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Designing an online presence DOMA showcases museum collection on website.04
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Filling the stands It is important that sports teams safely resume fan attendance despite COVID-19.08
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Continuing education
Student and faculty members reflect on TikTok’s popularity and potential ban.
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The sun shines on Shafer Tower Nov. 11, 2020. The tower bells ring every 15 minutes. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN; MAGGIE GETZIN, DN
EcoREHAB employs students and residents to restore homes around Muncie.09
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Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from Nov. 6 - 11 on ...
BallStateDailyNews.com Tigers hire former Cardinal Chris Fetter
Cross country places 6th in Falcon Invite
former Ball State Baseball pitching coach Chris Fetter as their pitching coach. Fetter spent the 2016 season working for Ball State in which he guided the Cardinals’ pitching staff to a 4.31 combined earnedrun average. Fetter served as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan since 2017 before getting the call from the Tigers.
second meet this fall, Ball State Cross Country placed sixth out of eight Mid-American Conference schools participating in the Falcon Invitational at Bowling Green State University. The Cardinals finished with a total score of 128 and were led individually by freshman Elka Machan, who placed eighth out of 88 runners with a time of 21:59.7.
Nov. 6: The Detroit Tigers hired
BALL STATE ATHLETICS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Biden projected to win 2020 election Nov. 7: Democrat Joe Biden
WIKIMEDIA, PHOTO COURTESEY
defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States, according to a race call from the Associated Press. Trump has threatened legal action on ballot counting. Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, made history as the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to become vice president-elect.
VOL. 100 ISSUE: 13 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.
EDITORIAL BOARD Zach Piatt, Editor-in-chief Taylor Smith, Managing Editor Charles Melton, News Editor Nicole Thomas, Lifestyles Editor Ian Hansen, Sports Editor Jacob Musselman, Photo Editor Sophie Nulph, Opinion Editor Josh Bennett, Video Editor Alyssa Cooper, Social Media Editor John Lynch, Copy Director CREATIVE SERVICES Elliott DeRose, Creative Director Maggie Getzin, Print Design Editor Kamryn Tomlinson, Web Design Editor
Nov. 7: Competing in its
Ball State COVID-19 counter for fall term
As of 9:30 p.m. Nov. 11: Total
Students
Employees
Tested
966
99
Positive Cases
351
12
This data was collected through IU Health and does not represent the general population testing.
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National
Vaccine successful in early tests Pfizer Inc. announced Nov. 9 its COVID-19 vaccine may be 90 percent effective based on early and incomplete test results. Pfizer has estimated it could have 50 million doses available globally by the end of 2020, enough for 25 million people. Authorities say it is unlikely any vaccine will arrive before the end of the year, and the initial supplies will be rationed.
International
Guatemalans search through landslide Guatemalan search brigades pulled the first bodies Nov. 6 from a massive rain-fueled landslide where at least 100 people are believed to be entombed, as the remains of Tropical Storm Eta moved across Caribbean waters. Eta caused mudslides, swelled streams and rivers and buried an estimated 150 homes. Eta made landfall in South Florida Nov. 9.
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National
Grand jury declines to indict police officer
MAGGIE GETZIN, DN ILLUSTRATION
An Indianapolis grand jury ruled Nov. 10 there was insufficient evidence to indict metropolitan police officer Dejoure Mercer in the fatal shooting of Dreasjon Reed. Mercer shot 21-year-old Reed after a car chase May 6, 2020, sparking protests in downtown Indianapolis. Indiana State Police said Reed was armed and fired at Mercer at least twice.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: BALL STATE PRESIDENT SENDS EMAIL ADDRESSING INTIMIDATION
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Expanding their craft David Owsley Museum of Art updates its collection website.
Angelica Gonzalez Morales Reporter With the coronavirus pandemic, many organizations around campus had to make some operational changes, including the David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA), which updated its website — making it more user-friendly by sharing its collection online with students, researchers and others interested in the artwork. Robert La France, director of DOMA, said his goal is to move the entire collection, which includes more than 11,000 objects and photographs, online. La France said many people don’t realize how beautiful DOMA can be, so the website can inform more people and help advertise the artwork. If
“If we were able to put some of our hidden treasures online ... then we maybe won’t be so hidden anymore.” - ROBERT LA FRANCE, Director of the David Owsley Museum of Art people are curious about what artwork the museum has, the first place they want to see is the website, La France said. “People say this museum is a hidden treasure. People will say they had no idea it was here,” he said. “Well, if we were able to put some of our hidden treasures online and share some information about them with pictures accessible online, then we maybe won’t be so hidden anymore.” Denise Mahoney, Register and Collection Manager of DOMA, said the process of getting the website ready began in 2014 when La France arrived as director. Mahoney worked behind the scenes to prepare about 1,000 pieces of artwork to go online. “We did everything in batches because we couldn’t put everything online at once because the records needed to be edited quite a bit for the first alteration,” she said. “That was kind of an easy decision because everything in the gallery already has labels for them — somebody has worked on it and has done research for them.” While Mahoney said moving everything in the museum online wasn’t difficult, DOMA employees had to look through artwork in storage, verify their labels and bring in experts from other cultures to fact check labels and information on other works. “For Asian objects, which I know nothing about, we do have a part-time Asian art curator,” Mahoney
Clouds reflect on the windows of the David Owsley Museum of Art Nov. 10, 2020, at The Quad. DOMA recently updated its online catalog to show off more of its collection that is normally not displayed to the public. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN said. “She’s only in once a week, and she’s been working on those, and once they are ready, she will let me know that they are OK to put online.” La France said the process of moving artwork online has been an ongoing team effort. The website is one way to look at art, but La France still encourages students to come in and walk through DOMA if they haven’t had the chance. “I’m happy that it’s coming to be, but a part of me is torn because I know from my lifetime working with the arts is that the firsthand experience from a work of art can’t be really replicated online,” LaFrance said.
ABOUT DOMA DOMA Hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday: 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Address:
2021 W. Riverside Ave. Muncie, Indiana, 47306 DOMA will close at noon Nov. 25, 2020, and reopen Jan. 19, 2021, for visitors who wish to go to the museum in person. Source: David Owsley Museum of Art
“Looking at something in three dimensions from up close, from far away and moving around an object, especially a sculpture, you really can try to make a similarity of that online, but it really does not have the same experience.” Contact Angelica Gonzalez Morales with comments at agonzalezmor@bsu.edu or on Twitter @angelicag_1107.
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MALL
Continued from Page 03 Liz Rieth Reporter Ball State senior Jeb Reece rolls up to the nearly empty Muncie Mall parking lot. No, he’s not looking to shop. The urban planning major is headed to class. Yes, at the mall. Reece walks in past a mix of storefronts. Some, like Country Charm Boutique, are vibrant with seasonal orange pumpkins. Others, like Victoria’s Secret, are an empty shell with no merchandise inside — one of 17 stores that have closed in recent years. Reece veers into a space with ceiling-high glass windows. Fluorescent lights illuminate his peers, seated at round plastic tables, as Scott Truex, associate professor of urban planning, starts class with a PowerPoint. “It’s like being in a 2008 Disney XD sitcom, you know, school at the mall,” said Reece, a fourthyear student majoring in urban planning. Truex’s lecture focuses on data the students need to gather over the weekend. The class of 30 needs to gather statistics on Muncie demographics, architectural plans and historical documents about
Having a plan in place for our community ensures we are conserving resources while having the biggest impact possible.”
The Muncie Mall sits in the sunlight Nov. 10, 2020. A portion of the mall was turned into a classroom for Ball State’s fall 2020 semester. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
- HEATHER WILLIAMS, Secretary for the MAP Board of Directors and Ball State associate director for community engagement Muncie’s demographics and past architectural plans. The mix of undergraduates and graduates are working alongside Muncie city and Delaware County on Muncie’s next comprehensive plan and Muncie Action Plan (MAP), which will guide the city’s development for the next 20 years. The class is set in the mall for a reason, said Truex, department chair of urban planning. It is a store-front studio, so the class and its work can be visible to the Muncie community. Students are in a data-gathering phase, but over time, they plan to interact and dialogue with the community. The glass windows of the classroom will eventually feature large graphics of potential plans. The class will host public forums to gather feedback about their proposed plans with dates still to be determined, Truex said. The class is focusing on two plans: the comprehensive plan and MAP, which are designed to shape the future of Muncie for the coming 20 years, Truex said. The comprehensive plan looks ahead at land use. Any future decisions about residential, commercial or industrial land use will be made based on this plan, said Marta Moody, executive director of
Students listen as Scott Truex, associate professor of urban planning, lectures on the statistics, architectural plans and historical documents about Muncie the class needs to gather. Students in the class are working alongside Muncie city and Delaware County on Muncie’s next comprehensive plan and Muncie Action Plan. LIZ RIETH, DN
DNNews
Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission. As a complement, the MAP is a guide for the community to “help improve quality of life for all residents,” said Heather Williams, secretary for the MAP Board of Directors and Ball State associate director for community engagement. Created in 2010, the MAP has continued to evolve to build community pride while addressing the city’s greatest challenges, like poverty, hunger and drug addiction. Both plans were due for an update this year, and because of this, the city decided to pool resources and plan them together, Williams said. “Having a plan in place for our community ensures we are conserving resources while having the biggest impact possible,” she said. But she and others involved in the process wanted student input. Williams said she knew Truex would be the man for the job. Truex leads a class on comprehensive plans. His immersive learning experience allows students to dig into plans that improve cities across the state. When the pandemic hit in spring 2020, Truex said, he was unsure how he could offer students an equally engaging experience during the fall semester with COVID-19 restrictions. Williams connected with Truex to offer the opportunity for his class to work with Muncie. Working with Muncie to enhance these two plans while at the socially-distanced yet public mall location allowed Truex to move forward with the hands-on, real-world experience for urban planning majors. The 8,900 square-foot space in the mall allows students to easily socially distance and welcome speakers and community partners into the studio for collaboration. Without it, Truex said, the students wouldn’t be able to have the hands-on experience these opportunities provide. The city, Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission, the Ball Brothers Foundation and Ball State’s R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning partnered to fund the mall studio. Although the city will work with a consulting firm to fully develop any plans, Truex said his class is doing a lot of the groundwork to ensure the final plans are thoughtful, comprehensive and practical. “A consultant company from out of town has a limited amount of time they can spend on a project. It’s just billable hours,” Truex said. “With 15 students, [we have] the opportunity over a semester to explore ideas.” Truex said his class can look into ideas that stretch the imagination of the community, such as sustainability. While the focus of the class is on the two plans, Truex said the comprehensive plan could even include recommendations on how to revive the Muncie Mall. Many stores have opened and closed within the past few years at the mall, with Macy’s closing last winter. Reece said having class at the mall has inspired him to make plans to help better the city and reminded him that the work he’s doing can be beneficial. “It’s interesting to be working and then look up and you have this backdrop of Muncie Mall,” Reece said. “[It’s] motivating to be out here actually doing the work.” Contact Liz Rieth with comments at ejrieth@ bsu.edu or on Twitter @liz_rieth.
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TIKTOK
“Activism requires open channels of communication to a broad group of people quickly. TikTok is a great platform for this,” Messineo said via email. “TikTok and later versions of older platforms
Continued from Page 01
Jaden Hasse and Grace McCormick Reporter and Assistant News Editor Walking southeast on West Neely Avenue, traffic noise becomes quieter, and pedestrians can find large greenspaces on North Minnetrista Parkway. Minnetrista’s walking trails and cultural exhibits make it one of junior social work major Elaina Kobitz’s favorite places to be during summers in Muncie. Kobitz featured Minnetrista and other outdoor walking spaces close to Muncie on Ball State’s TikTok account in July 2020. Kobitz said she applied to be on the Ball State marketing team last summer and made TikToks as part of that job. “I think that the Ball State TikTok does a good job of showing things on both the Ball State campus and also the Muncie community,” Kobitz said. TikTok is a social media app that lets its users share short videos with background music from its commercial music library, which also includes sound tracks from television shows and trending videos. Melinda Messineo, Ball State professor of sociology, said younger generations typically use social media frequently and likely spent even more time on these platforms during earlier months of the coronavirus pandemic, creating a perfect opportunity for TikTok to establish itself in the social media scene. She said TikTok’s ability to quickly spread information can lend itself to activism.
Ultimately, we’re using TikTok as a way to better share the great attributes of our university and our campus life.” - DAN HUMAN, Ball State assistant director of digital marketing
A phone opens TikTok Nov. 10, 2020. TikTok has been downloaded more than 2 billion times in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
provide for faster dissemination and sharing.” TikTok was the target of a proposed download ban in August 2020 by President Donald Trump’s administration, claiming the app is a threat to national security due to the way it collects data on its users. Huseyin Ergin, Ball State assistant professor of computer science, said data collection that’s not necessary for an app’s function can pose a privacy risk to app users. “It’s more like a privacy concern anyway
because you’re collecting my data, and I can be targeted for it,” Ergin said. “If you don’t protect it [well], I can be targeted for it.” Some of the traits Ergin mentioned that could be targeted are “beliefs, views and membership to organizations.” He said by collecting photos or location data that are unnecessary for an app to function, third parties can exploit user data for targeted advertisements. While Ergin agreed that TikTok poses a security risk, he made a point of clarifying that a lot of software is a possible security risk on a national and personal level. “Any company that externally keeps the data, and we don’t know what they’re collecting about us, poses a security threat,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s TikTok, and even U.S. companies aren’t exempt then.” Chad Kinsella, assistant professor of political science, said he is interested in the potential TikTok ban because his daughter is an active TikTok user. “[Trump has] been very consistent in his disliking of the Chinese government and some of the things that they’ve been doing, but [the ban is] definitely a possibility,” Kinsella said. U.S. presidents are able to regulate issues of national security through executive orders, which are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution but are an implied power under Article II, section 3, known as the “faithful execution clause.”
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DNSports A PRACTICAL DECISION Miryne Thomas discusses the impacts his transition from boxing to basketball had on his life. Ian Hansen Sports Editor Miryne Thomas did it all. He played soccer. He played baseball. He played football. But there was one sport he exceptionally succeeded in: boxing. Thomas, currently a redshirt junior forward for Ball State Men’s Basketball, fell in love with boxing when he was 8 or 9 years old. It all started in his hometown of Cleveland. Not only did he win Cleveland Boys & Girls Man of the Year, but that same community helped him discover boxing, which became a new hobby and eventual lifestyle. “I used to go to the Boys & Girls Club in the community back home,” Thomas said. “When it closed
down, I ended up seeing one of the guys who I ended up boxing with. He was in the parking lot with his father. I walked over and asked what they were doing, and I started from there.” The rest is history, he said, but the process of reaching a competitive level of boxing was exactly that: a process. Thomas went through a year of training before he could even step foot in the ring. He said the hardest part was “trying to figure out the ropes as a young kid.” Once he was able to fight, he said, it became “a mental game” trying to evaluate his opponent. Thomas was someone who relied more on aggression than technique, and that was difficult for him to overcome. “It builds up like any other sport,” Thomas said. “When I was younger and started boxing, I was all aggression. As I
got older, it became more technique and more of a standard to try and outsmart your opponent.” Thomas’s mother, Myla Thomas, said she is happy with what he has accomplished in boxing. She was happy to see him find something he enjoyed doing that also kept his head on straight. “I was proud as a mom,” she said. “I always want to see my kid succeed, and the main thing was not letting him get distracted with the neighborhood, so it was good seeing him do good things.” Miryne Thomas said he believes he could have boxed professionally. He won the Western Pennsylvania Athletic League Golden Gloves in 2012, and he wanted to keep going, but his mother had to sit him down and have a practical conversation about his future.
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Football
Two Ball State alumni face one another Former Ball State Football wide receiver and current Baltimore Raven Willie Snead played against former Cardinals’ offensive lineman and current Indianapolis Colt Danny Pinter Nov. 8. The Ravens won the game 24-10, and Snead ended the game with four receptions for 37 yards. Pinter was Indianapolis’ fifthround pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Men’s Basketball
Moses plays former teammate Mallers Former Ball State Men’s Basketball center Trey Moses went up against former Cardinal forward Kyle Mallers Nov. 7. They were teammates for three seasons, and this was the first time the two played each other following their Ball State careers. Mallers recently signed with S.C. Lusitania in the Portuguese Basketball League, and Moses currently plays for Beroe in Bulgaria.
High School Football
Delta season ends in loss to Marion
A pair of boxing gloves lies in a field Nov. 10, 2020, outside of John E. Worthen Arena. Redshirt junior forward Miryne Thomas started boxing when he was around 8 years old and won the Western Pennsylvania Athletic League Golden Gloves in 2012. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN ILLUSTRATION
The Eagles’ (8-3) playoff run ended Nov. 6, as they lost to the Giants (9-3) 38-21. This was the third alltime meeting between the two teams, and Marion has won every game. While Delta came up short, senior quarterback Brady Hunt led the Eagles with 139 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Eagles’ senior running back Evan Conley ran for 194 yards and a touchdown.
ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: BALL STATE FACES EASTERN MICHIGAN IN HOME OPENER
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GLOVES Continued from Page 07
“My mom told me a lot of people get injured in the sport,” he said. “She wanted me to try and go to school, and school isn’t a part of boxing because people go pro at 17 and 18 [years old]. She didn’t want me to go down that path.” It was Myla Thomas’ maternal instinct to protect her son. She didn’t want him to get hurt and believed he had a future elsewhere. “There was worry because he was getting hit in the head,” she said. “I was kind of scared for him getting hit in the head. As a mom, you don’t want to see your child get beat on.” This was when basketball came into the equation. All of Miryne Thomas’ friends played, and he felt that was where he fit the most. He wanted an excuse to spend time with his friends, and the game of basketball provided that. While it took him a while to become acclimated to boxing, he said, basketball came naturally to him, even if it meant not knowing what hand to shoot the ball with. “I actually shoot right-handed but was lefthanded when I used to box,” Thomas said. “I
used to watch all of my friends shoot and thought everyone was supposed to shoot right-handed.” Thomas’ 6-foot-8-inch frame along with his natural talent was why his mother believed he had a future in basketball. “He was so good at [basketball],” Myla Thomas said. “He picked up the ball one time and was already so good. When he picked up the ball, he took over the court, and it was just like, ‘Wow.’ He dominated.” Miryne Thomas was a four-time letterwinner at Cleveland Central Catholic High School. He averaged 18.4 points and 10 rebounds per game in his senior season. Ball State head coach James Whitford took notice of Thomas’ basketball skills, but he was just as impressed with the person he saw in him. “When we recruited him and [did] our research on him, we learned that when he was in high school, he was named the Cleveland Boys & Girls Man of the Year,” Whitford said. “He has a charismatic personality, he is loud, he is outspoken and he wears his feelings on his sleeve.” Whitford was also impressed with Thomas’ strength, especially in his core, which Whitford said is necessary for basketball. “He is exceptionally strong,” Whitford said. “Even though he came here at 180 pounds, he is
Miryne Thomas holds a Western Pennsylvania Athletic League Golden Gloves medal he won in 2012. Thomas stopped boxing after winning the Golden Gloves and started playing basketball. MIRYNE THOMAS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Worth the wait
It might be difficult, but bringing fans back to stadiums is a must. MAGGIE GETZIN, DN ILLUSTRATION
now up to 200. He has an exceptionally strong core. He is one of the strongest 200-pound guys I know, and he is very physical, which I am sure his boxing had a lot to do with that.” Strong wasn’t the only adjective used to describe Thomas. Whitford and Thomas’ mother said “aggression” is a word that fits him exceedingly well. “He is an aggressive player,” Whitford said. “I am not sure if that comes from boxing. I think that is just his personality.” Myla Thomas attributes that to the neighborhood they came from. She said his personality — his aggressiveness — landed him a spot in NCAA Division I basketball. “Growing up in the projects, you have to be a little aggressive,” she said. “He has to hold his ground when he has to.” This aggressiveness guided Miryne Thomas to boxing, and boxing guided him to basketball. He said his experiences in the ring as well as on the court have guided him to where he is today. “It was a learning experience,” Thomas said. “I learned more about myself than I did the game of boxing. It really helped me develop the mindset I needed to get where I am now.” Contact Ian Hansen with comments at imhansen@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ianh_2.
Connor Granlund Reporter I have not attended an in-person sporting event since the Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers game in Indianapolis Jan. 2. Heading into college, I did not plan on attending many on-campus sporting events this fall. However, I realized the importance of attending live events shortly after coming to Muncie. The lack of consistent opportunities for students to watch Ball State Football play in Scheumann Stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions has impacted our school spirit. The experience of going to a live sporting event is unlike any other, and even with coronavirus restrictions, the experience can be just as special. Although the return of fans to stadiums will not be a normal one, it will still be worth following the guidelines necessary to bring back live attendance. The pandemic has significantly impacted fan attendance at sporting events. Whether it is professional, college or high school athletic competitions, many teams have strictly limited or prohibited fans. However, as the world attempts to recover from the pandemic, this is something teams are continuously re-evaluating. It is vital that teams in all levels — professional, collegiate and high school — resume in-person attendance in some capacity. Athletics are a source of pride and spirit for high school and college programs and a major source of entertainment for fans of professional leagues. Major League Baseball resumed in-person attendance this past postseason after all 30 teams banned fans during the regular season. However, there were restrictions, including fewer tickets sold and physically-distant seating. The MLB allowed 11,500 fans in Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for this year’s World Series. The ballpark has a capacity of 40,300, which was enough for fans to remain distanced throughout games.
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Byte
A STRONG FOUNDATION EcoREHAB aims to educate and employ the Muncie community with sustainable construction opportunities. 4See STRONG, 10
Uncovering the youth’s political voice With the recent election’s campaign advertisements feeling continuously demanding, there was a lack of a voice coming from the youth. Most politicians use television for their campaigns, but because of a decrease in cable news consumption, recaps are streaming on social media. 4ByteBSU.com
Byte
A look at Disney+ one year later Nov. 12 marks the first anniversary of the launch of Disney+. Viewers can relive their childhood with Disney Channel’s original movies and classic television shows. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, shows like “Falcon and Winter Soldier” have been delayed from being put onto Disney+. 4ByteBSU.com
Byte
The everlasting youth of ‘Final Fantasy X’
KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN
ON BYTEBSU.COM: REMIXED S5E6: HATE TO LOVE VS. LOVE TO HATE
When “Final Fantasy X” was released in 2001, new worlds were presented with memorable roleplaying mechanics and several relatable issues like the death of a brother and following in a parent’s footsteps. Characters were able to build strong partnerships and connections on their adventure. 4ByteBSU.com
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STRONG Continued from Page 09
Sophie Nulph and Seth Stegall Reporters From working with college students to lifelong Muncie residents, Jason Haney’s key focus is education. As the executive director of ecoREHAB, an organization whose mission is to rehabilitate and restore homes around Muncie, Haney teaches people in the Muncie community about the importance of sustainable building from a house’s foundation to its fixtures. “Energy efficiency is very important,” Haney said. “The more energy efficient [a house] is, the cheaper it is to own and operate the house.” In 2009, Muncie officials were considering tearing down abandoned and deteriorating homes throughout the neighborhoods surrounding Muncie’s downtown area. Jonathan Spodek, Ball State professor of architecture, intervened and suggested Muncie restore the homes into sustainable living spaces. From there, ecoREHAB became an immersive learning class Spodek taught within Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning where students learned how to restore deteriorating houses with sustainable methods.
In December 2009, the organization started restoration work on its first property on E. Washington Street, located in Muncie’s Emily Kimbrough Historic District. “It was all architecture students who designed the house,” Haney said. “[They] came up with the drawings, did all the work and basically renovated the home.” After the students restored their first house in 2011, ecoREHAB has since restored seven more houses throughout Muncie’s neighborhoods with its three full-time employees — Haney, Brain Jones and Casey Eichenlaub. Most houses ecoREHAB restores go to low-income families, as the energy-efficient methods ecoREHAB uses in its restorations helps these families save money with energy costs. “Quite frankly, the leadership team that they have in ecoREHAB is fantastic,” Spodek said. “We started literally working out of my truck [with] all my tools.” In January 2021, the organization will return to its immersive learning roots with its ecoSTEP program, which will combine in-class learning with trained professionals as well as hands-on learning in the field supervised by Haney and Eichenlaub. Haney said his goal with the new 16-week ecoSTEP program is to give adults in Muncie a second chance at a steady career while helping a high-demand industry. “[The applicants of the ecoSTEP program]
didn’t feel they needed the education, or [they] couldn’t get the education, and [they] stuck around town and found that there weren’t a lot of
Quite frankly, the leadership team that they have in ecoREHAB is fantastic. We started literally working out of my truck [with] all my tools.” - JONATHAN SPODEK, CAP professor opportunities,” Haney said. “You get to that age where you’re like, ‘Whoa, wait a minute. I’m on the wrong track here.’ [The ecoSTEP program] is an opportunity to get some job skills and training and to get back on the right path.” Part of ecoSTEP’s hands-on learning will take place at Madjax Makerforce — a coworking space in downtown Muncie designed to encourage collaborative community efforts. The class will teach basic construction and trade skills, such as
introductions to tools and safety protocols. The main areas of focus are heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as plumbing and electrical training. Eastern Indiana Works, a Muncie nonprofit organization that aims to prepare individuals for high-demand employment opportunities, has also offered Occupational Safety and Health Administration certifications for ecoSTEP students. Haney’s inspiration for the ecoSTEP program came from Jones and Eichenlaub, who are both graduates of the Muncie Mission recovery program. After graduating from the program, Jones and Eichenlaub began to work for ecoREHAB to help reimagine and rebuild the Muncie community. Haney said he is currently working with Frank Baldwin, the president and CEO of Muncie Mission, to line up the start of the ecoSTEP program with the graduation dates of the Muncie Mission recovery program. “You have this population that really has a need for something beyond themselves,” Haney said. “They need to be able to earn a decent wage. They need to probably do it with little to no education. There’s something about being involved in construction where your self-esteem [and] your self-worth goes up.” Contact Seth Stegall with comments at sdstegall@bsu.edu. Contact Sophie Nulph with comments at smnulph@bsu.edu.
Trade job wages
The inspiration behind the ecoSTEP program was partly because there is a high demand for people with the following: HVAC, plumbing and electrician skills.
Electrician: Average age: 41.2 Average wage: $56,808 ($2,920 more than the average national salary of $53,888) Workforce: 783,000 Plumber: Average age: 41 Average wage: $96,343 Workforce: 118,000 HVAC maintenance: Average age: 41.2 Average wage: $58,783 Workforce: 20,000 A house restored by the ecoREHAB program sits in the sunlight Nov. 10, 2020. The house is located on West Kilgore Street. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN
Source: Data USA KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN
11 11.12.20
Safely giving thanks 5 socially distant ways to show someone you’re thankful for them this holiday season
KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN
November has arrived, and the season of giving has officially begun. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional ways of counting our blessings and showing our gratitude have changed. To keep each other safe and healthy, some families may have canceled their holiday gatherings this year, or friend groups may have called off their hangouts usually planned for Thanksgiving and winter break. Even if you cannot meet in person with your friends and family this holiday season, you can still show them you are thankful for everything they do to help, support and encourage you. Consider these socially distant ways to express your gratitude for the individuals in your life who have helped you become the person you are today. Write them a letter. In this day and age, when most of our communication is done virtually through social media, texting or emailing, receiving a letter in the mail can be a special experience. Take the time to organize your thoughts by handwriting someone a letter listing all the reasons why you’re grateful for them. Because writing down your gratitudes celebrates the present and makes you an active participant in your life, it can also reduce feelings of hopelessness and the risk of depression as well as increase optimism, according to studies conducted by Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at UC Davis.
Make them a homemade gift. While quarantining this year, some may have taken the opportunity to learn a new skill. Put your new crafting skills to use by giving your loved ones a homemade gift. Because you can make someone a gift aligned especially to their interests, a homemade gift becomes much more unique and personal compared to a traditional storebought gift. Schedule a virtual hangout with them. For some families, celebrations for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas and other holidays are the only times people visit their relatives and other loved ones throughout the year. If you aren’t able to schedule the traditional trip to visit your friends and family because of the COVID-19 pandemic, plan a Zoom meeting to see and catch up with these individuals. Applications such as Jackbox Games and Teleparty are ways you can bring your loved ones together to bond virtually by playing online games or watching an entertaining movie. Try a new outdoor activity with them. To be 6 feet apart yet still together, consider trying new outdoor activities with your friends and family members to strengthen your relationship with them. Having a campfire or going hiking, ice skating or sledding as the
weather gets colder are ways you can spend time with your loved ones and express your
DNLife
appreciation for them. Do one of their responsibilities for the day. The holiday season can be stressful for some, as students are ending the semester with final projects and exams. For parents and other relatives, taking care of their family members now that school is out for holiday breaks can bring on additional tasks and responsibilities. To help ease some of your loved ones’ stress, consider taking on one of their responsibilities for the day. If one of your family members is struggling to find time to go grocery shopping, go shopping for them and drop off the groceries at their home. If your siblings have an important final to study for, clean their room for them so they have one less task to worry about. By taking on one of your loved one’s responsibilities for the day, you are putting in the effort to show you support them just like they’ve supported you before. - Staff Reports
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12 11.12.20 This is the Shwe
SÄG MITT NAMN
DIS MON NOM
SAY MY NAME
DI IL MIO NOME SAG MEINEN NAMEN
СКАЖИ МОЕ ИМЯ
DI MI NOMBRE
SABIHIN MO ANG PANGALAN KO ZEG MIJN NAAM
MONDD A NEVEM
ABAIR M’AINM
Put more effort into pronouncing cultural names. Shwetha Sundarrajan is a junior journalism major and writes “This is the Shwe” for The Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. If you’re someone who has a “unique” name, you probably know the mortal embarrassment of roll call on the first day of school. I grew up memorizing my place in the roll call list, and the moment the teacher would falter, I knew Shwetha my time had come. Sundarrajan The next 15 minutes Columnist, were spent giving the “This is the teacher a personalized name Shwe” pronunciation lecture, which then turned into a history lesson about the origins of my name, followed by a lecture about Indian culture. After all of that, teachers would have the audacity to ask how to pronounce my last name — as if my first name isn’t hard enough to pronounce. My name is Shwetha Sundarrajan. Yes, you heard that right. My name is Shwetha — not SHWE-ta, not SWE-tha and most definitely not SWEAT-ah. My name has two Hs in it. Why my parents decided to put two Hs in my name, contrary to the popular spellings of my name, I will never know. That’s my name, and I will forever have to live with people misspelling and mispronouncing it. Sweater, sweaty and sweet are some of the more unfortunate mispronunciations of my name. Ms. Schnielbacker, I will never forget the atrocity of you calling me Sweater. Never. Names are closely tied to identity. Who are you without a name? One of the first things we Shwetha Sundarrajan writes down misspellings of her name Nov. 3, 2020, in the photojournalism studio. Throughout learn is how to spell and write our names. What Sundarrajan’s life, her name has been misspelled and misspoken. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN ILLUSTRATION is one of the first things doctors ask when you wake up after surgery? Your name. My name is not that difficult to pronounce. Names are so intrinsically important to a person but when it’s every single day, it wears you down. And is it not basic decency to properly learn It’s worse when people ask me if they can call me because you’re putting a label on yourself. Sure, someone’s name? For years, I adamantly rebuffed it’s not a big deal when it happens once in a while, a shortened version of my name. It’s insulting.
any nickname. I tried to be proud of my name and force people to learn the pronunciation no matter how long it took. When I was 7, my mother enrolled me in swimming lessons. On the first day, when the instructor asked everyone for their names, I gave them a fake name. I was so tired of people mispronouncing my name that I went by Sam for the entire season. It was great except for the times I forgot that I was Sam, not Shwetha. I finally fit in, but it didn’t feel right. The instructor would constantly yell, “Sam, it’s your turn” several times before I responded. When the season ended, we were presented certificates of completion. I felt like an imposter when she handed me mine with “Sam Sundarrajan” printed in bold black letters. From then on, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t change my name. It didn’t last long. Once I got to college, I officially gave up. Too many people struggled with my name, so I finally took on a nickname: Shwe. I figured it would be easier than Shwetha, and it was. I had satisfied the white people, but did I satisfy myself? Did I satisfy my culture, my heritage and my family, who had carefully chosen my name? Shwetha means “fair,” “fair one,” “lovely,” “pure” and “white” in Sanskrit. It can be spelled in a variety of ways, but my late grandfather specifically wanted my name to be seven letters due to numerology. Numerology is the belief of numerological value of the letters in words, names and ideas. My grandfather was interested in Hindu astrology, so he combined numerology with my star alignment and my birth horoscope chart, hence adding the extra “H.” I guess that didn’t work out after all. My name is not an inconvenience. Shortening names isn’t convenient — it’s ignorant. As Nigerian-American actress Uzoamaka Nwanneka’s mother said, “If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, Michelangelo and Dostoevsky, then they can learn to say Uzomaka.” Contact Shwetha Sundarrajan with comments at ssundarrajan@bsu.edu or on Twitter @fengshwe.
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13
Service and soup The Soup Kitchen of Muncie provides for the Delaware County community.
11.12.20
DNNews
Events
KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN
For more information on the events listed here, visit BallStateDaily.com/Events Glass Workshop: Fused Glass - Wine Glass Charms • Thursday, November 12, 6-9p.m. • Minnetrista Bob Ross Painting Workshop • Friday, November 20, 6-9p.m. • Minnetrista Farmers Market at Minnetrista: Indoor Market • Saturday, November 21, 9a.m. - 12p.m. • Minnetrista Bob Ross Painting Workshop • Saturday, November 21, 2-5p.m. • Minnetrista
Sheriff Grant DelaGarza (left) and volunteers Helen and Karen Dasher hand out fruit, sack lunches and water to a family on bikes. The Soup Kitchen serves from 9:30-11 a.m. every weekday. KRISTEN TRIPLETT, DN
Artwork of East Central Indiana: Minnetrista Award Winners • Now-January 10, 2021 • Minnetrista Mission Aerospace • Now-February 14 • Minnetrista Bob Ross at Home: Artists, Teacher, Friend • Now- August 15 • Minnetrista Bob Ross Experience • October 31- August 15 • Minnetrista Ball State Daily Events are looking for a new sponsor!
Helen Dasher holds up a decorated Kermit the Frog sack lunch Sept. 21, 2020, outside of the Soup Kitchen of Muncie. The Soup Kitchen relies on volunteers from the community to help it continue serving. KRISTEN TRIPLETT, DN
The Soup Kitchen of Muncie sign shines in the sunlight Sept. 21, 2020, outside of the Soup Kitchen of Muncie. The Soup Kitchen serves the Delaware County community by handing out sack lunches to those in need. KRISTEN TRIPLETT, DN
Want to buy an events package? $50 a month for on-campus customers and $75 for off campus customers. Email mckinleyave@bsu.edu for more information.
DNNews
11.12.20
14
TIKTOK
Continued from Page 06 TikTok was originally scheduled to be banned Sept. 20 via an executive order, but some U.S. companies, including Microsoft, Facebook, Alphabet Inc., Amazon and Apple, are interested in buying the app. Users can currently continue to update and download TikTok at least through Nov. 12, but if a U.S. company buys the app, security concerns may be alleviated. “According to the company, and several other companies, a buyer was imminent,” Kinsella said. “That’s my understanding as to why there’s been a delay and the limbo.” Dan Human, assistant director of digital marketing, said Ball State’s Marketing and Communications staff created a Ball State TikTok profile in April 2020. “We set up an account because the social media network had grown into hundreds of millions of users worldwide and was one of the most downloaded apps,” he said. “This also gave us a chance to try a few new things creatively.” Human said the TikTok team, which includes Ball State administrators and student orientation leaders, uses the platform to communicate with both prospective and current students. He said TikTok has a different user demographic than other social media, so Ball State’s posts are more informal on TikTok than on other platforms. “We push the creative limits quite a bit more here and try to avoid being overly official,” Human said. “Ultimately, we’re using TikTok as a way to better share the great attributes of our university and our campus life.”
TIKTOK POPULARITY TikTok was launched in China in September 2016 and grew in popularity worldwide to the top of the entertainment charts on the App Store in 2020.
Google Play
1,000,000,000 Downloads 27,513,785 Reviews
The Marketplace 2020-2021
Overall 4.5 stars Source: Google Play Store
Cardinals, are you great with kids? Educator positions available.
Children ages 6 weeks to 12 years are eligible.
To learn more and apply, visit GTKIDS.ORG
FANS
Continued from Page 08 Based on stadium capacity and regional COVID-19 restrictions, 18 of 32 National Football League teams have allowed in-person attendance for games. The league has not yet announced whether it will allow fan attendance at this season’s Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. On the college side of athletics, many football programs have allowed spectators, but this has varied based on each school’s location and desire to allow fans. Ball State Athletics recently announced it will allow 500 student fans inside Scheumann Stadium for its three home games in 2020. Attendees are required to wear masks and stay physically distant to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. High school athletics in Indiana is very similar to college programs. Fan attendance has varied from each program and decisions made by each school’s administration. However, at most levels, schools have required mask-wearing and physical distancing. This begs the question of what should happen next. In-person attendance has worked well for teams and programs that have tried it so far, but what about leagues such as the National Basketball Association, where teams have not held games in their home arenas since March? Teams need to implement high levels of caution surrounding attendance. In areas with high coronavirus numbers, local authorities should revoke in-person attendance until the area has a low positivity rate to avoid the disease’s spread. Masks and physically distant seating is a must, however, no matter how low regional numbers appear. Playing is important, but it will not mean as much to fans unless they are able to attend games in person. Contact Connor Granlund with comments at crgranlund@bsu. edu or on Twitter @connorgranlund.
Kobitz said she was confused when she heard TikTok could potentially be banned from the app store and thinks it poses a similar privacy and data collection risk as other social media. Kobitz said she watches TikToks but doesn’t make many on her personal profile. She added that making TikToks this summer benefited Ball State. “TikTok has been a social media platform that has grown so quickly and so fast,” Kobitz said. “I wanted to be a part of something to make an even bigger difference at Ball State because I love Ball State. Anything that I could do to show students some of the benefits of being a Cardinal, I was interested in doing that.” Contact Jaden Hasse with comments at jdhasse@bsu.edu or on Twitter @HasseJaden. Contact Grace McCormick with comments at grmccormick@bsu.edu or on Twitter @graceMc564.
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Freshman music education major Connor Granlund sits in Scheumann Stadium’s empty stands Nov. 10, 2020. Football attendees are required to social distance and wear masks during games this year. JADEN WHITEMAN, DN
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CROSSWORD EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS; SUDOKU BY MICHAEL MEPHAM ACROSS 1 Late Morley of “60 Minutes” 6 “__ About You” 9 As __; normally 10 “__ of Two Cities” 12 “__ and the Brain” 13 __ Wilkes; Scarlett O’Hara’s love 14 “__ Andreas”; 2015 Dwayne Johnson film 15 “Let’s __ a Deal” 16 Sits at a stoplight 19 Actor Morales 23 Joanie Cunningham’s portrayer 24 Throw in the towel 25 Glenn & Eric 28 “The Little __”; TLC reality series 30 Sulk 31 Plato, for one 32 Buzzi of “Laugh-In” 33 Mom on “The Brady Bunch” 34 “The __”; Gregory Peck horror movie
36 Give __ go; try 39 __ Walker of “Good Times” 42 Actress Debi 44 “Green __” 45 On the ball 46 “Say __ to the Dress” 47 Gilbert & Ramirez DOWN 1 Gullible fools 2 Opera solo 3 “America’s __ Videos” 4 Antlered animal 5 Daisy Ridley’s role in “Star Wars” films 6 Prefix for practice or nutrition 7 Tavern order 8 Susan of “L.A. Law” 10 Invite 11 Series for Queen Latifah 13 Small batteries 15 “Two and a Half __” 17 “Black-ish” role 18 Fleur-de-__ 20 Have dinner 21 Feel lousy
22 Suffix for meteor or social 25 Life-saving technique, for short 26 Dobbs or Ferrigno 27 “__ of Practice” 28 “__ 54, Where Are You?” 29 Beatle wife 31 Role on “The Conners” 33 So-so grade 35 Prefix for fit or deed 37 Skater Lipinski 38 Carney & Linkletter 39 Mr. Leno 40 __-T; “Law & Order: SVU” actor 41 “__. Doubtfire” 42 Kettle & Barker 43 So. state
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11.12.20
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2020 A YEAR UNEXPECTED
MADE A CLASS RESILIENT Learn their stories in the Daily News Grad Edition