BSU 03-04-21

Drive and determination have guided Teemu Suokas’ journey from Finland to Muncie.

Ian Hansen Sports Editor The lights dim in Worthen Arena. Ball State Men’s Basketball is coming off of a loss, and fans trickle out into the concourse as the players slowly walk off the court, disappearing into the tunnel.

The arena is silent, and all that can be heard are janitors shifting around trash bags. However, for freshman guard Teemu Suokas, his night had only begun.

It’s just him, the basketball and the hoop. Suokas’ biggest goal is becoming a great basketball player, so shooting around after a game has become habitual.

Hard work is a part of Suokas’ daily life, starting as a kid playing basketball in his driveway against his older brother and father in Helsinki, Finland. Suokas said he always lost to them, but he worked on his game to improve after those losses. “[My brother] started playing basketball when he was young. I would always watch his game, and that was the reason I decided I wanted to play,” Suokas said. “When I first tried it, I didn’t want to stop. I made up my mind when I was young that I wanted to play professionally. I still love the game as much as I did the first time.”

After graduating from playing his brother and father, he played for the Finland Junior National Team at the U16 and U18 levels. In 2019, Suokas played for HBA-Marsky of the Helsinki Basketball Academy on the junior national team under head coach Hanno Mӧttӧlä, who started for the Utah Utes in the 1998 NCAA Championship against Kentucky and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2000.

Suokas helped lead the team to a 21-0 record, and Mӧttӧlä praised his drive to become a better player.

See TEEMU, 08

MAGGIE GETZIN, DN JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN

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Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from Feb. 26 - March 3 on ...

BallStateDailyNews.com JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN

Football releases full 2021 schedule

Feb. 26: The Cardinals open their 2021 campaign Sept.

2 against Western Illinois at Scheumann Stadium for the first of four non-conference matchups.

The defending Mid-American Conference Champions will begin conference play Sept. 25 against Toledo before closing the regular season Nov. 23 against Buffalo in a MAC Championship rematch.

JOHN LYNCH, DN

Ball State BSA holds Unity Pageant

Feb. 28: The Black Student Association held its 53rd annual Unity Pageant with a disco theme.

Five contestants were judged on talent, community dedication and a Q&A session. Senior fine arts major Jaylyn Graham won the pageant with his art show about the Black experience. The other four contestants each received awards voted on by their peers.

VOL. 100 ISSUE: 24 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 Grace McCormick, News Editor Nicole Thomas, Lifestyles Editor Ian Hansen, Sports Editor Jacob Musselman, Photo Editor Elissa Maudlin, Interim Opinion Editor Josh Bennett, Video Editor June Cooper, Social Media Editor John Lynch, Copy Director CREATIVE SERVICES Elliott DeRose, Creative Director Maggie Getzin, Print Design Editor Kamryn Tomlinson, Web Design Editor

Cardinals lose first meet of season

Feb. 28: Ball State Gymnastics lost 194.300-194.225 to Western Michigan during senior day at Worthen Arena for the team’s first blemish on the record. Despite the loss, the Cardinals outscored the Broncos in every event except the balance beam. Junior Marissa Nychyk led Ball State with an overall score of 39.100 and finished with a 9.725 or better in each event.

Commencement scheduled for spring

March 3: Ball State President

Geoffrey Mearns announced via email that May 2021 commencement ceremonies will be in person. The ceremonies will be outdoors at Scheumann Stadium, spread out over three days — May 7, 8 and 15. All graduates wishing to participate must register by March 29 and will receive four complimentary guest tickets.

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CORRECTION

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4-DAY WEATHER

FORECAST Ryan Crump, Weather forecaster, Benny Weather Group

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MOSTLY SUNNY

MOSTLY SUNNY

MOSTLY SUNNY

MOSTLY SUNNY

Hi: 45º Lo: 29º

Hi: 47º Lo: 27º

Hi: 48º Lo: 28º

Hi: 53º Lo: 33º

THIS WEEK: This weekend, we will have a disturbance that will bring showers into the area Saturday. However, Sunday will remain dry with 40s for highs, which is where we are supposed to be at this time of the year.

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Indiana A group of students play wheelchair basketball in the Jo Ann Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center Jan. 9, 2019. March is Disability Awareness Month and celebrates people with visual, hearing and physical disabilities.

NICK BAUMGARTNER, PHOTO PROVIDED

Advocating for awareness

When senior finance major Savannah Bassett began school at Ball State, she — like many other students — found some differences between high school and college. However, for Bassett, the reasoning was different from the norm.

“When I came to Ball State, I felt like I had more opportunity to do everything because I felt that I wasn’t discriminated against,” Bassett said. “I didn’t feel embarrassed to say that I had a hearing disability.”

Bassett has partial hearing loss and requires extra services to help her with school work, which the Office of Disability Services provides her. She has had notetakers help her in case she missed something a professor said in class, receives extra time on tests because of testing anxiety and receives closed captioning for her lecture videos and Zoom calls.

Bassett is living in Fort Wayne this semester, and though she is not on campus, she is still receiving

her preferred communication through email and said this has been her best semester of accommodations.

The place for people with disabilities isn’t in the disability office — it’s wherever their nondisabled peers are receiving the same services. Ball State does an excellent job of mainstreaming and distributing disability services.”

- NICK BAUMGARTNER, Manager of accessible technology “Everybody is in constant communication with me,” she said. “I even had someone ask me for my preferred method of communication. I’ve never had that before.”

Indiana residents ages 50 and older are now eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

This announcement came one week after the Department of Health opened appointments to people ages 60 and older. The state is administering all three vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Indiana

Indiana to build mass vaccination clinics

Students share thoughts on Disability Awareness Month and campus accessibility.

Maya Wilkins Assistant News Editor

Hoosiers age 50+ eligible for vaccine

When Bassett comes to campus, she said, she struggles to understand people while they are wearing masks because she used to always lip read what they said. However, the Office of Disability Services still found an accommodation for her.

Bassett said the Office of Disability Services staff showed her face shields and masks with a clear panel and demonstrated what class would look like with each of these so she could lip read and understand what her professors were saying.

“Thankfully, COVID has not been super crazy or ridiculous,” she said. “It’s just a matter of allowing a little bit more flexibility.”

Like Bassett, Rebecca Lawrence, a graduate student getting her certificate for disabilities in a post secondary setting, has also appreciated the Office of Disability Services’ accommodations.

As an intern at the Accessible Technology Lab, Lawrence said college has also taught her how to be her own advocate.

“It’s kind of that you go straight from being structured to being independent,” Lawrence said.

“I think that’s one of the biggest differences.”

See DISABILITY, 06

The Indiana Department of Health announced March 2 it was partnering with Indianapolis Motor Speedway, University of Notre Dame and Ivy Tech Community College to host three mass vaccination centers. As of now, the centers will only offer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration Feb. 27.

Campus

UPD investigating reported thefts In a campus-wide email Feb. 24, Ball State’s University Police Department (UPD) stated it was investigating a number of reported thefts from cars parked in the Scheumann Stadium overflow parking lot. The thefts were reported Feb. 24, but the dates and times of the incidents are currently unknown. UPD stated drivers should lock all of their car doors and close windows to help prevent theft.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: UNIVERSITY PROGRAM BOARD HOSTS ‘HOUSE OF MELANIN’

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All roads lead home International students from China share their feelings about COVID-19.

Evan Weaver and Yifan Zhao Reporters In March 2020, Ball State students had their classes moved online, and many had to decide whether to isolate in Muncie or move back home with their families.

For international students, the process was complicated by travel bans and visa restrictions.

Some Chinese students studying at Ball State have decided to return home after the spring 2021 semester ends, changing their original plans of applying to graduate school in the United States.

Family members’ concern amid a surge in xenophobia in the U.S. prompted Tongyi Yue, junior accounting major, to consider returning to China later this semester.

“Last month, my parents were worried about me after seeing the news that an international student in Chicago was shot and killed,” Yue said. “They repeatedly told me to pay attention to safety and

I think some students are too worried about the pandemic here. Our university makes many safety measures, so I feel very safe on campus. It’s the value of studying abroad that I stayed.”

- SHIYI SUN, Senior journalism major

not go out alone. Although I think the environment around me is safe, my parents still unavoidably worry about me. This is also a kind of mental torture for them.”

Yue wants to return to China in May 2021 to study for the domestic graduate entrance exam, which includes math, English and political science tests.

Yue said it’s a difficult decision because there are many books needed for the domestic exam. She said she thinks she is already behind other students who are also preparing for this exam, but she will try her best to study before returning to China.

Luqiang Zhang, junior finance major, stayed home longer than he expected. He said he only

planned to go home for the 2020 summer break but stayed in China due to travel restrictions.

“I was stranded in the country and never had the opportunity to return to [Ball State] to continue my studies,” Zhang said. “My plan was disrupted, and the year seemed to be wasted. I was at a loss.”

Zhang still needs to complete some online classes at Ball State to finish his degree, and he plans to take the domestic graduate exam in China soon.

Jianyang Wu, junior business administration major, said she stayed on campus after the Indiana state lockdown due to a combination of optimism and inability to travel home.

“Many of my friends decided to go back to China and just take online courses there, but I decided to stay because my family did not think the pandemic in America would be very severe,” Wu said.

Wu will graduate from Ball State at the end of the summer 2021 and go back home to study for one more year at Huaqiao University.

Wu, as well as many other Chinese students on campus, are enrollees in the university’s Cooperation in Higher Education & Professional Development 1+2+1 program. The program allows students in China to begin their studies at universities at home for one year before coming to Ball State to study for two years. Students complete a final year of study at their Chinese universities, allowing them to receive bachelor’s degrees from both universities.

Shiyi Sun, senior journalism major, said there were several factors that went into her decision to stay at Ball State, but two of her main reasons were the plane ticket’s expense and the lack of online classes for journalism students.

Sun will graduate in May and has already bought her plane ticket to go back home, though she is still worried for when the time comes to board her flight.

“Although the vaccine has already spread to some people, the pandemic still hasn’t been totally controlled,” Sun said. “When I’m in the plane to go home, it will still be dangerous because many people will sit around me. You can’t social distance like in the classroom.”

Despite her worries of going back home to China in the middle of the pandemic, Sun believes she made the right decision to stay on campus.

“I think some students are too worried about the pandemic here,” Sun said. “Our university makes many safety measures, so I feel very safe on campus. It’s the value of studying abroad that I stayed.”

Contact Evan Weaver with comments at erweaver@bsu.edu or on Twitter @evan_weaver7.

Contact Yifan Zhao with comments at yzhao2@bsu.edu.

KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN

05

03.04.21

REDUCE, RENEW, RECYCLE

DNNews

The City of Muncie and Muncie Sanitary District are harnessing renewable energy with solar panels.

How solar energy works

1. Solar cells absorb energy from the sun.

2. As electrons begin to flow rapidly, an electric current forms.

3. Wiring is able to capture the current created and combines it with power from solar cells.

Source: EnergySage KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN

Mackenzie Rupp Reporter Fifty-three acres of land sit unused on 8th Street, with small patches of overgrown grass peeking out from concrete General Motors used to occupy until 2006. On Jan. 26, 2021, the City of Muncie announced it was buying this vacant property and installing a solar field.

“This property’s unique combination of size and location make it ideally suited for a project that will make Muncie a regional leader in the generation of clean, renewable energy,” Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour said in a press release. “[This] positions our community to attract additional investment from businesses that are focused on sustainability.”

The solar field will have the capacity to generate up to 24.6 million kilowatt-hours of energy, the press release said. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, that’s enough power to supply 2,310 average American homes with electricity for one year.

The Muncie Sanitary District also plans to install solar panels at three different lift stations in Muncie, where water from sewage systems is lifted to a higher elevation to allow it to keep running downhill toward a water pollution control facility.

“We have a large one called Jake’s Creek,” said John Barlow, district administrator for the Muncie Sanitary District. “We own the parcel [of land] that it’s on, but we also own part of the unused area out there, so we’re going to be able to put a bunch of solar panels out there.”

The sanitation district will also install solar

STRIVE WINS Sitting in a Kinghorn Hall conference room with her fellow slate members, Strive vice presidential candidate Chiara Biddle heard a phone ring.

“Is that the call?” she asked presidential candidate Tina Nguyen.

The call, coming a few minutes after voting for the Student Government Association (SGA) election closed at 5 p.m. March 2, was from SGA Elections Commissioner Parker Abrell, who congratulated slate members on their win.

“Am I dreaming right now?” Biddle said as she hugged Nguyen.

The Strive slate secured 71 percent of the vote.

Campaigning unopposed and meeting virtually with campus organizations was different from previous year’s election seasons, but Biddle said she doesn’t think the slate’s victory means any less.

“We treated ‘no confidence’ as our biggest competitor,” she said. “I think that we worked even harder to make sure people were confident in us and that they were making a vote that really meant

panels on Kilgore Avenue and at its new location on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

“Solar panels were the most cost-effective,” Barlow said. “They’re fairly easy to install. [There]

This property’s unique combination of size and location make it ideally suited for a project that will make Muncie a regional leader in the generation of clean, renewable energy.”

- DAN RIDENOUR, Muncie Mayor doesn’t need to be a lot of work done on the existing infrastructure to modify it.”

Barlow said the Sanitary District has been looking into renewable energy for 15 years, but City Engineer Brian Stephens-Hotopp helped start the project in 2020. Barlow said Sanitary District employees did evaluations in 2006, but there were installation costs at the time that are no longer in place.

“He looked into this with a company called Performance Services,” Barlow said. “We determined that we had some opportunities here to really cut back electricity budgets in some of our facilities.”

Barlow said the Sanitary District is currently unsure of when the project will be completed, but the evaluations are complete.

Ball State has been using solar energy on campus since the Health Professions Building opened in November 2019.

James Lowe, associate vice president for facilities planning and management, said in an email that the university installed solar panels on the roof of the Health Professions Building and will also add panels to the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse addition, which will begin construction in April 2021 and end in the fall.

Lowe also said Ball State has used other forms of renewable energy, mainly geothermal, since March 2014. Ball State has the nation’s largest ground-source and closed-loop geothermal energy system.

“The shift has resulted in savings of over $2.5 million annually, a nearly 50 percent reduction in carbon footprint and a 100 percent reduction of other pollutions that are generated by burning coal,” he said. “This results in savings, [a] healthier environment and better quality of life.”

Installing solar panels in Muncie will encourage business development in the city, Ridenour said.

“My administration has emphasized strong, healthy neighborhoods as a building block of citywide revitalization,” Ridenour said. “With this investment, we are making clear that we are ready and willing to embrace initiatives that will benefit our residents and create a healthier environment.”

Contact Mackenzie Rupp with comments at msrupp@bsu.edu or on Twitter @kenzieer18.

Slate wins unopposed race for 2021-22 executive board positions.

something to them.”

Nguyen said slate members will meet with the current Bold slate to discuss the upcoming transition of power and get their opinions on how the Strive slate can begin research on their focuses.

“We would not feel comfortable stepping on Bold’s toes — that’s not what we want for our organization,” Nguyen said.

Even unopposed, campaign manager Joseph Gassensmith said Strive acted as if it were in a close race.

“That first day that we announced our campaign, I sent about 97 emails in one day,” he said. “We met with probably about 50 organizations — most of them were virtual and some in person. I do feel that [the victory] is well-deserved and my team worked hard.”

The Strive slate will be inaugurated as the 202122 SGA executive board April 21.

-Staff Reports

SGA voter turnout and percentages

STRIVE’S MESSAGE TO THE STUDENT BODY

No confidence 28.6% (184 votes)

71.4% (460 votes)

Strive 644 students cast their vote in spring 2021 — 1,209 fewer than last year’s runoff election between Bold and Alliance.

Strive is beyond excited to represent you all in Student Government. We will continue to push to hear YOUR voice and make sure your ideas are heard throughout the university. Our goal is STRIVING to make Ball State an even better place through engagement, encouragement and education. We will be committed to you and our school. Thank you for your support and let’s get to work!”

Source: Strive’s Instagram page @2021Strive KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN

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DISABILITY Continued from Page 03

Lawrence said she knows a lot of people who received fewer services in high school and struggled, but are now able to receive more and perform better in school.

For Lawrence, the coronavirus pandemic has not drastically affected her courses because her graduate classes were already online, but she has heard different reactions about how school has been affected for other students with disabilities.

She said some students find school easier because all of their PowerPoint presentations and course information are in one place and easily accessible. However, with everything online, there isn’t as much structure and social interaction as before the pandemic.

“They’re struggling with not being able to socialize as easily, which is a big thing, especially if you have been socializing and have a support group, and then, all of a sudden, your support group is gone,” Lawrence said.

Bassett also said it has been difficult to not socialize as much with people because of the pandemic. She is the president of Ball State’s Alliance for Disability Awareness (ADA) and said it has been difficult to keep people interested because of the online format.

Nick Baumgartner, manager of accessible technology, unified technology support and teaching faculty for the department of special education, has to check each of the websites students use for their textbooks and make sure they are accessible for students with disabilities. He said he is constantly talking to companies about improving accessibility.

“I’m on the phone with [companies] all the time,” Baumgartner said. “[They ask], ‘What does accessibility mean? Is accessibility something that is just checking a box, or is a legal protection or is it something that is a functional priority for the platform to make it the most usable possible?’”

Baumgartner said Ball State takes the last approach and makes sure everything the university buys works for students and makes usability as easy for them as possible.

He also said Ball State provides disability services throughout campus rather than in one spot, which makes it different from other universities.

“The place for people with disabilities isn’t in the disability office — it’s wherever their non-disabled peers are receiving the same services,” Baumgartner said. “Ball State does an excellent job of mainstreaming and distributing disability services.”

March is National Disability Awareness Month, a time Bassett feels not many people know about and celebrate.

“At ADA, we celebrate Disability Awareness Month, which nobody knows about unless you’re hanging out with us,” Bassett said. “Let’s show people that it’s OK to have a disability, and let’s celebrate that and the beauty of it.”

Baumgartner also feels the importance of Disability Awareness Month is misunderstood and wants people to understand what life with disabilities is like every day. He said the Bureau of Labor Statistics states people with disabilities made up about 18 percent of the population in 2020, but only about 62 percent was employed.

“I want Disability Awareness Month to be treated as seriously as Black History Month or as Pride Month,” Baumgartner said.

For the Office of Disability Services, accessibility has been a long standing tradition, according to its mission statement.

With the empowerment from the university and the services provided, students with disabilities are given the opportunity to meet their full potential and given the confidence they need for life after college.

Contact Maya Wilkins with comments at mrwilkins@bsu. edu or on Twitter @mayawilkinss.

Contact the Office of Disability Services Disability Services:

Alliance for Disability Awareness:

Disability Services provides students with disabilities accommodations for their classes. Disability Services also has a faculty mentorship program that will pair students with faculty for their first semester at Ball State to guide them through college.

The Alliance for Disability Awareness is a student organization that meets monthly and is dedicated to disability education and awareness. ADA plans various events for people to learn more about disabilities.

dsd@bsu.edu or (765) 285-5293

ada@bsu.edu or on Instagram @ballstateada

Accessible Technology (ACT) Lab: actlab@bsu.edu or (765) 285-8275

The ACT Lab provides a variety of resources for students with visual, hearing or physical disabilities to access computers or course materials.

Source: Office of Disability Services and Information Technology

How to be a good ally for people with disabilities •

James Marconi, assistant director of disability services, said being a good ally means learning and asking questions about the cause you believe in. Being a good ally is not about speaking for a population but elevating their voices. Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.

•

Everyone can take steps in their daily lives by using person-first language, seeking out perspectives different from their own and remembering that accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. If we all leave accessibility to someone else, it quickly devolves into discrimination.

Source: James Marconi, assistant director of disability services MAGGIE GETZIN, DN

DNSports

03.04.21 07

Make them play NCAA Division I basketball teams should not opt out of their conference tournaments.

Men’s Basketball

Coleman named MAC Player of the Week

Redshirt sophomore guard Jarron Coleman was named Player of the Week after leading Ball State past Kent State and Central Michigan.

In the two wins, he scored a total of 50 points, averaging 25 points per game. He also averaged six assists and 3.5 rebounds. He did it efficiently, shooting 67 percent from the field and 65 percent from deep.

He scored a career-high 26 points in the game against Kent State.

Men’s Tennis

Cardinals push win streak to 8 matches

The sun shines on the J. W. Marriott as the March Madness Tournament bracket decal hangs off the side of the hotel Feb. 27, 2021, in Indianapolis. Every year, the hotel puts up the bracket and updates it as games conclude. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN Evan Weaver Columnist Evan Weaver is a senior journalism news major and writes columns for The Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

March has a very dear place in my heart for many reasons. It means the return of the Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s, my half-birthday and my favorite season is only a few short weeks away.

Most importantly, it means March Madness.

My favorite part of March Madness is when the mighty Goliath falls to David. Who didn’t love that underdog story three years ago when Loyola Chicago, with the spiritual guidance of Sister Jean, made it to the Final Four? Who wasn’t a Florida Gulf Coast fan when it became the first No. 15 seed to make it to the Sweet 16 in 2013? Who could forget when Butler stole the hearts of thousands of fans when it rode its Cinderella story to the championship game in

2010 and 2011?

There’s one thing all three of these schools have in common: They all earned their spot in the NCAA Tournament because they won their

I don’t see any more of a risk playing in the ACC Tournament than now.”

- LEONARD HAMILTON, Florida State head coach conference tournaments.

So, when I hear talk of teams potentially opting out of their conference tournaments this year due to COVID-19 concerns if they consider themselves a lock for March Madness, I am left annoyed and confused. There are a few schools, such as

Brigham Young and No. 1 Gonzaga of the West Coast Conference, that are considering opting out of their tournaments because they are already almost guaranteed an at-large bid.

Louisville head coach Chris Mack said he would consider opting his team out of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament if it was considered a lock. On the other hand, Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton — whose team is currently first in the ACC — said in an interview, “I don’t see any more of a risk playing in the ACC Tournament than now.”

I’m not a fan of the Seminoles, but I am a huge fan of Hamilton’s philosophy.

If teams are so worried about endangering their road to March Madness because of a oneweek tournament to secure their spot in the competition — and perhaps earn themselves a better seed — maybe they should have opted out of their season entirely.

4See NCAA, 14

Ball State Men’s Tennis defeated IUPUI twice in four days. The Cardinals took down the Jaguars in the second match by a score of 6-1. Ball State’s duo of senior Chris Adams and sophomore Vince Orlando clinched the doubles point for the Cardinals. Sophomore Eli Herran won his match 6-0 and 6-1. In the second straight match, Thibault de Negri had the game-winner.

Women’s Tennis

Ball State wins 7th straight match The Cardinals took down Western Kentucky Feb. 28. Junior Livia Lukas and senior Victoria Sec won a decisive 7-5 doubles match.

Both sophomore Amy Kaplan and freshman Mariya Polishchuk won their respective singles matches 6-2.

The other three singles matches were closer, but Ball State pulled through, winning the tiebreaker 10-5.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HOSTS CHIPPEWAS IN HOME FINALE

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TEEMU

Continued from Page 01 “Teemu has been a self-motivated athlete as long as I have known him,” Mӧttӧlä said. “He has that inner drive to push himself every day that you need to become a high-level pro one day. Teemu was one of the players at Helsinki Basketball Academy that set the tone for others to follow.”

Beyond his work ethic, Suokas’ athleticism is what jumped out to Mӧttӧlä and his teammates, which is why he brought him aboard to play basketball in the first place.

“In Finland, our approach to coaching is very athlete-driven,” Mӧttӧlä said. “Players, their development and future is [the] most important thing to us. We want to help young athletes to become selfdriven because we believe that creates the best chance for them to reach their goals.”

The next step for Suokas was taking what he learned in Finland and applying it to collegiate basketball in the United States. Suokas praised Mӧttӧlä for shaping who he is as a person and preparing him for playing basketball in the United States. “[Mӧttӧlä] was a great player,” Suokas said. “He had a lot to give.

He just taught me a lot of things about basketball and the basics. He has seen it all, and … he helped me get here.”

Ball State associate head coach Jason Grunkemeyer learned about Suokas through conversations with Mӧttӧlä. Mӧttӧlä sent a few club players to the United States to work out, and Suokas stood out the most. When Ball State head coach James Whitford saw film of Suokas, he was immediately impressed.

“One of the things I love about Teemu is his passion,” Whitford said. “That kind of passion has always been an instrumental piece in guys breaking through. Teemu has it in spades.”

Soon after, Suokas became the first European player to ever join Ball State Men’s Basketball. At first, he said, he was surprised that the Cardinals hadn’t had a European player in 100 years. Then, he was encouraged that he was the first.

“I think it is a pretty big thing to be the first European player,” Suokas said. “It makes me think why I was the first one. It makes me feel special or something like that. When I came here, I didn’t know if it was a good thing to be the first European player or not. I think it’s a good thing.”

When I first tried [basketball], I didn’t want it to stop. I made up my mind when I was young that I wanted to play professionally. I still love the game as much as I did the first time.”

- TEEMU SUOKAS, Freshman guard

Whitford said he didn’t go out of his way to recruit European players, but he felt Suokas was a perfect fit for the team and loves the diversity he provides.

“One of the things I love about college basketball is that you get such diversity,” Whitford said. “You get racial diversity, social and economic diversity, geography diversity and you get people who come from all different walks of life.”

Being the first European player in the program has included some bumps in the road, as the process of coming to the United States was anything but easy for him.

When citizens of Finland turn 18, they must participate in a six-

Freshman guard Teemu Suokas stands arm in arm with his teammates during the playing of the national anthem before a game Feb. 24, 2021, at John E. Worthen Arena. Prior to coming to Ball State, Suokas played for the Finland Junior National Team. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN month military program, and Suokas was no exception, but he was able to complete the program in four months in the summer of 2020. While he said he didn’t enjoy it, he believes it helped his selfdiscipline, which has translated to the basketball court.

Suokas’ military training in Finland took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying his arrival in the United States. Once he finally came to the U.S., he had to quarantine for two weeks before meeting his Ball State teammates.

At the time, Suokas said, he still didn’t know English well, and adjusting to a new language brought challenges for him.

“It was pretty hard,” Suokas said. “I am not saying I speak English that well yet, but when I first got here, I was a lot worse. It was really hard to communicate with the other players. I had to do that fast because we play basketball. Everyone helped me so much.”

Whitford said he would joke with Suokas and tell him he will have mastered the language when he starts dreaming in English.

Communication on the court was also a challenge for Suokas at first, Whitford said, but Suokas’ commitment to improving hasn’t wavered. Whenever Whitford leaves the film room to take calls from the media, he will look to his right in the practice gym and see Suokas as the last man on the court.

Senior guard Ishmael El-Amin saw that the minute he joined the team. Despite Suokas not playing many minutes as a freshman, El-Amin, Ball State’s leading scorer, believes Suokas’ time in the gym will pay off.

“It is a testament to him, and it’s going to pay off,” El-Amin said. “The game is going to start clicking for him, and it will start slowing down. He just knows to stay in the gym regardless of him playing or not.”

Redshirt junior guard Jarron Coleman echoed El-Amin’s sentiments regarding Suokas and his hard work.

“He is the hardest-working player we have,” Coleman said.

“He is working out every day before and after practice. He is a freak — I can’t even lie.”

Like everyone else said, Whitford believes that is simply who Suokas is, and that alone will bring him success.

“He is a really hard worker,” Whitford said. “I think because of that, he is going to have some great days here as a Cardinal.”

Contact Ian Hansen with comments at imhansen@bsu.edu or on Twitter @ianh_2.

Freshman guard Teemu Suokas waits for the starting five to be announced before a game against Kent State Feb. 24, 2021, at John E. Worthen Arena. Suokas is the first European player to ever play for Ball State Men’s Basketball. JACOB MUSSELMAN, DN

BALLSTATEDAILY.COM/ROOSTFAIR • 1

Ball State Daily’s Spring 2021 Housing Guide

LET US OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR NEW HOME. onsored by Sp

Brought to you by The Ball State Daily

2 • THE ROOST HOUSING GUIDE | SPRING 2021

NOW LEASING FOR 2021-2022

WHAT’S INSIDE 2: Argent Properties

3: Housing Tip SheetBSU4Rent, MarkBSU, Mill Pond

LUXURY APARTMENTS

4: Middletown 6: The Haven 7: 5 Tips for Leasing, Silvertree 8: Housing Tip Sheet, BSU4Rent 9: Make an Apartment a Home, Cardinal Pointe 10: Village Promenade 12: The Haven

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HOUSING

TIP SHEET Republished from The Daily News

Know Your Rights

• Deposits must be returned within 45 days after a tenant moves • Tenants can sue landlords up to $6,000 • At least 30 days of notice (unless the rental agreement states otherwise) must be given to tenants to raise the rent • A tenant has 10 days to pay rent or move before a landlord can file for eviction • You have the right to break your lease under certain circumstances

Collect Objective Evidence

Having dated photographs and documented conversations are one way to prevent landlord abuse or conflicts with roommates. Connor also recommends having a roommate agreement and keeping in writing how much rent roommates are responsible for.

BSU4rent.com

• Beginning active military duty • Being a victim of domestic violence • Living in a unit that is unsafe and violates health or safety codes

Know Your Resources

Free legal advice is available for all Ball State students. John Connor manages the Student Legal Services office and can answer questions concerning damages and roommate disputes, paying rent or utility bills. He is also available to review potential leases and explain what the leaser is responsible for. John Connor’s office is in L-17 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.

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4 • THE ROOST HOUSING GUIDE | SPRING 2021

SPONSORED

BSURentals.Com bsurentals.com | 1701 W. University Ave. | (765) 289-7618

WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT There are many things that make renting with BSURentals.com great, but here’s just a few we pride ourselves on:

A

t BSURentals, we are a property management company that is owned and operated by Ball State graduates offering off-campus student housing — both houses and apartments!

We have over 800 units in the Muncie area to choose from ranging from one bedroom to six! We have unbeatable properties that are within walking distance of Ball State’s campus and bus stops, which is great for when you are in a hurry or overslept.

BSURentals.com also offers fantastic perks for being a resident.

Our “Door Deals” perk allows you to receive awesome discounts at participating local businesses when you flash your Door Deals card.

We also have a rewards program that allows you to earn gift cards and other incentives by engaging in our community! And, our referral program allows you to refer friends and receive a $100 gift card when your friend completes a new lease. Cha-ching! It literally pays to be a BSURentals resident!

Our office is located in The Village (1701 W. University Ave.) - Stop by or call 765.289.7618 and let us help you find a home, tweet, home you can chirp about!

• Tour the actual unit you will live in — not just a show model!

• Affordable properties • Over 800 properties in the Muncie area to choose from • Most properties are within walking distance of campus or near bus stops • Office conveniently located in The Village • 24-hour maintenance • Online payments & maintenance requests • Free parking • In-unit or on-site laundry at most properties • Majority of properties are pet friendly — with no breed or weight restrictions!

• Reward program - earn gift cards and more!

• Door Deals - Show our Door Deals cards that we give you at move-in for discounts at participating Muncie locations!

• Owned & operated by Ball State graduates

BALLSTATEDAILY.COM/ROOSTFAIR • 5

WE CHECK ALL THE BOXES

6 • THE ROOST HOUSING GUIDE | SPRING 2021

SPONSORED

The Haven havenapts.org | 3701 N. Marleon Drive | (765) 287-1500

The Haven offers premium apartments near Ball Sate, so everyone is sure to find one that fits their personality and their needs.

The Haven is located on 3701 N. Marleon Drive in Muncie and provides: • Easy access to shopping • Dining, recreation • Major roads in the area

T

he Haven is a luxurious premier apartment community located near Ball State’s campus. We cater to the busy students’ lifestyle and were voted the “Best Apartment Complex” and “Best Landlord” for the Best of Ball State, 2018. With our two, three, and four-bedroom floor plans and premium amenities, you will love your home away from home.

At the Haven, each apartment comes fully furnished and stocked with top-ofthe-line appliances including full-sized washer and dryer. Apartment amenities include free wireless internet, HD cable, private bedrooms and bathrooms, and a 48” Smart TV! The community is also pet-friendly, accepting dogs and cats.

The Haven has community features that set the bar for premier living including a 24-Hour fitness gym, basketball court, swimming pool, sauna, tanning beds, and even a TV lounge! With amenities like these, you’ll stress less and relax more.

When looking for your next nest at Ball State, look no further than the premium luxury of the Haven. Check out our website at HavenApts.com

Contact The Haven today to check the apartment availability and to schedule a personal tour.

Check out our booth at the Virtual Roost Housing Fair at BallStateDaily.com, a fair to connect you with your perfect nest all semester long. Or find us at the Scramble Light on March 10 & 17 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. to learn more about life at the Haven!

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. -5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.5 p.m., and Sunday 12 - 5 p.m.

Be sure to visit us at our website: HavenApts.com

BALLSTATEDAILY.COM/ROOSTFAIR • 7

make the haven your home

rates as low as $410 per month havenapts.com | 3701 N. Marleon drive | Muncie, in 47304 | (765) 287 1500

8 • THE ROOST HOUSING GUIDE | SPRING 2021

5 TIPS FOR LEASING

KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD

The price of off-campus living can vary based on where you choose to live and what you choose to rent. Leasing a house and an apartment can be very different experiences. It is important to know how much rent is each month, along with other expenses such as electricity, gas and water. Comparing prices of different locations can also help reveal which living arrangement is best.

READ THE LEASE CAREFULLY

Before you move in, your landlord will do a background check and require that you sign a lease. Find out what information your landlord needs from you (such as social security, pay stubs and credit history) and if they charge a fee to conduct the background check.

Make sure you know everything you are agreeing to and if any part of your lease is up for negotiation. If there is anything you do not understand, ask your landlord to explain it to you to make sure you do not accidentally violate your lease. If you still aren’t sure, have a lawyer look over your lease.

DO A WALKTHROUGH

Make sure you and your landlord are aware of the wear-and-tear on your apartment or house before you move in so that you are not charged for any damages you are not responsible for.

Often, landlords have tenants pay security deposits before moving in and will take from that money if damages occur during their lease. You can save money by checking to make sure appliances and other objects work before moving in.

KNOW YOUR ROOMMATES

Have a clear plan on how much each person is paying so that there is no confusion later on. It is also helpful to know if you need to purchase your own furniture, or if the apartment or house will be furnished for you. If you do have to buy your own furniture, it can also be helpful to divide the cost among your roommates.

ASK PLENTY OF QUESTIONS AND DO RESEARCH

It is important to know as much as possible about your future lease before moving in. Here are some questions that are important to have answered before committing: • Are pets allowed? Is there a fee to have a pet?

• Are utilities included in the cost of rent?

• Where are the washer and dryer located? Does it cost money to use the washer and dryer?

• If you are in an apartment, are the washer and dryer used by the entire building?

• Where do you park?

• Do you need a parking pass?

• Is subletting, where the original tenant allows someone else to lease their room or house in their place, allowed?

• Are there any additional costs?

• Is there air conditioning?

- The Daily News, Staff Reports

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BALLSTATEDAILY.COM/ROOSTFAIR • 9

Make an apartment a home

Cardinal Pointe Communities

4 Locations Cardinal Pointe I & II, Wheeling Manor, & University

Republished from The Daily News

If you were to take a poll and ask people if they agree that an apartment can feel just as much like a home as a traditional house, most people would likely say “no.”

Many would say the lack of privacy, the limited design options, the neighbors and the overall sense of being a part of a community prevent apartments from feeling like a “home.”

The truth is that it is possible an apartment won’t feel like a home if the renter does not actually want to be living there, or if it has not been personalized to their liking. But a house won’t feel like “home” either if you aren’t committed to making it your own.

1 DO YOU LIKE IT? Pick an apartment you can actually see yourself living in. For example, if you absolutely cannot stand the countertops at one of the communities you visited, then I would advise not to rent there. The apartment will not feel like home if every single morning you wake up, look around you and think … I would have never chosen those countertops, or that light fixture or this carpet. Choose an apartment that reflects your sense of style.

2 PAINT WALLS Paint the walls, if you can. Some apartment communities do not allow residents to paint walls, but others will let you do so as long as you return the walls to their original color. Painting the walls a color that you chose helps in making residents feel like they contributed some of their own taste to the design of the apartment, thus making it feel more like their dream home.

Newly updated one to three-bedroom apartment homes within walking distance and bus routes to campus 808. W RIVERSIDE AVENUE | MUNCIE, IN 47303

765.286.0692 apply online today at www.cardinalpointe-apts.com Our communities feature..

• Close proximity to bus routes • Locked Exterior Entryways • Laundry Facility on site • Pet friendly housing • Newly upgraded floorplans • Off street parking/garage access • 24/7 on call maintenance

1-3 Bedrooms Prices range from: $725-$1180 per month Gas, water, sewage, and trash included at set rate Electric metered separately

3 DECORATE Decorating is universally the way to make any place feel like home. First things first, customize the design to fit your style. If you are stuck with furniture that doesn’t fit your style and color preferences, use slip covers and throws to cover them up. Add pillows and accessories that make it your own.

4 BE YOURSELF This one may seem a little silly at first, but if you’re not living in a place where you can comfortably be yourself then it is not going to feel like home. Your home should be your sanctuary … a place to go after a bad day at work or a stressful day of classes. It is someplace where you should be able to cater to your own needs and take care of yourself and those you love. Act like yourself when you are there.

Find us on Facebook @CardinalPointeApartments or on Instagram @cardinalpointeapts Stay in the loop on upcoming specials and savings!

10 • THE ROOST HOUSING GUIDE | SPRING 2021

SPONSORED

Village Promenade villagepromenade.com | 1623 W. University Ave. | (765) 287-1000

All this sweet talking can only do so much, so take a look what our residents had to say: (5/5) February 25, 2021: Village Promenade is great and I’ve loved living here. Great community, staff, and everything is awesome here. The amenities are so nice and I’ve really appreciated the helpful staff as well.

W

anting to find a great place to live in the perfect locativon, with some of the best amenities you can ask for? Then Village Promenade is the place for you! With us you will find spacious floor plans, beautiful amenities, fun events, and the best location you can get.

On a typical day living at VP, you can find yourself relaxing in a fully furnished apartment after class or hanging out in a hammock on the rooftop terrace. These are only a couple of the great amenities that Village Promenade has to offer! The apartment community also includes a resort style pool with a waterfall, hot tub, 24-hour fitness center, clubhouse full of activities, and quiet study rooms with free printing. Let’s not forget that being only steps away from Ball State’s campus, you can easily take part in all the festivities the Village has to offer.

Being a “Best of Ball State” winner for the past 6 years in a row, it’s no surprise that residents love Village Promenade and the lifestyle it creates for them. Previously Village Promenade has won “Best of” in the following categories: Apartment Complex, Maintenance, Amenities, Location, Price Point, and Landlord. No other apartment community can compete with the Village location and ultimate living that VP has to offer all its residents.

For more information check out Village Promenade on Instagram @VPromenade or our website VillagePromenade.com.

(4.5/5) February 23, 2021: I like the location and how easy it is to get to school. The amenities are great and the leasing office is great at handling any issues you might have.

(5/5) February 18, 2021: The Village Promenade offers a great experience as a student at Ball State. I am able to walk to all my classes and feel that I can go home to a safe environment. The staff knows my name and I feel so welcomed here!

(5/5) January 28, 2021: I live in a studio apartment and I am loving it! Having everything I need in one space has been a game-changer for being in school.

I also love having access to the gym 24/7!

Definitely staying here as long as I can. Thank you also to the VP team for being so helpful during my stay!

BALLSTATEDAILY.COM/ROOSTFAIR • 11

Welcome Home Now leasing for 2021-2022 RATES AS LOW AS $499 Pre-recorded tours on our website

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

APARTMENT AMENITIES

Fully Furnished with Contemporary Furniture Flat-Screen HDTV in Every Living Room Queen-Size Memory Foam Bed Individually Keyed Bedroom Doors Private Bathrooms in Every Bedroom Wireless Internet and Customized, Upgraded Channel Package with HBO Granite Countertops Energy Efficient Appliances Contemporary Cabinets Designer Flooring Large, California-Style Closets Dishwasher Built In Microwave Washer & Dryer

COMMUNITY AMENITIES

• • • • • • • • • • •

Pet Friendly Courtyard Pool Rooftop Tanning Deck 24-Hour Fitness Center 24-Hour Computer Lab & Study Lounge Covered Vehicle Parking (additional charges may apply) Hot Tub Outdoor Television Restaurants & Retail Shopping Private Study Rooms Ample Covered Bicycle Storage

Voted Best of Ball State for 6 years in a row!

12 • THE ROOST HOUSING GUIDE | SPRING 2021

find your haven

rates as low as $410 per month HAVEAPT.COM | [765] 287 1500

DNLife

03.04.21

DAY TRIP DESTINATIONS

Indiana Dunes State Park Chesterton, Indiana Drive time from Ball State University: 3 hours

Brown County State Park

Visit these five Midwest locations to spend a day off campus surrounded by nature.

11

Nashville, Indiana Drive time from Ball State University: 2 hours

Nashville Express Tour Trains Nashville, Indiana Drive time from Ball State University: 2 hours

The Purple People Bridge Newport, Kentucky and Cincinnati Drive time from Ball State University: 2 hours

Paoli Peaks Paoli, Indiana Drive time from Ball State University: 3 hours WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, PHOTO COURTESY; ELLIOTT DEROSE, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

ON BYTEBSU.COM: WRAPPED UP S1E4

09

Byte

Behind closed doors: A rocky marriage In the 1970s, Captain and Tennille were known for their love ballads, but their marriage was rocky outside of the studio. Nearly 50 years later, Tennille shared in her memoir about her difficult relationship with Captain, who is also known as Daryl Dragon. ByteBSU.com

Byte

Marvel hints at new multiverse With the recent castings for “SpiderMan: No Way Home,” fans believe the multiverse will be introduced.

Several actors from previous SpiderMan movies have been announced as part of the “Spider-Man: No Way Home” cast, such as Jamie Foxx returning as Electro and Alfred Molina returning as Doctor Octopus. ByteBSU.com

Byte

Shedding light on Black punk bands Although popular punk music has belonged to a largely white community, Black punk bands, like FEVER 333 and The Muslims, are demanding a change. These bands use their music to break the status quo around the sort of music Black artists are associated with. ByteBSU.com

DNLife

03.04.21

10

Cold showers The snow melted, the sun came out and Muncie community members got soaked to raise funds for Special Olympics Indiana (SOI) Feb. 27, 2021 during the Polar Plunge. After the pool collapsed before the event began, the Muncie Fire Department saved the day by providing water from its hoses. Despite the unexpected aquatic difficulties, Muncie’s event raised more than $8,000. After five other Polar Plunges across the state, SOI raised more than $285,000 in total. All funds raised from the events across the state will benefit Special Olympics athletes, helping them secure places to train and provide coaching.

Freshman Logan Schroeder and other participants shout after running under the spraying water. NICOLE THOMAS, DN

Two participants dance in the misting water from the Muncie Fire Department’s fire hose. NICOLE THOMAS, DN

Batman and Robin react after getting sprayed with water from a fire hose. GRACE DUERKSEN, DN

Polar Plunge participants yell as a fire hose sprays them with cold water. GRACE DUERKSEN, DN

11 03.04.21

DNLife

Plan your getaway Ball State students have previously known the first week of March as their spring break, but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university adjusted its academic schedule this semester. As the weather continues to warm and the first day of spring quickly approaches, some students may be feeling eager to spend time off campus. Consider these destinations — all less than a three-hour drive from Ball State — to visit for a day trip outdoors.

1.

Indiana Dunes State Park

2.

Indianapolis Canal Walk

3.

The Purple People Bridge

4.

Brown County State Park

5.

Paoli Peaks

-Staff Reports

Take part in Indiana Dunes State Park’s “3 Dune Challenge,” where visitors hike a 1.5-mile trail up the park’s tallest sand dunes. Visitors can also walk the park’s 15-mile shoreline along Lake Michigan, swim at one of the park’s nine beaches or go on a self-guided birding tour.

3 hours

TRAVELING DURING A PANDEMIC Remember to follow COVID-19 guidelines while traveling to prevent contracting or spreading the virus.

Do not travel if you’re experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or if you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus. Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet, wear a mask correctly over your mouth and nose and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.

6 feet apart

Take a 3-mile walk or bike ride surrounded by downtown Indianapolis’ skyline. Beginning March 27, visitors can rent a pedal boat, kayak or double kayak by the hour to take down the Indianapolis Canal.

1 hour

Stretching 2,670 feet over the Ohio River, the Purple People Bridge is a pedestrian-only bridge connecting Newport, Kentucky, to downtown Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, visitors can walk from the bridge to Smale Riverfront Park, a 45-acre urban green space with various activities.

2 hours

Lace up your hiking boots or cycling shoes to explore Brown County State Park’s more than 18 miles of hiking trails, hills, ravines and streams. For a more relaxing afternoon, visitors can eat their lunch at one of the state park’s 12 picnic areas.

2 hours Visit the alpine ski resort Paoli Peaks during its spring skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing season. The resort features a natural hill with a 300-foot vertical drop. There are 15 skiing trails of varying expertise levels, and there are 10 700-foot-long snow tubing lanes.

3 hours

Sources: Indiana Dunes, Downtown Indy, Wheel Fun Rentals, The Purple People Bridge, Cincinnati Parks, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Brown County State Park, Paoli Peaks, MapCreator KAMRYN TOMLINSON, DN

DNOpinion

12 03.04.21

Dugout Chatter

QUEEN beats Zach Reminiscing on my great-grandma’s death reminded me why we should cherish every moment.

Zach Piatt is a senior journalism major and writes “Dugout Chatter” for The Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

My three little sisters and I made the trip north from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Bronson, Michigan, after ringing in the new year to visit Great-Grandma for her birthday.

As we turned onto her narrow, winding driveway, I remembered I forgot to bring my pack of cards — Great-Grandma and I played War every time we saw each other. I was disappointed in myself, but I knew she had a spare pack — I gave her one the last time I saw her a few months prior.

Zach Piatt She was waiting for us as we got out of the car.

We walked over, and the first thing I noticed was Editor-in-Chief, her headstone dates still hadn’t been updated.

“Dugout The four of us talked to Great-Grandma for a few Chatter” minutes, and we shared an embrace. There were no glossy eyes — we were all cried out by that point.

Before we left, I knelt beside her, envisioning cards in her hands, and it made me think back to some of our most memorable moments.

6 beats 2 Eight or nine years ago, Great-Grandma had a stroke and was taken to the ICU. Only two people were allowed to visit her at a time. Dad and I went first while Mom and my sisters stayed in the waiting room.

As we walked in, she was sitting in the bedside chair, refusing to lie in the bed — she was always stubborn like that. She started sounding off about how she felt fine, and she didn’t know why she was still in the hospital and she just wanted to go home.

As she and Dad talked for a moment, my attention shifted to the increasing number on her heart-rate monitor and its constant beeping. I was confused for a moment before I realized all the numbers and sounds coming from that monitor were hooked up to Great-Grandma.

She was shaking. Her arm was slightly reaching out. She seemed frozen in time.

Before we knew it, a dozen doctors were in the room. They had already lifted her onto the bed by the time one nurse ushered us out. That was when I heard the words I’ll never forget: “Oh no, get the pads.”

Lights were flashing all down the hallway, and I heard “Code blue” on repeat over the loudspeaker. Already a wreck, I stumbled

ELLIOTT DEROSE, DN ILLUSTRATION

ON BYTEBSU.COM: ROOSEVELT REMAINS STAGNANT WITH ‘POLYDANS’

13

03.04.21

DNOpinion

Events

For more information on the events listed here, visit BallStateDaily.com/Events

Brunch at Minnetrista: St. Patrick’s Day • Sunday, March 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Minnetrista • Registration deadline: March 10 • Cost: $25; member discounts apply • minnetrista.net

Zach Piatt and his great-grandmother, Marilyn Piatt, play War Nov. 24, 2011. The two saw each other two or three times a year, and they played cards together each time.

He said reminiscing on all the memories of his great-grandmother helped him get through her emotional funeral. ZACH PIATT, PHOTO PROVIDED toward the doors at the end of the hallway.

It was silent on the other side of those doors. People stood along the walls and stared at me. They knew.

As I slowly turned the corner into the waiting room, hyperventilating, my sisters saw me, and they were soon in a similar condition.

An eternity later, a nurse approached me and said Great-Grandma wanted to see me. Teary-eyed, I walked back in. She was in her bed this time. She looked at me and said, “What are you crying for?” I smiled.

That day changed me. I watched my great-grandma flatline in front of me, and I promised myself to cherish every moment with her — and every other loved one — from then on.

Jack beats 10 Six months ago, most of the family met at Great-Grandma’s house in Bronson to help load up her stuff and move it to a nursing home in Fort Wayne.

She had started forgetting things. She was confused why everyone was there and why we were hauling away her stuff, even though we told her multiple times leading up to it. Twice in the span of a couple hours she asked me if I was still writing for my school paper.

When we finally got everything packed up and convinced GreatGrandma that what was happening was real, it was time to load her up as well.

We all hugged her and waved as Grandpa backed her out of the driveway to head to Fort Wayne. The rest of us weren’t far behind.

Shortly after we arrived, I had to help Great-Grandma off the toilet seat. She couldn’t tell me enough times how embarrassed she was, and I told her there wasn’t anything I’d rather be doing in that moment than helping her. To that, she said, “Well, not many men can say they’ve done that.” Classic Great-Grandma — also one of the most quick-witted people I’ve ever known.

That was easily my favorite memory with her, and I’m glad I treated it the way I did. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, and this time, that was the case.

Farmers Market at Minnetrista: Indoor Market • Saturday, March 20, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Minnetrista • Registration deadline: March 10 • Cost: Free • minnetrista.net/events

Queen beats Jack Just over four months ago, Dad called me. I knew what it was.

I had been preparing for this ever since I walked out of that ICU room. Every moment after that found a special place in my heart, and while I hadn’t dealt with death before, I was ready for it.

Great-Grandma was gone.

Her funeral was four days later back in Bronson, and there we all were again. We usually only see the whole family twice a year, but Great-Grandma had a way of bringing people together.

I was afraid to see her. I didn’t know what to expect. The only thing I knew was I was going to give her a new deck of cards I bought before the trip.

When I finally psyched myself up enough to have my moment with her, I couldn’t say anything. There was so much I wanted to tell her, but I was speechless. I tucked the deck of cards into her casket, smiled at her and walked away.

I got one last chance to talk to her on the way out, but all I could muster was a soft, crackly “I love you.” That’s all I really needed to say.

I’m proud of many things I’ve done in my life, but one of my greatest honors to this point was helping carry Great-Grandma to her final resting place.

By the time we got her there, things had already started to feel normal again. We cracked some jokes, said goodbye in our own ways and turned right out of the narrow, winding driveway toward the park — the same place we hold our annual family reunion — to have lunch. It’s what Great-Grandma would have wanted us to do as a family.

Life is unexpected. A 6 beats a 2, a Jack beats a 10 and a Queen beats a Jack — love trumps all.

Contact Zach Piatt with comments at zapiatt@bsu.edu or on Twitter @zachpiatt13.

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DNSports

03.04.21

NCAA

14

Continued from Page 07 Brigham Young is the only school in the WCC that has not had its season paused by COVID-19, dating back to when the season started in late November. It did cancel and postpone some games due to other programs having to pause, but the Cougars never had a single case within their program all season.

So, where do the concerns come from all of a sudden?

If a team is doing everything it can to stay safe, there shouldn’t be a concern because all players risked their health for the past three months. There is no reason why one extra week of basketball should cause greater concern.

Between attending practices and classes and

hanging out with friends, players risk their health every day. Because of these other variables, exposure at a conference tournament is not as risky as teams make it seem.

If teams considered locks for March Madness opt out, it is unfair to teams that have to play in their tournaments or rely on the selection committee just to make the big dance. Teams that would most likely win their conference tournaments and earn an automatic bid would instead receive at-large bids that diminish the number of bids available to teams on the bubble.

Suppose teams like Gonzaga, Michigan or Baylor — schools expected to win their conference tournaments — opt out. In that case, fewer at-large bids will be available to schools in conferences that usually only receive a couple of bids.

In the Mid-American Conference, four teams — Toledo, Akron, Kent State and Ohio — all

have six losses. The MAC is a Group of Five conference, which typically means only the conference tournament champion receives a bid to the madness because Power Five conferences often receive the most love from the committee.

In 2019, Power Five conferences received 31 total bids — five automatically given to the tournament champion and 26 given as at-large bids. The remaining 12 conferences received 33 total bids — 12 automatic bids and 21 at-large.

Let’s say Toledo wins the MAC Tournament this year. You can’t tell me Akron, Kent State and Ohio are any less deserving of an at-large bid than Pepperdine, a team that would only advance to March Madness from winning its conference tournament due to Gonzaga and BYU skipping out on their conference tournament.

Springtime sunshine Ball State students and their pets ditched their winter gear as temperatures soared into the 60s.

Hammocks, footballs and frisbees were scattered about University Green March 3, 2021. For the rest of the week, temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-to-high 40s.

Of course, health and safety are of the utmost importance for student-athletes during the era of COVID-19. However, there’s no reason for coaches to sit their players out of conference tournaments for health reasons if they have already played a full season.

If the NCAA allows teams to opt out of their conference tournaments because of health reasons and then allow them to play in the NCAA Tournament, there might as well not be an NCAA Tournament at all.

Contact Evan Weaver with comments at erweaver@bsu.edu or on Twitter @evan_weaver7.

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