Chalk and Canvas Ball State professor displays art in exhibition and reflects on her career.
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RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION
Bill proposes to make halls smoke-free Legislation may take three to four weeks to vote on. L
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Residence Hall Association has decided to begin writing legislation proposing to make all residence halls smoke-free for the 2002-2003 school year. Several students have said the biggest disagreement among hall residents is whether to allow smoking in the building, said Patty Martinez, assistant
director of housing and residence life, at Thursday’s weekly RHA meeting. Beginning in the 2001 Fall Semester, smoking will be allowed only on certain floors, Martinez said. Those floors include the fourth and eighth floors of Mysch/Hurst and Knotts/Edwards; the first floor of Howick/Williams; the ninth and 10th floors of Shively; and the seventh and eighth floors of Wilson. Mike Bennett, chair of RHA’s issues and facilities committee, urged RHA members to pass the legislation, saying that housing may go forth with the legislation with or without student support. Martinez said it would probably take
three to four weeks for RHA to write and vote on the legislation, depending on input received from upcoming hall council and RHA meetings. “Housing wanted students to talk about the smoking issue because each semester more and more students are coming onto campus who don’t smoke and who are allergic to smoke,” Martinez said, adding that all of Purdue’s residence halls recently turned smoke-free. But Martinez also said she wants to make Ball State residence halls a place where students want to live. “It’s not a done deal that this would
be a non-smoking campus,” she said. Proposal Housing and Residence Life has ■ SMOKING FLOORS given the heads-up to incoming stuBeginning in the dents by including a listing of smoking fall, smoking will and smoke-free halls in housing applibe allowed on cation literature, Martinez said. certain floors, At the meeting, RHA also presented including fourth grade point average data for Fall 2000. and eighth floors Seniors living on-campus topped the list, Mysch/Hurst and with a 3.2 GPA. Off-campus seniors were Knotts/Edwards, second with a 3.1 average. On-campus first-floor Howick/ juniors were third with a 3.0 average. Williams, ninth On-campus sophomores averaged and 10th floors of 2.8; off-campus juniors 2.8; on-campus Shively and sevfreshmen 2.7; off-campus sophomores enth and eighth 2.5; and off-campus freshmen 2.1. floors of Wilson.
Page 5 On a roll Ball State puts its undefeated MAC record on the line against Northern Illinois.
Muncie’s own X-File
IFC
Fraternity averages fall below male GPA
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Okay, so the actual episode of “The X-Files” was filmed in Los Angeles, but the small
PATRICIA GRAY C H I E F
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Scully and John Doggett when you need them?
unknown city of Muncie is the featured setting
R E P O R T E R
for the popular cult television series. But why Muncie? “I was looking for a small rust belt kind of town,” said Jeffrey Bell, executive story editor for “The X-Files.” A native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Lawrence Central High School, Bell said his grandparents lived in Muncie and because of his familiarity with Muncie’s surroundings, it was
P H O T O I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y D A I LY N E W S G R A P H I C S
used because of its atmosphere. X-FILES SEE PAGE 2
B Y P A T R I C I A G R A Y, S T A F F P H O T O G R A P H E R
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The InterFraternity Council’s allfraternity grade point average dropped below the all-male average for the first time since spring 1997. Dropping an average total of 0.063 points, six IFC fraternities remain above the all-male average of 2.649, and 13 fell below. Phi Delta Theta fell below the all-male average for the first time since Fall Semester 1997 with a move in rank from fourth to 11th, dropping a chapter average of 0.357 grade points. Other significant Fall GPAs declines includ■ BIGGEST INCREASES ed Delta Chi Alpha Tau Omega dropping 0.340, rose from 12th Kappa Alpha Psi to third with an 0.409, Theta Xi average increase 0.324 and Sigma of 0.192 and Beta Nu 0.540. Theta Pi rose from Making giant 13th to fifth with steps forward in an 0.176 increase. academic standings were Alpha Tau Omega and Beta Theta Pi. ATO progressed from 12th in rank to third with an average increase of 0.192 and Betas moved from 13th to fifth with an increase of 0.176. “We were always on the lower end of the scale,” said Jason Leach, Beta Theta Pi Scholarship Chairman. With a little bit of pressure from Betas’ executive board implementing stricter rules that cut some social events, including many house parties, the fraternity was able to better concentrate on its academics, Leach said. He said he noticed a significant difference earlier on in the semester when members began opting to study instead of doing other things. Alpha Tau Omega president Justin Combs said the fraternity’s game plan for better grades began from step one: recruitment. ATO focused on academics while recruiting new members, said Combs. They also developed a “buddy system” to wake each other up for morning classes. The National Panhellenic Council held strong in its position above the allwomen’s average. The all-sorority average for the 15 chapters in fall 2000 was 2.960, 0.003 points above the all-women’s average. “This is the seventh time in eight semesters that we have been above the all-women’s average at Ball State,” said Lynda Malugen, adviser to the Panhellenic Council. “The Panhellenic scholarship chair has done a good job this year. They visit each chapter to have a one-on-one meeting to see what they can do to help each chapter, individually, in order to succeed in academics,” Malugen said.
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With a monster loose in Muncie, where’s Dana
All-fraternity grade point average drops 0.063 points to 2.586.
‘X-Files’ top-secret information 1. The script of ‘The X-Files Movie’ was printed on red paper to prevent it from being photocopied. 2. There are more than 2,000 unofficial ‘X-Files’ sites on the Internet. 3. ‘3’ is the only episode filmed without Gillian Anderson.
4. ‘The X-Files’ is seen in more than 60 countries. 5. One member of ‘The X-Files Movie’ film crew was fired for talking to hotel staff. 6. ‘Ten Thirteen Productions’ is named after creator Chris Carter’s birthday.
DIGITAL MEDIA REPOSITORY, PHOTO COURTESY — compiled from fan Web site.
ESCAPE
Texas officials detail mistakes behind prison break Seven fugitives remain at large after overcoming prison guards. B Y
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AUSTIN, TEXAS — Seven inmates were able to break out of a Texas prison last month because of mistakes by employees, including an officer who ignored a silent fire alarm tripped by guards being held hostage, state officials said Thursday. ‘‘The system has failed,’’ said Gary Johnson, institutional director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. ‘‘It is our responsibility to discover how and why this tragedy occurred.’’ Alejandro Marroquin, one of the guards
taken hostage, was kept from asking questions during a news conference and he tossed his security badge at top prison officials. Marroquin said prison leaders are ‘‘scapegoating’’ some employees. ‘‘I tried to fight back, but after they’re putting knives around your neck, you’re not going to fight back. You know you’re going to die, or you’re going to live,’’ he said. The convicts escaped Dec. 13 from the maximum-security Connally Unit, 60 miles southeast of San Antonio. They have since been charged with the Christmas Eve murder of a Dallas-area police officer, and are still missing. The report released Thursday was unflattering and specific: The inmates spent more than 2 1/2 hours over lunchtime making their escape, overpowered 13 prison
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employees and drove away from the facility unchallenged in a prison truck. ‘‘In retrospect, the events fit together like a puzzle. We just didn’t fit them together fast enough to keep the offenders from escaping,’’ Johnson said. He said inmates were able to take 11 employees and three prisoners hostage in a maintenance storage room, binding them with duct tape and plastic ties and threatening them with homemade knives. Pillow cases were put over the hostages’ heads. George Rivas, the suspected leader of the escapees, told one employee: ‘‘This is no joke. We go home and you go home, or not, it’s up to you.’’ Six of the felons worked in the maintenance shop and the seventh was able to join them by somehow making his way unde-
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tected from the prison law library. The report said a prison employee noticed several of the unsupervised inmates in the maintenance area but did not report it as suspicious. It also said several hostages managed to free themselves and pull a silent fire alarm, but the prison official who called the maintenance area didn’t get an answer, turned off the alarm and did not send anyone to investigate. A few inmates disguised themselves as maintenance workers to get unchecked access to the prison’s entrance and exit area. Once there, Johnson said, they managed to overpower yet another guard and forced him at gunpoint to open a gate. The gang stole more than a dozen firearms and left a note saying ‘‘You haven’t heard the last of us yet.’’
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From The Easterner to The Daily News On Jan. 14, 2001, the science-
Jan. 5: Following the Food
fiction television series “The X-Files” episode “Salvage,” although filmed in Los Angeles, took place in Muncie. Jeffrey Bell, executive story director for the series, said his familiarity with the area led to it being used for the episode. If you have any Daily News memories you’d like to see, email news@bsudailynews.com.
and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation set Jan. 3, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) announced Jan. 5 all Hoosiers age 12 to 15 are eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least five months after their second. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the FDA’s recommendation Jan. 5.
Cardinals lose MAC home opener
Men’s volleyball set to open 2022 season
Jan. 9: Ball State Women’s Basketball lost 54-51 against Kent State. Redshirt junior Anna Clephane and freshman Ally Becki each scored a team-high 10 points. Becki shot 2 of 5 from the 3-point line. The Cardinals shot 17 of 53 from the field and committed 18 turnovers. Kent State scored six points off turnovers and outrebounded Ball State 43-32. VOL. 101 ISSUE: 16 CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com
The Ball State Daily News (USPS144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, publishes Thursdays during the academic year, except 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.
Indiana expands COVID booster eligibility
EDITORIAL BOARD Taylor Smith, Editor-in-chief Connor Smith, Managing Editor Grace McCormick, News Editor Maya Wilkins, Lifestyles Editor Ian Hansen, Sports Editor John Lynch, Opinion Editor Adele Reich, Video Editor Rylan Capper, Photo Editor Emily Dodd, Social Media Editor Emily Hunter, Copy Director CREATIVE SERVICES Maggie Getzin, Creative Director Kamryn Tomlinson, Visual Editor Alex Hindenlang, Visual Editor
City of Muncie announces debt reduction Jan. 6: In the first two years of Mayor Dan Ridenour’s administration, the Muncie Redevelopment Commission (MRC) has avoided borrowing and has instead tried to pay cash for projects. A city press release said MRC’s debt totals have decreased by $6.7 million in the past two years. Ridenour said he is looking to improve Muncie’s financial standing through investment in parks, new housing and residents.
Jan.13: The Cardinals begin
their 2022 season against Maryville Jan. 13. The match begins at 7 p.m. First-year head coach Donan Cruz will make his Ball State debut, joining the Cardinals after 10 years as head coach of Grand View University. It will be the first of five home matches to start the season for Ball State. The Cardinals finished 7-3 at home in 2021.
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CORRECTION The Ball State Daily News is committed to providing accurate news to the community. In the event we need to correct inaccurate information, you will find that printed here. To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
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01.13.22
THE POWER
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National
BEHIND
Bob Saget found dead in hotel room at 65 Bob Saget, actor and comedian known for his roles as Danny Tanner on “Full House” and the host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” was found dead at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 9. Saget, who was 65, was in Florida for his “I Don’t Do Negative Comedy Tour.” Detectives investigating his death reported “no signs of foul play or drug use.”
National
PLANNING
Students submit designs like this College of Architecture and Planning design from the 2019 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy holds the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge annually. TOM COLLINS, PHOTO PROVIDED
College of Architecture and Planning takes part in build competition. Hannah Amos Reporter To continue providing students with hands-on opportunities to apply their studies, Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) has taken up the challenge of designing and building a net-zero energy house for the 2023 Solar Decathlon held by the U.S. Department of Energy. “A net-zero energy house is a house that is low energy,” said Tom Collins, assistant professor of architecture. “It also is a house that can make at least as much energy as it uses each year on its site.” The Solar Decathlon has two challenges universities can participate in: design, an annual competition, and build, a biennial competition. Collins said Ball State has participated in the department’s international competition for years in both the design and build challenges. The Department of Energy began hosting these
[The competition] allows students at Ball State to meet and interact with people outside of the university in a couple of ways. One way is that it encourages the students to work with a community partner and industry partners. A lot of that’s a big focus at Ball State.” - TOM COLLINS, Assistant professor of architecture
competitions in 2002, and Ball State completed its first build challenge in partnership with the University of Louisville in 2013. Each competition asks students to design and build their houses, which are then placed on a flatbed trailer and driven to an exhibit for judging. Industry experts judge the student’s house based on their energy-saving solutions and the functions of the house. “Teams that compete in the Solar Decathlon Build Challenge must design and construct fully functional houses,” according to the Department of Energy. Since the 2020 Build Challenge, the Department of Energy has attempted to make the builds more sustainable by having them built at local sites, which is what Ball State’s CAP program is doing in Indianapolis for the 2023 Build Challenge.
See PLANNING, 05
Biden administration sends tests to schools The White House announced Jan. 12 it will send 5 million free rapid tests to K-12 schools each month in an effort to implement and sustain screening testing to help schools stay open. Five million PCR lab tests will also be available to schools. State governments can request additional tests, and the first shipments are expected to be delivered in late January 2022.
Indiana
Funding awarded to victim organizations The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) has awarded more than $2 million in grant funding to 20 organizations across the state that help support sexual assault victims. In Delaware County, the organization A Better Way Services, Inc., was awarded $241,791 to help provide sexual assault survivors with emotional support, advocacy and counseling services.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: WHERE TO GET A COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT IN MUNCIE
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CLIMBING CASE COUNTS COVID-19 stats in Delaware County
The United States has been hitting its peak of newly reported COVID-19 cases multiple times in the month of January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since late December 2021, newly reported cases have been in the hundreds of thousands each day. On Jan. 10, the U.S. reached more than 1 million newly reported cases, a global record. The COVID-19 omicron variant was first confirmed in the U.S. Dec. 1, 2021 and first confirmed in Indiana Dec. 19, 2021. The CDC announced Dec. 20 omicron had been detected in most states and territories and “is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases it is causing.” According to the CDC county view of transmission rates, Delaware County, as well as all of Indiana and most of the U.S., is experiencing high levels of COVID-19 transmission. Here’s some local COVID-19 information for Delaware County and Ball State:
Total fully vaccinated percentage as of Jan. 11:
75.5% fully vaccinated Ball State students, full-time and part-time employees:
85.3% of faculty are fully vaccinated
74.8%
Pre-arrival tests submitted for spring 2022: *Testing was only required for unvaccinated students. Source: Ball State COVID-19 dashboard
Newly reported COVID-19 cases in Delware County weekly totals Delaware County’s record for newly reported cases in a week remains 715 cases recorded between Dec. 2-9, 2020. Here’s what the past two months have looked like, as reported by the Delaware County Health Department: Source: Delaware County Indiana Coronavirus Hub
Of the
of students are fully vaccinated
80.7% of students living in residence halls are fully vaccinated
Source: Mayo Clinic; Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution; Greg Fallon, Ball State chief digital marketing and communications director
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“[The competition] allows students at Ball State to meet and interact with people outside of the university in a couple of ways,” Collins said. “One way is that it encourages the students to work with a community partner and industry partners. A lot of that’s a big focus at Ball State — where we have immersive learning classes, where we encourage lots of classes to engage with the community.” Collins said another appealing opportunity the competition provides is the ability to connect with students at other universities. The 2023 Build Challenge had 32 teams apply for the competition from 10 countries, according to the Department of Energy. CAP is going to build the net-zero energy house in a downtown neighborhood on the east side of Indianapolis. This house will be a part of the revitalization happening in these neighborhoods, alongside Englewood Community Development Corporation’s (Englewood CDC) partnership with East Washington Street. Englewood CDC is a “nonprofit entity that facilitates revitalization,” Collins said. “The reason we chose Indy is just because there’s a lot of development going on down there,” Collins said. “There’s a lot of interest in sustainability and in doing projects like this, and we found some great partners in these neighborhoods that we work in down there that are interested in working with our students.” A group of College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) students and faculty involved in the Solar Decathlon 2023 Build Challenge pose for a photo outside the R. Wayne Estopinal CAP building in October 2021. The 2023 Build Challenge also acts as an immersive learning program for CAP students. ROBBIE MEHLING/OFFICE OF IMMERSIVE LEARNING, PHOTO PROVIDED
Because of all of the different lectures that we’ve been given, we have done deep-dive studies into different materials for the exterior of our building [and] for good insulation properties. These are some of the parameters, that in the real world, you’re going to have to follow these. So I think it’s been a really great step into the real-life direction outside of school.” - ZOE RADER, Graduate architecture student Community partners, such as the Englewood CDC and Jefferson Electric, will help the students with the house. In the past, CAP has worked with Englewood CDC on design challenges, but the current build project happening in Indianapolis is the first time CAP has partnered with Englewood CDC on a build challenge. Jefferson Electric designs and installs solar panels on buildings and is helping students with the electrical functions of the home. CAP is also working with the professional organization American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which has been helping students decide on heating and cooling systems with mechanical engineers. Englewood CDC is working on a plan to develop 20 duplex-style homes on vacant lots in the Englewood neighborhood. These new homes will provide 40 units of new housing in total. Englewood CDC has also been involved with establishing multiple new charter schools in the neighborhood to help with revitalization. Englewood CDC’s project is catered to lowincome families, and it will rent these homes as affordable housing with a monthly rent below $500, which is a prime focus of the nonprofit. It provides four different apartment options, along with rental homes and homeownership programs, according to its website. Graduate architecture student Zoe Rader is excited about making a house for a client, even though the class doesn’t know the specifics of the family. She believes this project will help prepare her for her future career in architecture. “Because of all of the different lectures that we’ve been given, we have done deep-dive studies into different materials for the exterior of our building [and] for good insulation properties,” Rader said. “These are some of the parameters, that in the real world, you’re going to have to follow these. So I think it’s been a really great step into the real-life direction outside of school.” Along with being part of an international
competition, the net-zero energy house also serves as an immersive learning opportunity. CAP received a Provost Immersive Learning Grant in 2021. CAP applied for the grant a year ago, and the competition started in July 2021. Collins said faculty and advisers had been planning this project for about six months before the start of the competition, and the house is expected to be finished in spring 2023. Multiple classes are focusing on the netzero energy house. In the fall 2021 semester, Community-Engaged Applied Learning Design Studio (ARCH 601), Comprehensive Architecture Studio (ARCH 400) and Landscape Architectural Engineering 4 (LA 414) were three classes focused on different design aspects of the house. Rader was in ARCH 601, taught by Pamela Harwood, professor of architecture. The class was organized into groups to focus on making netzero energy designs at the start of the semester, and these groups had a mix of graduate and undergraduate students. In Rader’s class, time was split between a lecture focused on what the students were working on and workshop time. During workshop, groups communicated with each other and the other classes involved, coordinated presentations and created a narrative for their design. Despite being architecture courses, Rader said students of many majors can participate in the project. “I would encourage to possibly try and make this something that maybe business majors can even
NET-ZERO VS. CARBON NEUTRAL Net-zero energy means the total amount of greenhouse gas or fossil fuel energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of renewable energy created or stored by the building. Carbon neutral means a building emits the same amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as it offsets by absorbing carbon dioxide. Action that absorb carbon dioxide include planting trees, using bioplastic packaging and materials and recycling carbon-emitting substances that otherwise would have polluted the atmosphere. However, carbon-neutral buildings don’t necessarily need to actively remove carbon from the atmosphere. Source: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and Computer Network
look at: how can they market this, [and] how can they give our house a brand?” Rader said. Collins encourages anybody interested in being a part of the project to get in touch, as there may be opportunities for students to “plug in and engage” with the program. Contact Hannah Amos with comments at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ HannahA15361356.
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FINDING FAMILY Ball State’s Friendship Family Program participants share international bonding experiences. Ayah Eid Reporter When Ashra Wickramathilaka, second-year graduate urban and regional planning major from Galle, Sri Lanka, came to Muncie, she didn’t know any family members or friends who lived in the area. This, coupled with homesickness, made adjusting to American life difficult, she said. Since 1960, Ball State’s Friendship Family Program has provided international students like Wickramathilaka with familiar faces away from home. “Programs like this are important because they provide a helpful support system for international students while
GOOGLE MAPS, PHOTO COURTESY; AMBER PIETZ, DN DESIGN
a gathering place for friends Only one mile from campus!
they are away from their home countries, along with cross-cultural understanding and awareness for both international students and local host families,” Friendship Family Coordinator Samantha Fletcher said. Fletcher said both students and families specify preferences, such as spoken languages or gender, for their Friendship Family match in their applications, which are open year-round. Students and families are then paired together based on those individual preferences. The host program can last as long as the students are studying at Ball State, or they can request different family matches. While students don’t live with their assigned families, they spend time with one another, depending on the student’s and family’s schedules. Fletcher said host families also help support their students adjust to American culture and life in Muncie, but she said life in another country can still be hard for students who aren’t used to being so far from home.
See FAMILY, 18
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Cross Country
Ball State places 6 on Academic All-MAC The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced its 2021 Women’s Cross Country Academic All-MAC teams Jan. 11. Sophomore Ashley Craycraft, sophomore Elka Machan, senior Karleigh Conner, sophomore Kylee Martin, senior Maddie Aul and junior Vivian Van Eck received honors. Cross country led all Ball State programs with a 3.77 fall semester GPA.
Men’s Basketball
Akron defeats Ball State Ball State fell against Akron 84-74 Jan. 11. Freshman center Payton Sparks scored a team-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Redshirt senior forward Miryne Thomas scored 12 points while junior guard Demarius Jacobs and sophomore guard Luke Bumbalough each tallied 10 points. The Zips scored 24 second-chance points, outrebounding the Cardinals 40-27.
Ball State journalists, Daniel Kehn and Jacy Bradley, traveled with the Cardinals to Montgomery, Alabama, for the Camellia Bowl. MAEVE BRADFIELD, PHOTO PROVIDED
Gymnastics
Cardinals have best opening scores since 2018 While Missouri defeated Ball State 196.600-193.775 in a tri-meet Jan. 7, it was the Cardinals’ highest opening score since 2018. The 193.775 score was good enough for a victory against Illinois State (191.600). Individually, junior Megan Teter registered a team-best 9.800. The Cardinals return to action Jan. 16 against Western Michigan. Events begin at 1 p.m.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: SPARKS HAS CAREER DAY IN BALL STATE’S LOSS AGAINST AKRON
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RYLAN CAPPER, DN PHOTO; MAGGIE GETZIN, DN DESIGN
I am a journalist Writing for The Daily News helped me overcome my fears and doubts.
Daniel Kehn Reporter Daniel Kehn is a freshman journalism and telecommunications news major and writes for The Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Entering my first semester of college, it was hard to tell people that I was studying journalism. A good deal of the time, I got “the look.” It’s perfectly passive-aggressive. It’s the slightly uncomfortable smile. It’s the condescending bend in the eyebrows that ponders if I actually know what I’m doing. It’s the “good for you” that feels so much like a slap in the face. Those responses drowned out the positive support I had for my passion. They made it hard to stand firm in my convictions, and they would always leave a shred of doubt in my mind. It’s not every day you pack your life into your parent’s minivan and move to Indiana with the dream of becoming a sports journalist and, contrary to what I had told my mother on numerous occasions, I was wildly unsure about college. It seemed a little too much for my skill level. I was petrified that everyone around me would be light-years smarter, more organized and generally have their lives together far more than I did. Doubt lived in my head and plagued my daily life, so much so that I didn’t finish packing until 3 a.m. the morning I left home. Sitting in the press box at the Camellia Bowl at the end of my first semester, preparing to cover my first bowl game on Christmas Day and looking back on how I felt on day one, I found that anxiety comically overestimated. My plan for my first month of school was simple: find whoever runs The Daily News and talk to them, get to know them and maybe get an article published if it was up to par. I talked to this nice lady named Lisa Renze-Rhodes over the summer, and she seemed to know what was going on in
student media. It turned out she ran the Unified Media Lab (UML) and advised The Daily News. Months later, and well into my career at The Daily News, I can say she’s definitely a good person to know. When I took my tour in the spring, I remember not being able to go into the UML. The guide was far more interested in showing me the Chickfil-A downstairs than anything else, but I tried to peek in through the huge glass windows to see what was inside. It was the first real newsroom that I had ever seen in person, and I knew I wanted to spend all my time there. Now, I do. I quickly became acquainted with the sports section of The Daily News, which I firmly believe is the best group of student sports journalists in the country, and was given the women’s volleyball beat. I knew as much about volleyball as I knew about rocket science, but I took the opportunity and started learning as much as I could. The rest of my first semester of college was a blur of stats, copy, pictures, transcriptions, edits and “pinch-meis-this-real life” moments – my first few months fiercely exceeded my expectations. Not only was I able to cover a Division I volleyball program, but I covered football and basketball, too. No part of my mind thought I would be doing the things that I’m doing so quickly into college. Finishing the semester, I covered the Mid-American Conference Volleyball Championship, the NCAA volleyball tournament and traveled to Alabama to cover a bowl game. I don’t experience too many of those “pinch me” moments that I previously mentioned, but the trip to Alabama was certainly full of them. Walking into the press box, the journalists around me were chatting and networking while I was trying to hold in my excitement and locate the bathroom. I was nervous, yes, but not out of place. I didn’t think I needed to bolt back into the elevator and find the first flight back home – just a deep breath.
I personally believe that the press box is one of the best views you will ever get in any athletic venue. Combined with a flurry of stats, interview questions and possible story angles, I was in
journalist heaven. Not only was I given the opportunity to do meaningful work, but I was having a blast doing it. Despite asking myself “who let you in here” several times in the first 10 minutes, I came to what is usually a once-in-a-lifetime realization: This is where I belonged. Once that thought crosses your mind, there’s no going back. You stand a little taller, sit a little straighter and begin to put everything you have into what you do. You pull the punches when you don’t know if something is right for you. You don’t try as hard. You don’t produce your best because what if you do and you still aren’t happy? I was pulling my punches. I didn’t know whether this would be right for me, but I am now certain it is. When I tell people I’m a journalist, I stand a little taller. I sit a little straighter. I say it confidently because I know it’s where I belong. Contact Daniel Kehn with comments at daniel.kehn@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ daniel_kehn.
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09 Jacy Bradley Columnist Jacy Bradley is a freshman photographic storytelling journalism major and writes for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily represent those of the newspaper. I had a lot of firsts when covering the Camellia Bowl Christmas Day. First, I’m a freshman from Eaton, Indiana, a tiny town just north of Muncie. I haven’t traveled far in my life, let alone to photograph something so big for The Daily News. Second, I was inexperienced in photographing football, and it was my first bowl game. However, during my short five day-stay in Montgomery, Alabama, I learned and developed many different photography skills. I traveled with Ball State Football players, coaches and personnel on the way down to Montgomery, which was my first time flying. I had the opportunity to capture various events the
Cardinals participated in leading up to the big game. I was able to photograph a luncheon with both Ball State and Georgia State players, a team bowling outing and a press conference with both head coaches, Shawn Elliott and Mike Neu, of the Cardinals and Panthers, respectively. Throughout each day, I tried my hand at quick media coverage via Twitter and provided updates on what the Cardinals were doing at each of the events. While this type of coverage was an adjustment for me as a student journalist, it was also extremely rewarding. Learning to capture the duller moments in an interesting way was a great way to advance my photography skills. I followed the Cardinals to two of their three practices leading up to the game. This was crucial for me to get comfortable photographing football. In the fall semester, I had only photographed one Ball State Football game, so I took every opportunity to better understand what angles would be best for the game itself. By photographing other events, like dinners and luncheons, I was able to play with some different lighting and angles to make these photos more visually interesting.
a m a -I t s i l a n r u p h o t o j o ing the
Photograpohwl forced Camellia Bmy journalistic me outsidefort zone. com ) I( took these
The final day leading up to the game, I walked around downtown Montgomery and worked on my street photography skills to add to my final gallery. The town of Montgomery had unique architecture, statues and art that made for an interesting collection. Fast forward to the game, I was immediately nervous. I wanted to take great photos of such a cool event, and I put a lot of pressure on myself. However, after warmups, I had taken lots of photos of the players and felt a little more comfortable. The reality of what I was covering was in the back of my mind the whole time, but I kept telling myself this was just another football game. As the Cardinals came out of the locker room, my nerves came back again. When the players ran out onto the field, I put myself in a good position to capture the emotion of the players . Once they were ready for kickoff, I got myself in position next to the players on the sideline to get any photographs I could of the Cardinals’ offense. Twenty minutes after kickoff, redshirt senior quarterback Drew Plitt threw a 56-yard pass to junior wide receiver Jayshon Jackson. Jackson caught the ball and ran it to the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. I got the
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photographs. My heart was beating quickly trying to make sure I got a clear photographs of the catch and the celebration. Seconds after getting the photos, I quickly edited and posted them to Twitter. From there on, I did this as the Cardinals played and updated fans via Twitter. Even when Ball State wasn’t scoring, I had to keep posting photos, so I got creative with it toward the end of the game. I played around with different angles and positions on the field and, by game’s end, I was easily placing myself where I could get good photographs of offensive plays and taking the photos I wanted. As a freshman journalist, the opportunity to travel and photograph just the second bowl game Ball State had played in since 2013 was a crucial moment in developing my photography skills. I overcame the nerves of flying, pumping out media coverage and photographing a big game to make some of my best photos I’ve taken yet. I learned more about photography in the five days I was in Montgomery than I had in my first couple years taking photos, and I will take this with me as I grow and better my work as a student photojournalist. Contact Jacy Bradley with comments at jlbradley@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ jacylbradley.
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Ball Bearings Audio engineer Andrew Ryan works in the recording studio for Broken Nose Theatre’s world premiere audio drama “Primer.” The audio drama streamed from Nov. 15-Dec. 12, 2021. SPENSER
A ‘Soup’erb Small Business
DAVIS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Kate Crow is the owner of “Runaround Soup,” a small soup and bread business in downtown Muncie that sells different soup options with bread every week and is a to-go service for busy families. She opened storefront in September after two months of selling her soups and recounted the journey getting there as “very exciting, but scary.”
Byte
A Story of Young Love
CHANGE OF STAGE How filling in for shows at Ball State shaped actor and alumnus E.M. Davis’ career
Grace Bentkowski Reporter Chicago-based actor E.M. Davis remembers entering their freshman year at Ball State as a “wannabe actor.” Davis wanted to major in acting in college, but they had some discouraging conversations about becoming an actor with previous high school teachers and family members. “They would ask me, ‘But what else do you want to do with your life?’” Davis said. “They weren’t the best of conversations in terms of giving me hope.” Davis, 2011 Ball State graduate, took up the safest option by pursuing theater education and opted to teach future students about the joys of theater in case they were not able to act as a career.
We were treating [Primer] like true mainstages despite being in person. It was fun to have those come together after so much less artistic output … it was just incredibly invigorating.” - E.M. DAVIS, 2011 Ball State theater education graduate
ON BYTE: ‘DONDA’ VS. ‘CERTIFIED LOVER BOY’
“If I can’t be an actor, then I’ll be a theater teacher, and I’ll [encourage] future theater artists,” Davis said. As a student, Davis enrolled in a variety of theater education classes, but by their junior year, the educational path left them worn out with the same feeling they started college with. “I was miserable,” Davis said. “I realized it about halfway through. I did have a love for teaching and a love for learning, but that actoritching bug was still there.” In one of Davis’ directing classes their junior year, not many acting majors were available to participate in pieces performed in Davis’ class due to conflicts with their schedules. As a result, Davis got their own spotlight in three pieces.
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Struggling to maintain their upand-down relationship, characters Marianne and Connell in the book and Hulu miniseries “Normal People,” originally written by Sally Rooney, resonate with viewers and are relatable. Rooney’s deep dive into young love brings nuance to the genre and gives an honest perspective, portraying young love as valid and intelligent.
Ball Bearings
The Plant-demic increases plant sales Within the last three years, house plant sales have increased by 50 percent, according to the National Gardening Association. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many garden-lovers have increased their gardening, most of them being Millennial and Gen-Z people, while the selling of indoor plants has generated traffic and attention for plant businesses.
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Ball State professor with art display in exhibition talks on how she combined her job and her passion. Maya Wilkins Lifestyles Editor When Audrey Barcio, Ball State assistant professor of art, was a child, she would watch her grandmother paint and sit by her side, working with her own watercolors, bonding over creating art, growing closer as they painted and discovered new techniques. Barcio always knew she was going to be an artist, and her grandmother introduced her to the field of art she became most interested in — abstraction. “She was a self-taught painter and absolutely amazing,” Barcio said. “The reason I got into abstraction is because, as she got older, she lost her eyesight. Instead of traditional figurative paintings… She started working really large and working in abstraction, and her work became very expressive and bold.”
She’s a strong woman, and that’s really important for young artists. To see women in positions of power and to be able to emulate this idea that you could be an artist, and you can also be a mentor and an educator, is really important.” - BEVERLY FISHMAN, Artist Now, Barcio has found her own distinctive voice as an artist and memorializes her grandmother through the work in her newest exhibition, “no subject (non-attachment),” at Echo Arts, a contemporary art gallery in Bozeman, Montana. Barcio said the underlying theme of the show is communication, thinking about the influences it has on day-to-day life, while also paying tribute to artists who came before her. “This body of paintings is the first time I’ve really put a lot of personal meaning into my work,” she said. “The canvases are stitched together. In my 20s, I was in a car accident that resulted in me losing several
KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN DESIGN; GETTY IMAGES, ART ELEMENT COURTESY
Assistant Professor of Art Audrey Barcio’s art is on display at Echo Arts gallery in Bozeman, Montana. This is Barcio’s ninth solo exhibition. AUDREY BARCIO, PHOTO PROVIDED
fingers on my dominant hand. I introduced stitching to these canvases as a material reference to that experience.” Barcio has 24 works on display in the show, which she said is her ninth solo exhibition. The paintings vary in size and were made over the past year. She said it’s been interesting to see it all come together, with each painting being influenced by a different time of year. Barcio flew to Montana for the Dec. 10, 2021, opening and gave an artist talk about her work. She said it’s always challenging for an artist to visualize their work in the studio the same way it will be exhibited, so seeing it at the gallery is important. “Experiencing everything together in a space is really satisfying,” she said. “It informs you so much about your work in a way you can’t normally see.” Barcio said she discovered Echo Arts gallery through Sahra Beaupré, owner of the gallery. The two met in 2015 while Barcio was a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Barcio and Beaupré have stayed in touch since they met and began planning the exhibition about a year ago. “An interesting conversation I had with [Barcio] popped back into my mind, and I wondered what she was up to,” Beaupré said. “I read about all the things that she had been doing and fell even more in love with what she was working on.” Beaupré said she is interested in Barcio’s work because she believes it is very in-depth and thoughtful, including modernist and abstract references, as well as references to art history. “All three of those elements combined are really what initially interested me in Audrey’s paintings for the show,” Beaupré said. “They just look really beautiful all together.” The community response to Barcio’s exhibition has been positive, Beaupré said, and she believes Barcio is a “good guide” for her students who can give them more advice about college and life afterward. “You can always tell who’s a teacher. They’re very open, they’re very receptive and great listeners, and [Barcio] hits all the marks,” Beaupré said. “I think she shows her students
how to be thoughtful about which college they will pursue, where they’ll be working … I think that’s the best type of information to pass on to your students, above and beyond the love that you have for the subject.” Beaupré believes Barcio can guide students in a unique way because of her own college experience, as Barcio was the first person in her family to attend a four-year university. Barcio said it was challenging for her being a first generation student. She attended the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), where she received a degree in art education and a minor in art history. She worked throughout college as a waitress, taking extra time to get her undergraduate degree so she wouldn’t take out student loans and still be able to pay her way through school. After graduating from IUPUI, she worked as a substitute teacher and taught classes at Herron as an adjunct professor, along with teaching community classes and working at Big Car Art Collaborative, a not-for-profit art organization in Indianapolis. In 2008, Barcio and her husband, Phillip Barcio, moved to San Francisco, where she went back to working in a restaurant because art jobs in the area were very low paying. She became a sommelier — a wine expert — before she and her husband moved to Los Angeles.
Assistant Professor of Art Audrey Barcio’s paints sit on a shelf Jan. 7 in her studio in the Sheidler apartments. Barcio’s show “no subject (nonattachment)” is on display at Echo Arts gallery in Bozeman, Montana. RYLAN CAPPER, DN
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Continued from Page 11 “When we were trying to find people, there weren’t many options,” Davis said. “I ended up jumping in just to be an extra body.” After class one day, Karen Kessler, professor of theatre directing, pulled Davis aside and asked if they had ever truly thought about acting — which Davis said they thought about it every day. They confided in Kessler about their love for acting and indecisiveness with their major because of the stress surrounded by student loans, time restraints and graduation. Soon after, Kessler gave Davis a foundation to start their acting career. “She helped me get a wonderful internship at one of her home companies in Chicago, A Red Orchid Theatre,” Davis said. “I really got to see what true Chicago storefronts [for acting] sort of looked like, and I fell immediately in love with it.” As a determined actor and student, Davis said they spent many of their last days at Ball State living out their dream and finishing their education degree. “I’d get up at 6 a.m. to get to [the high school], and I’d do that until about 2 or 3 p.m.,” Davis said. “Then, I’d come home, have dinner and go into a rehearsal until 10 p.m. and still try to find time for [grading] homework. While it was exhausting, I knew that it was where I wanted to go.” After graduation, Davis found themselves in a 10-minute production with the American Theatre Company as part of a hot dog festival in Chicago. The show, based on the idea that it was distasteful to put ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog, was written by Spenser Davis, a fellow playwright — and E. M. Davis’ future husband. “I remember meeting [Spenser] very briefly,” E. M. said. “Then, a year went by, and we both got
[Audio] is in a completely different type of skill set because you are fully focusing on the sound of your voice with no [visible] emotions.” - E.M. DAVIS, 2011 Ball State theater education graduate cast together in a show, ‘Kate’s Dates.’” Ironically enough, E.M. played the lead role of Kate, who goes on numerous dates and blogs about them throughout the show. All 17 dates were played by Spenser. “The funny thing was, we were great friends, but had no interest in each other in that way,” Spenser said. However, through these roles, the two strengthened their friendship.
E.M. Davis and Watson Swift record their lines for the audio drama “Primer” in the studio. “Primer” is Davis’ first drama as an actor. SPENSER DAVIS, PHOTO PROVIDED “Before the show, we’d be sitting on the stage talking about our own aspirations, interests and things like that,” E.M. said. E.M. vividly remembers sitting in a Mexican restaurant with Spenser a few months after the show, they said, and that’s when they started to view him through a different lens than before. “He was going up to get our basket of fries, and I remember looking at him for a moment and thinking ‘Oh, I’m starting to catch feelings,’” E.M. said. Spenser knew E.M. was looking for an “artistic home” in the city after working together. He then recommended E.M. join his company, Broken Nose Theatre, which he was an ensemble member of since its founding. Now, E.M. serves as artistic director for the theater. “We realized that they were the perfect fit,” Spenser said. “So we invited E.M. to become a part of the company [during the company’s second season].” Eight years later, in the company’s 10th season, E.M. was cast in the audio drama “Primer,” written by Spenser. According to the company’s website, “Primer” investigates “looters smashing in a Michigan Avenue store’s front windows” and how the treacherous acts affect each person in the store, from the security team to employees at kiosks. It streamed from Nov. 15-Dec. 12, 2021. “Primer” is a stand-alone sequel to “Plainclothes,” a show Broken Nose Theatre presented in 2018. “As the theater world reopens, it felt like the right time to revisit some of these characters,” Spenser said. Spenser, along with the ensemble, thought it would be best to present this piece to audiences through the art of audio drama because of the
ongoing pandemic. “We put out an all-call to the ensemble to see if anyone had anything to play with or develop, and we’ve got our Zoom accounts,” E.M. said. Without any in-person performances until sometime later this year, the company took this opportunity to bring “Primer” to life virtually for the audience while recording in a studio without the pressure of a budget. “The moment I found out [‘Primer’] could be an audio drama, it opened up [the idea] of a police cruiser zipping down the highway. Now, we have a board room and jump to a store with glass shattered everywhere, which on stage would be difficult to pull off,” Spenser said. As a member of the cast, E.M. said they were fortunate to participate in a virtual experience like this with Broken Nose Theatre and put their expertise to the test. “I think it allowed the actors within our ensemble the ability to really play with something that they may or may not be exposed to,” E.M. said. “[Audio] is in a completely different type of skill set because you are fully focusing on the sound of your voice with no [visible] emotions.” As Broken Nose Theatre prepares for its next season, E.M. is ready to welcome audiences from the stage, using the knowledge they learned from their work in “Primer.” “We were treating [Primer] like true mainstages despite being in person,” E.M. said. “It was fun to have those come together after so much less artistic output … it was just incredibly invigorating.” Contact Grace Bentkowski with comments at gmbentkowski@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ gbentkowski.
David Weiss and RjW Mays record their lines for the audio drama “Primer.” The radio play revisited the same characters from Broken Nose Theatre Company’s 2018 show “Plainclothes.” SPENSER DAVIS, PHOTO PROVIDED
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While in Los Angeles, a friend of Barcio’s reminded her that she had moved out West because she had planned to go to graduate school. “He was like, ‘You’re an artist — what are you doing?’” Barcio said. “And I was like, ‘I don’t know,’ and that process of questioning myself led me back to my path. Graduate school was a
You can always tell who’s a teacher. They’re very open, they’re very receptive and great listeners, and Audrey hits all the marks. I think she shows her students how to be thoughtful about which college they will pursue, where they’ll be working … I think that’s the best type of information to pass on to your students, above and beyond the love that you have for the subject.”
job really wants you to be committed to them and what they do,” Barcio said. “I’m a natural extrovert and so, for me, teaching is perfect because when I’m in my studio working, it’s just me, and it can be really lonely.” Teaching also gives Barcio an opportunity to share her passion for art history with students, reminding them why it is important for them in their careers. She also loves that teaching gives her the opportunity to look more at the production process, especially in painting. Barcio said there is a lot of responsibility in teaching, which she takes very seriously. She includes diverse subjects in her class, comparing artists of the past to those who are working now and what their differences are. She also shares her own experiences with students, inspiring them to look toward the next chapter of their creative lives. “That’s why I think it took me some time to get into teaching as a profession,” she said. “I really wanted to experience what it was like to be an artist and to live in different cities and have a variety of different jobs. I wanted to have my own personal success and accolades, and I didn’t want to go from undergraduate school to graduate school into teaching, because that’s not the life that many people have, or that my students will have.” Contact Maya Wilkins with comments at mrwilkins@bsu.edu or on Twitter @mayawilkinss.
- SAHRA BEAUPRÉ, Echo Arts gallery owner really great time because it was the first time I can remember that I really took time off [to focus on art].” After completing graduate school, Barcio began working at Kavi Gupta, an art gallery in Chicago, where she met a variety of artists, including Beverly Fishman, former head of painting at Cranbrook Academy of Art. “[Barcio] was basically my liaison, which was my go-to person at the gallery when things came up or if I had questions,” Fishman said. “She was 100 percent professional and absolutely responsible. She’s super smart, and I became very fond of her.” Fishman said she always knew Barcio was an ambitious artist, so it was only a matter of time before she left the gallery to teach. She and Barcio don’t typically talk about education when they are together, but she can imagine her to be articulate, engaging and relatable. “She’s a strong woman, and that’s really important for young artists,” Fishman said. “To see women in positions of power and to be able to emulate this idea that you could be an artist — and you can also be a mentor and an educator — is really important.” For Barcio, teaching and creating her own art goes hand-in-hand, and she believes her job at Ball State is the first job she’s had that encourages her to be an artist. “Oftentimes, when you’re an artist, you kind of hide the fact that you’re an artist because your
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DNOpinion
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01.13.22 ALEX HINDENLANG, DN DESIGN; RYLAN CAPPER, DN PHOTO
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: WHAT 2021 TAUGHT ME
W
hen I was 13, I hated the color pink. It was too girly, and I, for one, was not girly. My daily wardrobe consisted of blue jeans, tennis shoes and whatever T-shirt I had picked out for the day. If I was feeling adventurous, I would swap the shirt for a sweater and the tennis shoes for Converse. I told myself dresses and heels were reserved for church or special occasions. I hid my smile when the fabric flowed across my legs as I twirled or when the sound of high heels on hard floors reached my ears. Because I “wasn’t like other girls.” “Other girls” talked about boys. I talked about books. “Other girls” watched makeup tutorials. I watched sci-fi shows. I still love my books and shows, but now, I enjoy them while wrapped in my floral duvet in my pink-themed room. 13-year-old me would be horrified, just as I am horrified by the mindset I used to have. The “I’m-not-like-other-girls” phenomenon has existed on the internet for years, causing women to judge each other for the stereotypically feminine things they enjoy. Starting in the early 2000s, there was a wave of women online rejecting traditional femininity that grew into shaming women who didn’t. Speaking from personal experience, this can be drawn back to the misogynistic idea that you need to shed your femininity to be successful. Through my limited exposure to the internet, I learned that if you present yourself in a more masculine manner, you’ll get more respect. Needless to say, I was absolutely floored when I saw “Legally Blonde” for the first time in early high school. Seeing Elle Woods march into that courtroom with her pink outfit and immaculate hair, outsmarting Chutney on the witness stand, filled me with an indescribable joy. Elle ran after her dreams in heels and never lost her footing.
17 Over time, my teenage brain came to the important realization: Women should not have to sacrifice their femininity to be taken seriously. The “I’m-not-like-other-girls” culture is destructive to anyone who comes across it. It’s not “quirky” or “empowering” to put yourself on that particular pedestal. If anything, it cuts you off from potential friends and opportunities and creates division in a community that has been divided enough already. Before we go any further, I want to make one thing clear: the existence of toxic femininity does not negate the existence of toxic masculinity. Both are real, serious issues that need to be addressed. Through the rise of feminism in the 21st century due to the expansion of the internet, toxic masculinity has been brought to light and debated. Toxic femininity has hidden in the shadow of its twin, flying under the radar but invading our world all the same. It is hard to pin “toxic femininity” under one simple definition, mostly because of how little it’s discussed. An article from Psychology Today describes it as women embodying stereotypically feminine traits — “passivity, empathy, sensuality, patience, tenderness, and receptivity” — so much that it starts to affect their physical and mental health. In the Forbes article, “We Need To Talk About Toxic Femininity At Work,” psychologist Nancy Doyle describes toxic femininity in the workplace as “the overplayed hand of the so-called female traits in which we can only lead from a position of our own disempowerment.” This refers to the stereotype that women cannot be leaders because of feminine traits that we may or may not exhibit. Both of these definitions are accurate and valid, but from my experience, I believe the key aspects of toxic femininity can be broken down into one phrase: Women tearing down other women. A big aspect of toxic femininity is when women see other women as “competition,” no matter the circumstance.
“I’m not li other girlske ”
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DNOpinion
y “Wh ou are yring wea t?” tha For example, in many media representations, when a woman’s significant other cheats on them with another woman, instead of being mad at the actual cheater, the women are mad at each other. It’s infuriating that the woman’s significant other is not the one facing consequences when they are to blame. This form of toxic femininity has become so normalized in society and media that men can often get away with this type of wrongdoing.
our talk about feminism, society has a hard time understanding it. Feminism itself is about allowing women to have equal opportunity and a choice in how they want to live their lives. That’s what equality is all about, isn’t it? Having a choice that isn’t made for you?
I believe the key aspects of toxic femininity can be broken down into one phrase: Women tearing down other women.” Take the song “Better Than Revenge” by Taylor Swift, which was released in 2010 when this mindset was at its peak. With lyrics like, “She came along, got him alone, and let’s hear the applause. She took him faster than you could say sabotage,” it is a perfect example of turning your anger toward the woman involved rather than the one who betrayed you. Even though the media like to fixate on toxic femininity, it is just as easy to empower women. A great piece of media that breaks the stereotype is the song “Diane” by country artist Cam. In the song, Cam sings to a woman named Diane, apologizing for sleeping with her husband. The song goes on describing how they were both lied to and how Diane deserves better. There is no animosity between these two women — there is only sorrow, support and regret for the situation that the man put them in. That is how the scenario should play out all the time – women supporting women. Women. Supporting. Women. It’s such a simple concept, but for all
Not all women want to live the exact same way. Some women want to be careerdriven and refuse to be tied down. Other women want to be a stay-at-home mom or a housewife. Some women want to wear jeans and a T-shirt every day. Others prefer dresses and heels. All of these choices are valid, as well as everything in between, but the important thing is that it is her own, uninfluenced choice. Every woman views and expresses their femininity in a different light, and that’s OK. What’s not OK is shaming women for what they chose to do with their femininity, something that took younger me an embarrassingly long time to learn. Embracing your femininity does not make you weak. If anything, it makes you stronger for accepting a part of yourself that you’ve been afraid to show. Femininity itself is not toxic. But controlling and weaponizing femininity certainly is. Contact Emily Hunter with comments at ekhunter@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ emily_hunter_01 .
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“Many international students experience some degree of culture shock and homesickness, and Friendship Families are equipped with a variety of tools for supporting students experiencing these difficulties,” Fletcher said. “However, families are not expected to offer emotional support beyond their capacity to their friendship students — this is what the university Counseling Center is for.”
Anya Kalenta from Belarus and Clarissa Chavez from Mexico pose for a photo with Amy Beckett in July 2020. Chavez and Kalenta had spent the day painting the walls in Beckett’s house. AMY BECKETT, PHOTO PROVIDED
How students and their host families spend time together depends on the family and the student’s preferences. Popular examples include community events, having dinner and participating in each other’s holiday traditions. These pairings allow students and host families to learn more about each other’s cultures. Amy Beckett, assistant teaching professor of criminal justice and criminology, said the students she was paired with would help her in her garden because they often had come from countries that didn’t have much yard space to play around or work in. “They love to play in the backyard,” Beckett said. “There’s a couple of kids associated with our family who’ve been over, like bobbing for apples and playing croquet and stuff with them.” Cheryl Simpkins, Ball State custodial group leader, has participated in the program for 16 years, and she and her paired students take turns making each other food. She makes the first dish and then her students make a dish from their country. “One of the most interesting dishes was from [two girls] from China and Sri Lanka,” Simpkins said. “They were roommates, and I went there and they made me dinner. And, we didn’t use forks. We used our hands … and I loved it. It’s like not being divorced from your food or where it comes from.” Wickramathilaka has also experienced new activities and traditions during her time in Muncie. “I’m a Buddhist, and I never experienced this Christmas thing, so I’ve never decorated a Christmas tree in my life,” Wickramathilaka said. “So, recently, she bought me my very first Christmas tree, and most of my first life experiences were from them. I’ve never received a birthday gift [in] my life before I came here, so they bought me [my] first birthday gift ever. I’m really glad that I met them.” Wickramathilaka’s birthday gifts were a cookbook, a set of makeup, four Ball jars from 1901 and a blanket. She said she
received the cookbook because she wanted to make American food, and she received the blanket because her family knew how much she struggled to stay warm in the winter. Fletcher said the program typically receives many student applications at the beginning of the year but only a handful of new families each year. Most of the families who apply are returning applicants. Due to more students applying than families, some students are unable to be paired right away. “We are always looking to recruit new families to participate in the program,” Fletcher said. “Right now, we have a long list of international students waiting to be matched with a Friendship Family. Anyone interested in applying for the program can fill out an application on our website.” Contact Ayah Eid with comments at azeid@bsu.edu or on Twitter @AyahEid2.
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Cheyenna Grubb and her dog, River, walk down McKinley Avenue Jan. 12 in front of the Art and Journalism Building. RYLAN CAPPER, DN
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