a blessing in disguise for
“I think that, honestly, made us a little bit better this year because we’ve realized that we’ve had to play really, really hard every single game, every single point. And if we don’t, then we will have to
For Howell and her teammates, some losses against teams they have beaten in the past have left them feeling disappointed. One of those losses came against county rival Wapahani — a team Burris defeated en route to their state title last fall. Although it was a loss, Howell feels she and her teammates were able to use it as a learning moment.
“We played so hard that game, and we fought really hard and we lost, but we grew so much,” Howell said.“... I think that we’re more on the right track to dealing with that pressure.”
With a roster loaded with underclassmen, head coach Jim Craig relies on his senior leaders, like Howell, to motivate those players.
“Last year, they had different roles,” Craig said. “Now, they have to kind of be in that hierarchy of leading and helping us do what we’re trying to do. Trying to keep Lilly and other seniors hanging in there for their young teammates to catch up to some stuff in practice has been important. They are doing great and have been great leaders as well.” Howell came into her high school career with the expectation to compete. What she had not yet realized was how big of a role she would play for the team. Now, with over 1,000 career kills, she has embraced her larger role and those changes over
said. “We’re in sort of a rebuilding year but we’re doing that strongly … We were just working on
Community
TREATMENT TO TESTING
TESTING TREATMENT TO
Ball State’s Student Health Center offers free STI testing each semester.
Maybelle Music Fest
There will be multiple femaleled acts at Elm Street Brewing Company Oct. 5 from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the Maybelle Music Fest. The event will also include vendors, food, drinks and sunflowers. There will be a new performer every 30 minutes at this year’s fourth-annual music fest, and the schedule for performers can be found on Elm Street’s social media pages.
Campus
Friday Filmworks Festival
Ball State University’s student organization “Spirit and Traditions” is showing “Inside Out 2” Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. in Pruis Hall as a part of their Friday Night Filmworks. The movie is 1 hour and 36 minutes, and there will be free popcorn and soda for those attending the event. The first 100 people to arrive will receive a DIY stuffed cardinal craft to take home with them.
Community
Gillman Ladies Night
“Fall Into the ’70s Ladies Night” at Gillman Home Center will be held Oct. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. The workshop event will have food and beverages, a prize for the best ’70s themed costume, games and door prizes. The event is open to the public, and reservations can be requested by calling 765-289-3388. The event is intended to “inspire and grow your DIY knowledge.”
The Ball State Student Health Center partners with the Wayne County Health Department to provide free STI testing to students.
Ella Howell Lifestyles and Copy Editor
As young adults with relatively newfound freedom, it’s a given that many students are sexually active on college campuses. Therefore, ensuring safety and keeping students sexually healthy is focused on encouraging protection over prevention.
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are preventable when engaging in casual sex with the use of protection, like condoms, dental dams and vaccinations, according to Mayo Clinic. The National Library of Medicine warns college students to be cautious.
According to the National Library of Medicine, 62 percent of young adults report condom usage outside of a committed relationship, and 19 percent report using one in an established relationship. They also said STIs would be close to zero if those in committed relationships could ensure monogamy, but “rates of concurrent partnerships among those who indicate that they are in a committed relationship are high among college students.”
The Ball State Student Health Center provides STI testing for students for a fee depending on the test, but once each semester, it partners with the Wayne County Health Department to provide students with free screenings.
Students are able to be tested for HIV, hepatitis C, gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Free tests are provided on a walk-in basis and don’t require insurance.
With this semester’s free-testing day coming up Oct. 17, Ball State’s student health center staff encourages students to stop by anytime from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Suzanne Swierc, Ball State’s director of Health Promotion and Advocacy, said students just have to come to the health center and ask for an intake form to get started.
She said the process depends on the test the student needs. Generally, staff from the Wayne County Health Department set up in the health center on free testing days and call students back when it’s their turn. They have a quick conversation with the student to figure out what they need to be tested for. The test can include a blood or urine sample or a swab of any potentially infected areas. It can take up to a week to receive results, depending on the test, and the health department will contact the student with the results. If students need treatment, they also work with them to call a prescription into a pharmacy or talk them through the next steps, Swierc said.
Swierc said the Office of Health Promotion and Advocacy works with the health center to keep a record of STI tests conducted on campus. Of those who received an STI test at Ball State’s student health center in 2023, the most common was chlamydia with 15 percent of tests coming back positive. Syphilis had a positive rate of 2.5 percent,
and gonorrhea was 2 percent. Swierc emphasized that all three of these are bacterial infections that can typically be treated with antibiotics.
Many symptoms can go unnoticed, and Swierc said without a test, some can go years without receiving treatment. Others avoid screenings due to the stigma associated with STIs.
According to Planned Parenthood, Chrissy Cmorik, the senior director of education for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, said reducing any perception of judgment surrounding the topic is important.
“What lead[s] instead is a conversation stressing the importance of knowing your own body — what’s normal for you — so you can recognize any changes and treat them early. By destigmatizing the conversation, we can destigmatize the treatment,” Cmorik said on Planned Parenthood’s website.
Chadwick Menning is the department chair for Ball State’s Department of Sociology. His areas of interest are family, social inequality and quantitative methods.
“It is important not to catastrophize or to single out college student behavior. There is a wide variety in how students approach their sex lives — with some being quite safe,” Menning said via email.
Menning also wants students to understand that STI testing doesn’t only benefit your life but the lives of others, even when receiving a negative result.
“Getting tested can provide you with greater peace of mind. It might also be considered part of your own self-care, as well as an important facet of being responsible to your partner or partners,” Menning said.
Swierc also recognizes a barrier between students and their sexual health. She said some students avoid testing due to lack of insurance or being on their parent’s insurance, so she hopes the free testing days remove that barrier.
“We recognize that students either potentially are underinsured or uninsured, or if a student is on their parent’s insurance, they may not want to get tested using their parent’s insurance and have to disclose their sexual activity to their parents,” Swierc said.
“If we are able to provide the opportunity to get tested at low to no cost, then that can help students take care of themselves [and] each other.”
Swierc said the language surrounding STIs is also important. Some health care professionals and educators feel using the term STI instead of STD is “more accurate and less stigmatizing,” according to Planned Parenthood.
“Sometimes, the term disease can be a little intimidating as well, and we want to make sure that, especially students on a college campus, but in general, everybody is aware that all STIs are treatable. Many of them are curable, and the only way to know if you have one and to be able to get treated is to get tested,” Swierc said.
STIs on campus
STIs on campus
Below is dated collected from STI testing at Ball State’s Student Health Center in 2023.
Contact Ella Howell via email at ella.howell@ bsu.edu. 15% 2.5% 2% 30-60% 40% 15% 2.5% 2% 30-60% 40% tested positive for chlamydia.
All three of these STIs are bacterial infections and, once diagnosed, are typically treated with antibiotics — this means they’re curable if treatment is taken correctly.
Source: Ball State University Health Center
tested positive for syphilis. tested positive for gonorrhea. of college students reported at least one casual sex experience without a condom during their time on campus. of college students reported consistent use of condoms.
Source: National Library of Medicine
Anybody who is sexually active is at risk of contracting an STI; however, these groups are more likely:
• People ages 15-24
• Men who have sex with men
• Pregnant people
• Racial and ethnic minority groups
Source: Indiana Department of Health
The front of the Amelia T. Wood Health Center building is photographed Sept. 30 at Ball State University. The Ball State Student Health Center provides free STI testing once a semester to students. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
SEMONZA
Continued from Page 18
“He just lit it up,” Neu said. “We had around 20 quarterbacks here that day with four or five being in the position that we liked their tape but wanted to see them in person. He was just awesome — everything about that workout, from getting on the same page with wideouts and tight ends. There’s a lot of value I place in that and like, ‘Damn, this guy has it figured out.’”
After receiving an offer that same day from Ball State, the Semonza family flew back to California that night. The next day, Kadin decided to commit to the red and white.
Matt said getting to meet and spend time with Ball State’s coaching staff was a deciding factor in Semonza’s decision.
Kadin graduated early his senior year to get a jumpstart in Muncie. While he won’t admit it, Matt knew his son struggled with being so far from home.
“He got thrown into the fire. Getting that all under his belt, starting classes, going to a place that’s 2,100 miles away, living in a dorm room, starting the football schedule,” Matt said. “All those things were thrown at him pretty darn quickly.”
When his name was called to start against No.1 Georgia last season, he was once again in new territory. Considering it was his first collegiate start and his first action since playing high school football the year before, he took it all in.
“You feel the atmosphere and all that kind of stuff,” Kadin said. “But once you get out there, I can’t really describe the feeling. It was surreal, awesome and I loved every bit of it.”
With help from guys like junior tight end Tanner Koziol and former Cardinals’ tight end Brady Hunt, his teammates aided him in adjusting to the area and became leaders for the new collegiate quarterback. Another former Ball State player who helped Kadin was Coll.
“We had a bunch of conversations off the field about how I should go about things and how I can be better at all that kind of stuff,” Kadin said. However, the Cardinals found themselves in a three-way battle for the starting quarterback job. When then-redshirt junior Kial Kelley won the spot by week seven, Kadin was redshirted and watched the remainder of the year from the sidelines. Coll was there to help him through.
“I think that’s the biggest mistake that young guys make,” Coll said. “But it’s evident because when they get their chance, those young guys that have a great sophomore year or start as a junior, that’s because of the work they did as a freshman.” While somewhat frustrating at the time, Kadin
now looks at the situation and appreciates what he learned from the moment.
“It’s awesome to play against [No.1 Georgia and Kentucky],” Kadin said. “Then to sit back and redshirt, it made sure I got everything else figured out so that I’m able to go out there and lead the boys and succeed this year.”
‘They gave me a shot’
The morning before Ball State played the Bulldogs Sept. 9, 2023, Kadin texted Matt and told him he was starting. It was a moment the family will never forget.
“He said, ‘They gave me a shot’ and I was like, ‘Let’s go,” Matt said, chuckling. “I knew what he was up against, but it was everything he ever dreamed of.”
As of Ball State’s first four games this season, Kadin has 828 passing yards, eight touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. Though the Cardinals are 1-3, the offense has clicked with the young quarterback so far.
“He’s working with our offensive line every day,” redshirt junior receiver Qian Magwood said. “He just gets everyone on the same page, and we just go make the plays. He makes it easy for us.”
While his gameplay is respected by the Cardinals, there is something else he brings every day.
“His swag, everything about him from how he walks in the room, you just feel his energy,” Magwood said.
Magwood compared his energy to former Ball State running back Carson Steele, who now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. In the loss against Central Michigan Sept. 21, the Cardinals were in a two-minute position. Kadin was his usual self.
“He walks [in the huddle] and says, ‘Boys, don’t act like we haven’t done this before,’” Magwood said. “Then we went down and scored.”
Though Kadin has seemed to adjust to Ball State football just fine, according to people around the program, there is one thing that reminds him of every game he’s played in since high school: a pregame text from his father.
“I send him a little note and a lot of it just centered around trusting and believing the process,” Matt said. “When you get an opportunity, do everything you can, and trust yourself and your training.”
To Kadin, it reminds him that his family has been there every step of the way. Regardless of what happens or how he performs, he knows his family’s support is one thing that will never change.
“I couldn’t ask for a better set of parents. They give me everything, and I owe them,” Kadin said. “I always find them [in the crowd] before the game.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X via @ZachCarter85.
Kadin’s one of those guys that you look at and say, ‘He’s got it.’ The ball comes off his hand differently. The spiral, the release, it just comes off different, and you recognize that early on.”
- CLAYTON COLL, former Ball State football player
LEGACY
Continued from Page 19
“I just realized that I was going to be a little bit more needed on the team,” she said. “My freshman year, I was surrounded by seven seniors. So, I just didn’t really have to have that role … I realized, I want to get these kills, and I want to put them away, and I want to help us win.”
Along with embracing a larger workload on the court, Howell has stepped up as one of her teammates’ most important leaders. They look to her when times are tough, and when they need someone to lean on.
“I learn more and more from her every day about what being a reliable leader looks like,” senior Mya Trammell said. “In stressful or tight situations, mentally, Lilly is a very stable and dependable leader whose willingness and heart are contagious. She is someone the team counts on emotionally and skill-wise.”
Howell has a kind of passion and leadership that cannot be taught. Her teammates notice that every day, and they think that is what sets her apart from other great players.
“There is nothing Lilly cares about more than the growth and success of her teammates,” Tramell said. “Lilly is a special player to me purely because of her heart. She cares so much about this game, and that is a quality that cannot be taught. She sacrifices a lot for her team, and her passion and commitment to this team is not something that goes unnoticed.”
Contact Logan Connor via email at logan. connor@bsu.edu or via X @_loganconnor
Senior Lilly Howell spikes the ball against Noblesville High School Sept. 23 at Ball Gymnasium. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Crossword & Sudoku
12 Transgression
13 Gridiron distances: Abbr.
18 “Take it away!”
21 Caution
25 Butterfly stage
26 Dance party mix
27 Utah ski resort
28 Valuable item
29 Rattlesnake tooth
31 Entertain
32 Very, in Spanish
33 Property tax calculators
Reindeer”
66 Demonstrate
67 Some 35mm cameras Down
1 Easy-to-grow herb in the mustard family
2 “You __ be there”
3 Wall-climbing vines
4 Bread often cut into triangles
5 Neil who has been a Supreme Court justice since 2017
