Ball Bearings | Volume 5 Issue 3

BALL BEARINGS volume 5 // issue 3 // SUMMER 2014

destruction brings

A COMMUNITY together page 35

love knows no borders page 32

families extend beyond their dna page 39

BALL BEARINGS // SUMMER 2014 ISSUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES

THE GUIDE sports

5 8 11 14 16

just when it felt like home MAIMEE MORRIS, THE FIRST-EVER ENGLISH ATHLETE TO PLAY FOR BALL STATE, FEELS UNSETTLED AT HOME SINCE HER GRADUATION EASTER EGG XXX XXXX. TECHNOLOGY

2014 chevy spark put a little spark in your college life entertainment

happy friday guy xxxxxxxx

president gora xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

32

the language of love Two international students who found love after coming to America try to find a way to express it in their own words.

35

rising from the ashes After flames destroy their home, it takes a community to help a family back on their feet

read. eat. drink. listen stay in the know.

editor’s note describe your style

ENRICH

39

extend beyond our own border XXXXXX

44

a dream that you wish will come true ball state women bring royal presence to young admirers

Q&A: Graham watson columns: JOe and miriah in focus

TAKEN BY CHOICE A mother›s 20-month-long fight to get her son back home

28

FOOD

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 12 21 18 46

24

INSIGHTS

22

Home team advantage Despite not being able to travel to Russia, I found a way to cover Olympics 1

contributors //

Highlighting a few of our staff

NEIL HAUSEY

MIRANDA CARNEY

Neil Hausey is a senior telecommunications major. He heads the video team for iPad and online. He is a first generation American on his mother’s side and was born in Louisiana.

Miranda Carney is a sophomore studying news journalism.

She has worked as an online reporter for two semesters. Currently, Miranda is training for her third half-marathon.

MAGGIE KENWORTHY

JOE GROVE

Maggie Kenworthy is a sophomore double majoring in news and photojournalism. She works as a photographer for print and online, and even finds time to report. She is an active participant in an inter-generational book club with members ranging from their teens to their 70s.

2 // BALL BEARINGS

Meet Joe Grove: a junior magazine journalism major. Check out Joe’s debut story, Chevy Spark. He originally attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit to design cars and is a relative of the Wright Brothers.

BALL BEARINGS volume 5 // issue 3 // SUMMER 2014

print staff // editor-in-chief

assistant editor

hayli goode

lauren hughes

assistant design editor

managing editor

photo editor

briee eikenberry

leeann wood

lauren dahlhauser

pr director

assistant editor

design editor

Crystal allen

dominique stewart

jennifer prandato

advisor david sumner

assistant editor victoria davis

ipad staff //

online staff //

managing editor

managing editor

photo editor

aubrey smith

gina portolese

joe ruley

producer

design editor

photo editor

holly demaree

aubrey smith

lauren dahlhauser

producer

assistant design editor

design editor

mallory jordan

copy editor jason conerly

web editor savannah smith

web editor ricardo lopez

chris talley

video editor neil hausey

advisor mary spillman

sarah ellis

Contributors Erika Espinoza Brooklyn Schumacher Nicholas Ewing Joe Grove Victoria Fairfield Katy Jamison Brittany Overstreet Miriah Bowen Charles Watson Joseph Knoop Rachel Brammer Katie Miller Megan Hilaire Rick Purtha Kaytee Lorentzen Brittany Watson Stephanie Redding MaryBeth Sargent Emma Rogers Katie Lyon Hannah Dominak Maggie Kenworthy Ricardo Lopez Emily Sobecki Daniel Brount Max Catterson ball state university // muncie, inD. 47306 printed by // ball state university printing services

3

I

editor’s note //

can remember my first tour of Ball State University. I was a high school senior, stressed about the giant decision quickly approaching and overwhelmed from how large the school was compared to my 59-student graduating class.

The chairman of the magazine department was giving me a tour of the Art and Journalism Building. I told him I was interested in magazine writing, so he took me to the Ball Bearings office. There, I met the editor-in-chief of the magazine and the online managing editor. I left with a couple of publications in my hand and watched them return to their layout.

On the ride home, I remember telling my parents I wanted to be in that room. I wanted to do what they do – to find stories and tell them through a publication that impacts the entire campus and beyond. To lead a staff along stories and challenge others to challenge themselves. To be a problem solver.

Three years later, I find myself editor-in-chief of that very same magazine. It’s almost weird for me to write this because I never thought I would make it here. Not yet at least.

I also never thought I would find myself in a factual problem with a story. I heard about libelous and slanderous remarks that made the news, but I thought I was far too paranoid and intelligent to run into the problem. Until I did.

Last issue, I wrote, “Review is in Session.” It was meant to be a media round-up of the honors college being put under review. Unfortunately, in the process of writing the article, I defamed professors.

To those professors, I offer you my sincerest apologies. I never meant to report incorrect information about the classes you taught. And I can assure you, although I checked all of my sources and printed the information that was presented to me, it is my hope that my first (and hopefully only) journalistic slip will not affect you or your future endeavors.

But that is what college is about, right? It’s the time we students can actually see ourselves grow into a person we may want to be for the rest of our lives. It’s about being confronted with giant life decisions, and giant life mistakes, and learning how to make lemonade out of situations. It’s a time to mature.

And that is what this issue is about. From surviving a giant fall (pg 26), to bringing a new culture to Ball State (pg 16), or studying how to talk to the ladies (pg 20), it’s obvious students at Ball State are learning from the experiences life hands them. The students featured in these stories didn’t cave under the stress of life, but instead used it as a life-altering story. We all have one.

What’s yours?

hayli goode EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

contact us comments can be directed to ballbearingsmag14@gmail.com.

advertise with us for more information, contact us at ballbearingsmag14@gmail.com.

WHAT’S ONLINE XXXX

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Explore a day in the life of an Army ROTC soldier on Ball State’s campus.

More exciting than your physics class: Learn the angles of a perfect Wallyball spike.

Try these new appetizer and dessert recipes for your next get-together.

4 // BALL BEARINGS

Just When it Felt Like

Home

T

Maimee Morris, the first-ever English athlete to play for Ball State, feels unsettled at home since her graduation in December. story // Brooklyn Schumacher PHOTOS // mAGGIE kENWORTHY, Emily Hollingsworth design // charles watson

he sun beat down on a crowded beach in Nuweiba, Egypt. Maimee Morris was on vacation with her family from Worcestershire, England. Her phone buzzed with a text from her coach, Stuart Wilson.

“What are your grades? Do you want a scholarship to play in America?”

It was then that Morris’ life changed - a dream she had nursed from the age of 5 was coming true. She was going to play soccer in the United States.

She first envisioned this dream when she watched Michael Owen play on T.V. But in England, soccer is a male-dominated sport. This made Morris’ dream a difficult one to achieve.

With no girl’s soccer clubs available, her father, Michal Morris, introduced her to a boy’s team called Church Hill Boys FC. But she was turned away on the spot by the coaches who said only boys could play.

“It was confusing at that age to be told no and my gender be the reason. It didn’t make sense. All I wanted to do was play soccer,” Morris says.

That night, Morris remembers sitting in the bathtub, “completely gutted” by the coaches who turned her away.

She listened to her father on the phone arguing with the

manager of the team. It was the first time she remembers hearing her father stick up for her.

Desperate to play, she cut her own hair and adopted the name Owen in honor of her favorite player. She would do whatever it took to play, even if it meant being a boy.

When they returned to ask again, the coaches let her join on one condition: to remain her true sex a secret. She was fully accepted by the coaches after her first game, where she scored three goals.

“I was literally one of the boys, I didn’t ever feel alienated. If I needed to be a boy, I would be a boy, people would call me Owen, and that suited me,” says Morris.

At that same age, Morris told her mother, Honor Keatley, that she would play soccer in America one day. This was her dream because women’s soccer was not nearly as popular in England as it was in the United States. But as she grew up, that started to change.

After three years of playing for Church Hill Boys FC, more teams for girls started to form. She first joined Redditch United, then moved to Kidderminster Harries.

At age 13, Morris joined Birmingham City Ladies, a top women’s team in England, where she stayed until she was recruited by Ball State.

5

THE GUIDE // SPORTS

morris embraces her mother

and brother after an away game. Morris’ family came from London to watch one of her games.

After the game-winning

goal was scored in the last two minutes of the quarter-final game for the cardinals against, Morris said she felt “utter relief and pride.” photo by emily hollingsworth

6 // BALL BEARINGS

In the six years she spent there, her team claimed England’s championship for the 2009-10 season. She was also selected as MVP for three consecutive seasons. These stats drew Craig Roberts, Ball State’s head women’s soccer coach, to Morris.

She’s not the only international student Roberts has recruited. Since 2011, there have been players from Jamaica, Finland, Czech Republic, England, Canada, and Germany.

Next year players will be welcomed from Paraguay and Austria. Ariane Struckmeier is from Pattensen, Germany, and was brought to Ball State in 2012.

Struckmeier says the transition was difficult for the first few weeks because of the heat and fierce training schedule. Being European gives she and Morris a different perspective on the game.

“We both come from countries where soccer is an old part of our culture,” says Struckmeier.

Joining the Cardinals was also a difficult transition for Morris. In England, she trained only four hours a week, in addition to a Sunday game. In America, she had to train 20 hours every week on top of nearly 30 games in the fall and spring.

“It was massively intense,” Morris says. “They require more of you in terms of fitness, strength and conditioning.”

At the time, high-level female soccer players didn’t train more than a few hours a week because there was no way to generate income from it in Europe. They still had jobs on top of their soccer career. Morris says this is changing, though, because women’s soccer is becoming more prevalent in Europe.

Overseas, athletics at the collegiate level are still purely social.

“You play to meet people, have a game, then go get absolutely hammered afterward. That’s what its all about, culture. No money, that’s all put into club sports,” Morris says.

This is a difference Struckmeier agrees with. She says that club sports in Europe are not related to high schools or universities. Staying with one league for a long period of time is not unusual.

One thing that made their transitions easier was the way collegiate athletes are taken care of in the United States.

“The facilities, the way we’re looked after, it’s incredible,” Morris says. “We can go see a trainer whenever we want, and they’ll fix us. We get nutrition plans, gear, a new field, a new locker room…we had absolutely everything you could dream of.”

Morris’ appreciation of the perks associated with Division 1 athletics is something her head coach admired most about her.

“I think a lot of the players are so used to receiving sweats and shoes and going on the journeys that we go on and kind of take it for granted. But with Maimee, she was never exposed to that and she really appreciated the fact that she was given anything,” Roberts says. “She always showed complete appreciation and enjoyed the opportunities she was given. I think that kind of attitude spread through the team very quickly of people recognizing what the appropriate conduct is.”

Morris and Roberts had a special bond because they are both from the same area in England. Roberts says they understood each other well, and “she was good at being the liaison between player and coach.”

The height of Morris’ career as a Cardinal was in the spring of 2013 when she scored the game-winning goal against Hai-

Midfielder maimee

ti’s national team. This was one of Roberts’ favorite memories of Morris.

“Usually, I’ll put the ball down, look up at the goal and see myself in my head going through the play and scoring. Putting the ball exactly where I want it, in the back of the net,” Morris says. “It happened exactly as I played it out in my head. That was the best feeling.”

Lindsay Kempf, junior on the soccer team and good friend of Morris, remembers the game as one of the most difficult they had played all season.

“Late in the second half, Maimee got a free kick from like 30 yards out and put it in. She just stopped and looked up, and we all just ran to her and tackled her on the ground,” says Kempf. “We were acting like we won the MAC championship.”

In December 2013, Morris completed her classes at Ball State and returned to England. She is currently working for a company who provides learning development for businesses as her internship, and will formally graduate this May. She helps with workshops that give businesses “techniques to shift their behavior by changing their thoughts and feelings.”

She hopes to return to the states next year to work as a sports psychologist.

Her dream is to become a psychologist for the Paralympics.

Struckmeier was on the team from 2012-13, and says her experience has been amazing. She quit soccer this spring, but is still happy to be at Ball State.

Morris has started playing again for the first time since her last game at Ball State. She has rejoined the Birmingham City Ladies.

Despite being back in England with her family, Morris says she feels unset-

Morris fights a Toledo defender to take the ball during their fall game.

tled. She feels as though she cannot win, because when she was in America, she missed her friends and family in England. But now she misses her Ball State family.

“I feel like my family is still there because it was only me that changed,” says Morris. “Half of me is still there, so I can’t give what I want to give to a new team.”

In coach Roberts’ opinion, Ball State women’s soccer team has also been left with a void since Morris left.

“They had a role model whose shoes haven’t been entirely filled, because Maimee is Maimee,” Roberts says. “She was so committed to being a positive influence on the team. She brought players together.”

Kempf says that Morris left the team with high standards to follow, but it’s time for the team to step up and take her place.

Morris reflects on her time at Ball State as the best years of her life. Her favorite memories were from their trips as a team.

“You look back, and sometimes you hated the bus ride, or you didn’t want to be with that roommate, but in hindsight, that was the best time to stay in a hotel with your absolute best friends and play the sport that you have loved your entire life,” she says.

Morris wakes up every morning and sees a wall of photos from her time in America, and says it’s like a dream to have been blessed to have the opportunities and the people she did.

The most important lesson she learned from this journey is to always be true to who you are.

“No matter where in the world you go or what you experience, there will always be something drawing you back home,” she says.

7

easter THE GUIDE // FOOD

eggs

Easter is approaching fast. The holiday, which falls on Sunday, April 20, brings happy thoughts of spring, children anticipating the arrival of the Easter bunny with some of their favorite goodies and, possibly the most fun part, decorating Easter eggs. With the invention of Pinterest and various crafting blogs, we now have the capacity and technology to upgrade our measly dye-dipped eggs. Use these tips and tricks to spruce up this beloved tradition. story // LeeAnn Wood PHOTOS // rachel brammer, lauren Dahlhauser design // erika espinoza

How to hard-boil an egg: Step 1.

Fill a saucepan with water.

Step 2.

Add eggs.

Step 3.

Turn heat on high and bring water to a boil.

Step 4.

Once boiling, time for 5-7 minutes.

Step 5.

Remove the eggs from the water.

Step 6.

Dry off and let cool.

Make sure to watch for cracking!

Take them out of the water if they begin to do so.

10 // BALL BEARINGS

dyeing So you still want to dye your Easter egg.

Cool. Old-Fashioned. We’re not judging.

MArvel. For this look, pick out two colors that complement one another. Dip your egg in the first dye color. The longer you leave it in, the darker the color will appear. Let dry. This next part is a little tricky.

Pour one tablespoon of vegetable oil into the second dye color. With a fork, stir the contents (oil will float on top) while dipping your egg into the dye. The fork creates the swirl effect. Dip the egg multiple times until the color is the shade you desire. Keep stirring the entire time. stripes. For a whimsical striped look, pick out two complementary colors of dye. Drizzle rubber cement glue in straight lines or a wavy pattern over the egg. Let the glue dry completely, and then roll it over to do the other side. Once both sides are dry, dye the egg with your first color. Let dry. Rub off the glue. At this point you can either enjoy your design or dip it into the second color.

accessorizing

drawing on easter eggs Dyeing and painting can sometimes be messy. Another option is to draw on your design.

Sharpies. They come in an endless array of colors. Write a message for a friend to give as a present. Or, write your favorite quote or song lyrics and use it to decorate your room (until it goes bad, of course).

You can decorate your egg with just about anything you can find in the craft aisle, including mustache stickers. You just need to use a bit of imagination‌and some glue.

Glitter. Warning: Wear rubber gloves. This can get messy. Dump glitter onto a paper plate. Using glue that dries clear, lather the egg with the glue making sure to cover all areas. Roll the egg around the glitter, again making sure to cover all areas of the egg. If you missed a spot, paint on extra glue where needed and roll around again.

Jewels. Bedazzle your entire egg or use just a few to make a fun design. They come in different shapes and sizes so there are plenty of options. Glue a couple of jewels at a time, giving them time to dry before adding more. This keeps them from moving if you bump them while applying more.

Lace. You can find strips of lace in the sewing aisle at any craft store.

They come in a variety of colors and patterns. Wrap a piece around the egg and glue the ends down. You can add a flower or another accessory to cover up where the two ends meet.

Metallic paint pens. These work just like Sharpies but give it the look of being painted. Use stencils or freehand to create all your favorite designs.

painting Painting can give an egg the look of being dyed, if you paint it one color, or can be an innovative piece of art your friends will admire.

Glow-in-the-dark paint. Either paint the whole egg or hide the eggs and turn off the lights for a glowing Easter egg hunt.

Chalk paint. Spray paint speeds up the process, allows you to paint more evenly and requires less skill than trying to hold the egg and paint at the same time. Write a secret message to your family for fun.

9

Put a spark into your college life

I

story // joe grove | PHOTOS // emily sobecki | Design // katie miller

If you’re like most college students, your current car is the first car you’ve owned. Maybe it’s been an old friend that has gotten you from point A to point B for the past few years.

However, those old friends start to become new enemies and drain you of whatever money you have left. If this is you, it’s time to upgrade to a new car. The Spark fits the bill. At $12,995 the Spark LS is easy to manage with a college student budget.

The bright colors available for the exterior help the tiny car stand out on the road. It’s offered in colors such as Grape Ice, Salsa Red, Denim, Jalapeño, Lemonade, and Lime with matching interior colors. Colored plastic trays and inserts allow for some customization, but the amount of hard plastic in the car can be overwhelming, even for a car this cheap.

The Spark comes standard with power windows and locks, 15-inch-alloy wheels, as well as 10 airbags. Upgrading to the LT package gains Chevy MyLink in-car connectivity system, cruise control, USB ports, and a theft alarm. Chevy’s MyLink allows you to pair a phone to the car through Bluetooth and use Pandora, Sticher, and BringGo Navigation App. Being able to seat four people in a car slightly longer than 12 feet gives plenty of room to comfortably drive around town with friends. There is also room in the trunk for some of their gear. If more cargo space is desired, the second row flips

this small sports car

is great for driving in the city. it fits in most places people would fear to put a car.

and folds to a nearly flat load floor which can hold 31-cubic-feet of cargo. Two mini-fridges should be able to ride along comfortably.

The Spark handles well through city streets and it can maneuver through traffic like a car this size should. However, the suspension is very tight and it transmits every bump in the road, so it’s probably a good thing that you can easily swerve around potholes. Above 30 mph the steering becomes very light and responsive, almost like a go-kart, but it never feels dangerous or over-boosted.

Power comes from a 1.2 liter, 4 cylinder that produces 84 horsepower and 83 lb-ft.

of torque to the front wheels. While not the fastest car for highway driving and merging, it’s very adequate for city driving.

When accelerating, the engine noise can be very loud and intrusive, but fades quickly as it goes through the gears. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but a CVT [automatic] is an option for all trim levels.

Some people have fast cars on the brain, but are they really worth it? The Spark is fuel-efficient, and it comes with a three year, 36,000 mile warranty. Plus it’s cheaper than one year of tuition at Michigan State.

2014 chevy spark // 5-Door Hatchback Engine: 1.2 liter, 4 Cylinder 84 horsepower @ 6300rpm 83 lb-ft of torque

Length: 144.7” (12.05’)

WEIGHT: 2,350-2,400LBS

Base Price: $12,995 (LS)

Wheelbase: 93.5” (7.79’)

Height: 61” (5.08’) Width: 62.9” (5.24’)

11

THE GUIDE // FOOD MEET // CIERRA JACKSON-PITTMAN Jackson-Pittman is a firm christian, yet a woman who likes to show-off her body.

Though many people challenge her style, she believes anyone can expose skin while staying true to his or her values.

Year // Junior Major // Psychology How would you describe your style in three words?

Different. Colorful. Confident.

What influences the way you dress?

I get my inspiration from myself because I form my own patterns and see what I come up with. And from there I get inspired to keep going.

What’s your favorite store?

I mostly shop at Charlotte Russe. I’m obsessed with their jewelry.

Is there a piece of clothing you wear the most?

Half tops. I love showing off my belly because I’m a belly dancer. It shows uniqueness to us and it shows off our confidence.

Which item would you never leave your home without?

My cross necklace. I’m very religious, and it brings out my confidence and radiance out of [me] and into what I’m wearing.

What’s something you could never get rid of from your closet?

I could never get rid of my sundresses. I love how they shape my body and how the wind flows through. I’m definitely a dress girl.

A spring must-have accessory?

You must have long, dangly and big earrings.

Why do you dress the way you do?

I want people to see the type of person I am through the colors and the bold clothing I wear. Also, [I want] to show other women that they can wear whatever they want and be confident in the lesser clothes they wear.

Where did you get that outfit?

Necklace, bracelets, earrings, rings and shoes: Charlotte Russe; Dress: Pittsexclusive, her grandmother’s store in Elkhart, Ind. “Crosses are my favorite thing to wear because it makes me feel secure, reminds me of God’s and is a 10covenant // BALL BEARINGS symbol of love that Jesus sacrificed for our sins.”

MEET // SEAN CHEN Sean, born and raised in China, moved to the United States with his family at age 16. Barely knowing any English, he not only learned how to adapt to the American lifestyle, but also excel in a new world of fashion.

Year // FRESHMAN Major // VISUAL COMMUNICATION

How would you describe your style in three words?

Layers. Colorful. Simple.

What influences the way you dress?

It’s a mixture between looking at photos on Pinterest and Instagram, and getting inspiration from them.

What’s your favorite store?

I shop at H&M because it offers a variety of styles that I like and it fits true to my size.

Is there a piece of clothing you wear the most?

Cardigans. They match my T-shirts easily and they come in all different colors. I love wearing layers, and cardigans make it possible.

Which item would you never leave your home without?

I always wear a watch. I collect them and own eight in different colors.

What’s something you could never get rid of from your closet?

My scarves. They provide warmth and highlight my outfit.

A spring must-have accessory?

Bracelets. They are just an extra highlight that adds more interest [to] the outfit.

Why do you dress the way you do?

My fashion style reflects my personality. I’m a very happy person, and I love to be helpful. The bright colors I wear describe how I am.

Where did you get that outfit?

Shirt and pants: H&M, boots: Forever21, vest and watch: Macy’s

“Watches are my favorite accessory because it’s a timepiece that every man should have.”

Story // aubrey smith photos // nicholas ewing design // jennifer prandato

11

THE GUIDE // entertainment

Farewell Happy Friday guy story // LeAnn Wood | PHOTOS // Lauren dahlhauser | Design // marybeth sargent

Happy Friday Guy III’s reign comes to an end

“I STAND FOR THREE THINGS: HAVE A HAPPY FRIDAY, HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND AND GO BALL STATE.”

E

- Happy Friday Guy

very college campus has unique traditions and our own university is no different.

Happy Friday Guy III (HFG III) has spent the last four years zooming across campus to wish Ball State a happy Friday.

“I stand for three things: have a happy Friday, have a safe weekend and go Ball State,” says HFG III. The practice started in 2004, before HFG III arrived on campus. Scooter Bob, the original Happy Friday Guy, took to the sidewalks of campus on his electric scooter to wish everyone a Happy Friday as a dare from friends.

When he left Ball State, a second Happy Friday Guy took over for a short period of time, but like his predecessor, he disappeared.

HFG III heard stories about this character on campus from his older sibling and friends who also attended Ball State.

After asking what happened to him, a friend of his asked why he didn’t just do it, to which he replied: “By gum, I think I will.”

He decided to stand out on campus by wearing an “iconic blue suit,” which is actually just a blue morph suit.

“The reason I did that when I first started was I wanted to make sure that who I am outside of Happy Friday Guy, stayed outside of Happy Friday Guy,” he says. “If he’s this entity on campus that’s exactly what he should stay. They shouldn’t associate a face or a person with it.”

But his costume wouldn’t be complete without his red helmet, goggles, blue cape and, of course, his scooter, which he rode until Spring 2013, when he hit a pothole and it crumbled to pieces. He now descrbes them as occupational hazards. Now he skates across campus on roller blades.

Dodging the potholes can be just as tricky on those, he says.

Besides the potholes, and the smell after skating around campus in his hot suit, he says there really aren’t any disadvantages to being HFG III. “People have gone through their entire week, and sometimes you get so bogged down with what your projects are.

And then here comes some goofball scootering by or in this year’s case, skating by, and it puts a smile on your face,” he says. “It reminds you that it’s Friday. Go have some fun.

Take a break. It’s a rewarding feeling. I genuinely wish everyone could experience something like that.”

But every era must come to an end.

“This is going to be my last semester as being HFG III,” he says.

The man behind the mask will soon be leaving, again putting a void in the Ball State community.

Many people wonder, will he reveal his identity?

“After doing this for as long as I have, I had my explicit reasons as to why I put on the blue suit,” he says. “I wanted to make sure I was separate from

Happy Friday Guy and I‘ve often wondered if it would be a good idea or a bad idea as Happy Friday Guy with the mask down. Just to ride around and have it just be me for a day.

That just may be my last hurrah. I haven’t decided.”

This year, there’s a new character on campus: Sad Monday Person (SMP).

“I always thought that Monday was a great day and seeing Friday get all the attention, it’s a little lop-sided,” SMP says.

HFG III admits this is not the first attempt at another character on campus, but none of the others have stuck. When SMP remained faithful to coming out every Monday, he decided to meet up with him for a “Superhero Conference” he says.

“We sat down because, over the years, there have been a number of people who have taken on a Happy-Friday-Guy-like persona. I cautioned him and shared a little of my expertise. We just chatted about the ins and out,” HFG III says.

But HFG III had another dilemma on his mind: Who was going to replace him when he left?

“I’ve been thinking for a long time because I knew this day would come. How am I going to pass this on because it was something I just picked up, something the guy before me just picked up, and the very first Happy Friday Guy, he did it as a dare? Happy Friday guy has literally been on campus for a decade,” HFG III says. “Here I’ve got a student that is already doing this every week on his own out of his way you know that sounds like someone else, me.”

He mentioned the idea to SMP of taking over and being Happy Friday Guy IV starting in the fall.

And according to HFGIII, he was up for it.

With all his loose ends tied up, HFG III can move on knowing the tradition won’t leave with him.

Farewell Happy Friday Guy III. You will be missed.

THE GUIDE // entertainment

Read. EAT. Drink. Listen.

drink // The Mojito is a classic Cuban cocktail that is commonly associated with bars near a beach or in a tropical location.

Don’t worry, you can drink one in the non-tropical cornbelt of Muncie, Ind. For a twist on the classic Mojito, ginger has been tossed into the mix, adding a whole new flavor that accentuates the limey, minty freshness. Every ingredient can be tasted and smelled. There’s a perfect mixture of fresh-squeezed limes and mashed mint leaves that leave your taste buds craving more. Ginger adds just enough spice to balance out the sugary concoction and it covers the bite of the rum, so be sure to drink responsibly.

Start your summer right by bringing the beach to you and enjoying a Ginger Mojito. Ask for this drink at Outback Steakhouse or Puerto Vallarta.

Joe Ruley

16 // BALL BEARINGS

listen // Hands in the air. Bouncing up and down. Cheering. Fans can’t seem to get enough of DJ Martin Garrix, a fresh face to the music scene. Just 17 years old, Garrix was the youngest DJ to reach No. 1 on Beatport and reached 26 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for his song “Animal.” Born in Amsterdam, he began playing guitar when he was 4 years old and developed an interest in DJ-ing when he was 8 years old, after seeing DJ Tiesto play at the Athens Olympic Games.

Now, he travels all over the globe to DJ places such as Germany, Belgium, Mexico and even California for Coachella in April. (Sorry guys, the event is already sold out!) His latest mix, “Tremor,” will be available on Sound Cloud and iTunes April 21.

Leeann wood

read // In life, we encounter many events, both good and bad. Winning a championship title in a major sporting event is a once in a lifetime opportunity and quite exciting. Or when diagnosed with a life threatening disease creates heartbreak of the body and soul. Pat Summitt, the author of “Sum It Up”, has experienced both of these in her life. Pat Summitt, former Tennessee University Volunteers Women’s basketball head coach, retired from coaching after 38 years, two years ago. Summitt has been spending her retirement fighting an early stage of Alzheimer’s and publishing books. Her latest book, titled “Sum It Up”, is about the all-time most winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. She tells her story about victory and resilience, but also discusses her challenge with an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. She started head coaching at the age of 21, and has a current résumé with 1,098 victories recorded. She also shares about how she gained her tough personality and mindset from her strict father. This book is not only a biography and autobiography about the Hall of Fame basketball coach, but about a woman who has a strong mentality when it comes to any challenge in life. “Sum It Up” can be found on Amazon.com and at major bookstores like Barnes and Noble for about $12.

LAUREN HUGHES

eat // Being a vegetarian in the Midwest is rough.

Pork, chicken, turkey and beef make up the four basic food groups to maintain a healthy Midwestern’s diet. Vegetarianism is sometimes viewed as a religion and everyone expects you to order a salad when dining out. Muncie’s Downtown Farm Stand’s Spicy Veggie Wrap is a break from this burden. Sautéed onions, red and green bell peppers, spinach, and tomato in a garlic and chili paste can liven up any vegetarian blues. BEWARE! The wrap does have a kick to it, so be prepared to grab one of the complimentary orange slices to help soothe the spicy sensation. It looks like a simple meal, but the organic and locally grown vegetables will have you asking for more.

Dominique Stewart

17

insights

bro talk

A Man in a

Woman’s World I find myself constantly surrounded by women.

Literally. Nearly 24/7. I work with almost an entire staff of women and my roommate is a woman, too.

Most guys would throw their hands up and praise, “There is a God!” But let me fill you in on some deets about what it’s like to be constantly with women.

ALL.THE.FREAKING.TIME.

You won’t be living anywhere near the lifestyle of Hugh Hefner.

Joseph Ruley JOSEPH RULEY Major: magazine journalism

Year: senior

Fun Fact: HGTV is my guilty pleasure when it comes to watching tv.

Follow Joseph @JOETRULEY

Illustration // Katie Miller

I always get asked that question. It won’t happen.

Get it off of your mind.

What you will be is the lowly husband.

You are officially the man of the house, therefore, you are: the fixer, cleaner, killer, furniture mover, mechanic and broken-heart mender.

I’m like the Dexter of the bug world. I can’t even begin to tell you how many spiders, ants and other insects I’ve killed.

You will become acutely aware of how disgusting women are.

(Side note: I love women to death - couldn’t live without them.)

But you really will realize women have more hair than the wookiees in Star Wars and will bleed more in one month than you will in your entire life.

Before I lived with a woman, I lived with three guys.

When it came to clearing shower drains, we maybe did it once or twice, ever. Toilets, that’s a different story. Since living with one woman, I’ve had to clear the drain at least two times to three times a month.

Not to mention during that time period when they all sync up (seriously, they’ll all have periods at the same time. It’s mind-blowing) you’ll become the most hated, vile creature on the Earth who gets quarantined to your room. It can be bad-news-bears.

You’ll begin to text and talk like them.

The other day I received a picture of a cat. What did I message back? “Awe that kitty’s totes adorbs!!”

I was walking down McKinley Ave. when I sent that text. After becoming aware of what I just sent, I stopped, looked up and said out loud, “I just said totes adorbs to a kitty…dammit.”

18 // BALL BEARINGS

It was at that moment I realized a couple things: 1. I needed to go listen to some V8 engine noises, chop wood and do other brutish activities to try and scrape back any ounce of manhood I had.

2. Having guy friends is entirely necessary. Even if it’s a bromance, though those are kind of weird. But guys need to be around other guys every once in a while.

We need to do tough things like shotgun beers at unnecessary times, have discussions on why Kate Upton’s hoo-ha’s are better than coffee, eat mediumrare hamburgers while watching two dudes punch each other senseless, or construct pointless things like bar stools.

It’s necessary for our sanity.

a single perspective

embracing the

SINGLE LIFE Ladies, raise your hand if you are single.

Don’t worry, my hand is right there with you. It seems like everyone is in a relationship besides you. Heck, Honey Boo Boo’s mom has a man and we don’t.

College pressures us into relationships. After all, isn’t the order: college, marriage, and then kids? Why search for “The One” right now when we have the rest of our lives to look for him or her.

There are many benefits of being single, but no one ever takes the time to talk about them.

Let me break down a few perks being single has for you.

Miriah BOWEN Major: telecommunications and journalism

Year: sophomore

Fun Fact: i can rollerblade backwards and dance at the same time like a boss.

Follow MIRIAH @miriahbowen

Illustration // charles watson

1. Free drinks at the bar.

Many of us are on tight budgets while in college. So slip on your most stylish outfit, be confident, and embrace not having to pay for drinks if someone offers. Just be cautious of spiked drinks.

2. Scope out possible prospects.

When you are out with friends, talk to all the people you want. Let’s be honest, if you were in a relationship, how would they feel if you were talking to some gorgeous person across the room? That’s just a fight waiting to happen. And if the opportunity strikes and you get asked on a date, take advantage of that free meal. Maybe even buy yourself something cute with the extra cash you saved.

4. Binging.

If you want to eat a whole pizza or down a pint of ice cream while watching an entire season of Toddlers and Tiara’s, go for it! No one is stopping you. That decision is all yours to make. So just keep on keeping on.

5. The “F” and “B” Words.

Ladies, we all know that when we tell guys we don’t fart or burp, we’re lying. We do it just as much as they do. We’re just more discrete about it. When you’re single, you can let it all out because, well, you can. Just make sure you keep air freshener on hand.

6. Better looks.

When you are single you tend to care more about your appearance and stay in better shape.

Once you are in a relationship you get comfortable with your partner, and looks don’t really matter. After all, they’re stuck with you.

Yeah, it would be nice to cuddle with someone once in a while, but that’s why body pillows and giant teddy bears were invented.

Embrace your singleness and just do what makes you happy.

3. Never having to shave.

Save time in the shower and skip shaving for a couple days. No one is going to know that you are going around looking like Chewbacca when you have a pair of jeans on.

19

Suspension Performer: he’s hooked

graham watson STORY // victoria fairfield | Design // marybeth sargent | Photo // max catterson

Graham Watson swings on shark hooks - for fun! Watson is a suspension artist with the troupe Sub Culture Suspension Arts. Watson has been suspended in the air by shark hooks a couple dozen times. His high school friend, Drew Miniear, introduced him to the idea of suspension when he formed Sub Culture Suspension Arts in 2007. When Miniear offered to suspend Watson for the first time, Watson said yes without hesitation.

What exactly happens during a suspension performance?

Simply put, I show up and people put hooks in me and then they move me around a lot.

There’s, of course more to it than that, but that is the gist of what my job is.

What’s your favorite position to be suspended in?

Back allows for a lot of possibilities, it’s fun picking up other people while I’m suspended, which is really only easy if you’re suspended from your back. Knees are actually really fun too. You have a lot of freedom of movement. So I’d say a tie between knees and a teeter totter rig.

What do your family and friends think of suspension?

The friends that I have that also do it, think it’s cool. What little of my family knows about it, I think they’re generally kind of horrified about it and try to avoid the subject in conversation.

It makes sense that people can’t relate to the experience or wanting to have the experience.

Are you getting hung by your skin or skin and muscle?

Only skin. It’s really important that the hooks not go through, or go under, anything other than stuff that can’t be stretched like skin or fat.

What is the longest amount of time you’ve been suspended in the air?

Maybe just short of an hour.

Why do you do it?

[It’s] the best way that I’ve found to develop, to cultivate willpower, to confront my own fears and to confront the basic instinct to run away from something that’s difficult and scary.

Why is it important to have so much willpower?

Well, I think that adult life kind of requires it.

21

THE GUIDE // technology insights

HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE Story // mat mckinney | Photos // Taylor Irby | Design // Erika Espinoza

W

Despite not being able to travel to russia, I still found a way to cover the 2014 olympic games “hen am I leaving?”

“What time?”

“How am I getting there?”

“What time does my flight leave?”

Questions like these filled the classroom, along with some heavy breathing, stress-induced sweating and potty words.

But what was I doing when this mess was happening? Eating tacos and taking naps.

When I first found out about the possibility of joining the BSU at the Games, an immersive learning class reporting on the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, nobody had to convince me. I knew I wanted to be a part of a group that covers the Winter Olympics. It is the dream of many journalists, and sportswriters in particular, to cover an Olympic Games.

When I found out about the cost, however, I was the one who

22 // BALL BEARINGS

had to do some convincing – to my parents.

And when I did, I learned we wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of going to Sochi.

I am fortunate enough to have my parents pay for my college education, so I couldn’t do much arguing or fighting when they wouldn’t be able to pay for a trip to Russia. By the time I found the true cost and relayed it to them, I believe they were secretly happy they couldn’t pay for it.

My parents both wanted me to have the experience of going to the Olympics, but the fact that it was in Russia also worried them.

My mom doesn’t like me going to Indianapolis for a day, let alone a foreign country.

My dad was also worried about my safety, with many nearby countries in turmoil.

Students can be XXXXxXXXXXXXX

It wasn’t under my control, so I had to not worry about it. Once settling with the decision that I wasn’t going, I was feeling OK about it.

I told Ryan Sparrow, the project’s director, that I wouldn’t be able to make the trip. ,but I would like to still be involved, if he’d have me.

Fortunately, he accepted me as part of a new section of BSU at the Games – the Home Team.

The previous group of BSU at the Games went to London in the summer of 2012. There wasn’t a home team for that group, and Sparrow wanted to add one for the Sochi Games. I was included with a group of copy editors and PR students.

Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to Russia, I still was able to go to Utah in the fall to the Olympic Media Summit. And that was my trip.

As for the Olympics, I would find local stories to report on from Indiana.

I didn’t have a ton of difficulties in dealing with not going. One of the hardest part was when people would ask me if I’m going to Russia. Telling them no was hard. I basically had to talk about why I’m not going dozens of times over and over again.

That, and the fact that those who went will be able to talk about it in job interviews for the rest of their lives. When an employer asks me about what I did for BSU at the Games, I’ll have to say that I wasn’t able to go. I hope I’ll have other things on my résumé to talk about to make up for it. But it was something that I was looking forward to talking about.

I’ve had the amazing privilege of being able to travel for the Ball State Daily News, where I am a sports reporter. I’ve traveled all over the country to cover football games, including Alabama for the Go Daddy Bowl in January. I didn’t need to go to Sochi to feel validated as a competent student journalist. I have been able to do great things and

“I DIDN’T NEED TO GO TO SOCHI TO FEEL VALIDATED AS A COMPETENT STUDENT JOURNALIST.” -MaTt Mckinney create awesome work, and not being able to go to Sochi doesn’t diminish that. That’s no slight on those who did go, but for me, my college experience wasn’t hinging on going.

The media summit in October was very fun.

There, I interviewed a lot of different athletes and had a blast. I treated it as my experience with the Olympics, giving it my all every day.

Not going to Russia also gave me an advantage over those who were -- I didn’t have to mess with passports, visas, travel information and tickets. I swear, for about two weeks straight, that’s all they did. It wasn’t worth it for me to go to a class where they filled out a form for an hour, so I didn’t go those days.

So who really was the lucky one here?

On a related note, afternoon naps are the best.

By far, the best moment of the entire experience for me was the week the Russia Team was getting ready to leave.

It was very relaxing to know no matter what was going on with that group, my future was sealed. I was staying home.

So I just had to rub it in a little bit. Just to let them know exactly how I wasn’t stressed.

When a person asked me how I was anytime before their journey, I made sure to tell them I was great and not very stressed. Somebody next to me would be freaking out, and I would put my feet up next to him or her and sigh loudly.

I knew they were going to be talking about the Games non-stop for months after they returned, so I had to enjoy my small victories.

After they finally left, I did what I could from 5,700 miles away from the Games. I made Storifys -- aggregations of Twitter posts, Instagram posts, and online photos -- of the Opening Ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s (non)expressions and all the selfies of the Olympic Flame.

I tried to find people related to the Olympics at home for local stories, but was unsuccessful. For example, the mayor of Marion, Ind. was a good figure skater in the 1970s, finishing around tenth place.

I tried to do a neat story on him, but our schedules never seemed to synch up.

At least the people I was talking to spoke English.

From what I could hear in the classroom, the team that went wasn’t so lucky. Point - home team.

I watched the Games on NBC, writing small blog posts when I could. and spent a lot of my time living vicariously through the team’s adventures.

And I was OK. There will be plenty more opportunities for that at a later time.

23

FEATURES

TAKEN

by choice A mother’s twenty-month long struggle to bring her son home story // CRYSTAL ALLEN PHOTOS // MAX CATTERSON illustrations // katy jamison

A

Alissa Zagaris lied in the bed of her son, hugging his pillow as she wept. She had taken down all the pictures and items around the house that reminded her of him. Distraught, she says, she spent several nights lying in that bed, crying herself to sleep and hoping for the return of her son, Leo Zagaris.

Leo leaves for Greece June 2, 2011, was just like any other day, full of traveling for Alissa and Leo. Leo, 10 years old at the time, had made the trip to Greece to see his father, Nikolaos Zagaris four times before.

He knew the routine.

They would take the same route they always did. They would leave their home in Nobelsville, Ind., for the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

But Leo says he had mixed feelings about leaving for Greece. He wanted to see his dad, but didn’t want to spend the summer away from his hometown friends.

His mom kissed him goodbye and said, “I’ll see you soon and I love you.” Leo then departed for the International terminal.

Alissa would spend the next 20 months fighting for her son’s

24 // BALL BEARINGS

return home.

A failed marriage from the start Nikolaos and Alissa met in January 2000. Alissa started managing Hellas Cafe, a Greek restaurant in Indianapolis where Nikolaos was a part-time server.

“I viewed him as a strong person, but in truth,” she says, “I realized it was more of a boasting. There was no real strength there.”

When she began managing the restaurant, Nikolaos and Alissa hooked up. Within a month, Alissa became pregnant with Leo. Nikolaos, a Greek native, is part of a prominent Greek family. His brother-in-law, Vagelis Maxis, was the former mayor of Marathon, Greece; his cousin, Spyros Zagaris, was the mayor after Vagelis.

At the time, Nikolaos was attending the University of Indianapolis. He was in the U.S. on a student visa he received through the student exchange program at the University of Athens.

Alissa says the news that his visa had expired came a few months after they started dating, making Nikolaos desperate to stay in the country. He convinced her to marry him in July 2001. Five-months pregnant at the time, Alissa agreed.

“I’ve never really believed in marriage, but it was also the first time that I had been pregnant,” she says. “I kind of heard my grandfather’s voice in the back of my head saying, ‘you need to have a commitment here.’ So we did. We actually got married.”

Leo was born Jan. 2, 2001, in the IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, and since that day, the couple’s marriage was never the same. Alissa says Leo was a difficult newborn. He cried all the time and never slept. Nikolaos couldn’t handle the crying, so he rarely came home and began developing a gambling habit.

“I wouldn’t say that he physically abandoned us, but he definitely emotionally abandoned us,” says Alissa.

Nikolaos started acting violent towards Alissa anytime he felt she wasn’t doing her duties as a wife. He wanted dinner on the table every night he came home, Alissa says, even if it was 2 a.m. When he was violent, he always went for the throat, she continued.

At times, Alissa was scared but she says she was mostly angry that she couldn’t physically do anything about it. She hated feeling that he could overpower her at any time.

In 2007, Alissa filed a protective order for herself and Leo, and left the marriage. At the same time, Nikolaos was arrested by Immigration & Customs Enforcement and was charged with unlawful presence.

He left for Greece in February 2008 to live with his mother.

Alissa started dating Mark Williamson a few months after her separation with Nikolaos. They had their daughter, Zoey Williamson, in July 2009.

After Nikolaos and Alissa’s divorce was final, the custodial agreement gave Alissa physical custody of Leo, but Leo was to visit his dad in Greece 10 weeks per year. Leo began his visitations at 8 years old.

Leo’s time in Greece When Leo arrived in Greece in June 2011, it was just like his past trips. He enjoyed swimming in the ocean and hiking in the mountains, he says. He would ex-

plore Greece with the friends he had made there, playing soccer in the nearby stadium and visiting the town square to shop.

Things about the trip didn’t start to change until a week before Leo was due home to Noblesville. In August 2011, Nikolaos called Alissa and told her Leo had the mumps, so he needed his vaccination records because the doctor said Leo couldn’t travel home and would have to be quarantined.

Alissa became suspicious of Nikolaos’ intentions when he failed to send Leo’s illness information. She started looking into international child abduction laws in the fear that Nikolaos wanted the vaccination information to enroll Leo in a Greek school.

A week later, Nikolaos called Alissa to tell her that Leo wouldn’t be returning as planned. Alissa threatened Nikolaos with Hague abduction charges, kidnapping charges and media attention if Leo didn’t come home immediately. Nikolaos refused to return Leo. The Hague Treaty, a document that ensures the return of children who have been abducted from their habitual residence to international countries, currently exists between 91 signatory states. Other countries, however, don’t necessarily have to comply with U.S. laws.

Soon after, Leo called his mom to ask if he could live in Greece for a year and enroll in school to see what it was like.

“Look baby, I don’t agree with this and I want you to come home, OK? School’s started here,” says Alissa.

“It’s OK mom. I want to go to school here,” Leo responds.

Alissa says she felt betrayed at this point.

“I was devastated. I felt so disconnected.

Then when I was literally cut off from him, I almost killed myself. I wanted to die,” she says.

People would say to Alissa, at least you have your daughter.

“But it wasn’t that simple,” she says.

“It’s not like Leo was in some basement somewhere with a stranger. But it didn’t matter if he was in Disneyland. I couldn’t get to him.”

Leo saw it differently. He wanted to spend the extra time with his dad. He said he wanted to stay for a little over a year, then maybe he could come back for Christmas break.

when it happened June 2, 2011- Leo travels to Greece.

Aug. 11, 2011- Nikolaos calls Alissa claiming Leo had mumps and needs his vaccination records. Nikolaos claims a doctor will not allow Leo to travel and the doctor was going to quarantine Leo for a month but he won’t give any proof of illness.

Aug. 16, 2011- Leo fails to be returned to the Alissa and she threatens Nikolaos with Hague abduction charges, kidnapping charges and media attention if Leo isn’t returned to her immediately. Nikolaos refuses.

Sept. 12, 2011- School was scheduled to begin in Greece. Leo attended. Alissa begins to heavily research abduction and unlawful retention laws.

Sept. 29, 2011- Alissa contacts Consular Affairs with the U.S. State Department and informs Ann McGahuey in the office of children’s issues about the unlawful retention. She begins the filing process for Hague Civil Parental Abduction charges.

Oct. 4, 2011- Alissa files kidnapping charges against the Nikolaos in Henderson County, Ind., and registers Leo with Missing and Exploited Children.

Oct. 10, 2011- Alissa intends to file federal kidnapping charges and international kidnapping charges against Nikolas. Nikolaos stopped contact between the Alissa and Leo. October 21, 2011- Arrest warrant issued for interference with custody at a $100,000 bond.

March 16, 2013- Leo returned home with Alissa.

25

FEATURES

Before getting on the

plane to visit his dad in greece, Alissa zagaris took this picture of her son leo. She said she was going to use it to remember him by while he was gone. Before getting on the plane, zagaris said she kissed leo and told him she loved him.

Alissa Zagaris says she felt like she was barely a mother to her daughter, zoey, while she fought to get leo home.

She spent the majority of 20-month long fight on the phone with the U.S. State Department and constantly updating social media.

A mother’s fight In September 2011, Alissa contacted Consular Affairs with the U.S. State Department and informed the Office of Children’s Issues about the abduction. She began the filing process for Hague Civil Parental Abduction charges.

She also began her search for a private attorney in Greece. A search that soon came to a halt when every private attorney she called refused to help her because of Nikolaos’ political family.

A month later, Alissa filed kidnapping charges against Nikolaos in Hamilton County, Ind. and registered Leo with Missing and Exploited Children.

Alissa was spending the majority of her days on the phone with the U.S. State Department. She updated her Facebook to let the public know what was happening, and also was trying to find a Hague representative in Greece for her case.

“It was like fighting in an uphill battle with my heart literally bleeding out,” she says. “I couldn’t understand how I was still alive. I mean I didn’t think it was possible to feel that much pain.”

Alissa admits she destroyed her relationship with her second husband Mark, and was barely a mother to Zoey during the ordeal because she spent all of her days fighting to get Leo back home.

In December 2012, Alissa flew to Greece for her first trial thinking that she would be returning with Leo. Under the Hague Treaty, she was able to get a representative free of charge. To Alissa’s disappointment,

26 // BALL BEARINGS

the judge decided not to rule that day.

“I was a mess, just a zombified, drained version of myself,” she says. “I just thought, ‘Fuck it, when in Rome right?’

And that’s when it hit me. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. But in my thoughts, that translated to ‘when dealing with absurdity, come equally absurd.’”

Two months later, she found out the judge had denied her ex’s appeal to keep Leo, and she won him back. However, the U.S. State Department didn’t help from there, she says. It was up to her and her FBI agent to physically get Leo out of Nikolaos’ hands.

Alissa’s rescue mission Alissa left for Greece once again in March 2013. U.S. Embassy staff in Athens and security escorted her the entire way.

Once she landed, it was time to get Leo. It was Halloween for Leo in Greece – the country celebrates it in March as a religious holiday. He was walking home from school with his dad, dressed in full cowboy gear. They were about 20 yards from his house, crossing the street to go home, when a police car stopped them.

Leo was told his mom was there and they dragged him and his dad into the car.

When they got to the station in Athens, they were put in separate rooms.

“Mom, you got me arrested,” Leo said as Alissa walked in.

Alissa laughed and said, “No, honey, you’re protected.”

Their last flight landed at the Indianap-

olis International Airport on March 16, 2013, where a media frenzy met them. Leo says he kind of liked the idea of being on TV, but he couldn’t understand why they were there.

A new normal Today, Leo is retaking the sixth grade since his Greek classes didn’t transfer to the U.S. He last spoke with his dad a few weeks ago, and enjoys the time they get together through Skype.

Leo was told his father committed an illegal act, and that he was a child involved in an international abduction case. However, to this day, Leo feels that he could’ve come home at anytime, but he didn’t want to. He says he was the one who chose to spend extra time in Greece with his father.

Because he returned Leo, Nikolaos wasn’t punished in the Greek courts. However, in the U.S., there is a warrant for his arrest on kidnapping and assault charges from Alissa during their marriage.

As for Alissa, she spends her time advocating for other left-behind parents. She works with an organization called iStand, which brings awareness to the topic of international child abduction, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act being presented to the Senate.

“I can’t let another parent fall victim to the system,” she says. “What happened for Leo and I should happen to all parents with kidnapped children and I want to make sure that it does.”

FEATURES

GOR

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FEATURES

GOR

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31

FEATURES

THE LANGUAGE OF

LOVE

Two international students found love in the fall of 2013. Now they’re trying to find a way to express it in their own words.

L

story // jOSEPH KNOOP | PHOTOS // LAUREN DAHLHaUSER | design // stephanie redding

ove. It’s one of the hardest things to find, much less express.

With college being one of the most popular places to find a significant other, it can be difficult when you’re not only new to campus, but also new to the country.

Mo Eun Chan, from Gwangju, South Korea, enrolled at Ball State University in 2009. Shortly after, he spent two years as part of the South Korean military. Working as a supply sergeant in the 188th Military Police Company ROK Armed Forces, Mo maintained his company’s equipment, issuing handcuffs and magazine pouches before returning to America to study psychology.

Mo initially lived in Shively Hall, a residence hall used primarily for international students. It was there that he noticed a young woman named Chen He. “I saw her face at the time, but we didn’t know each other,” says Mo. Raised in the city of Dalian, China, Chen attended a school similar to an international institute. Typically, students from her school would study abroad in Canada. Chen’s parents decided to send her to Ball State to study childhood development in 2009, thinking she would be safer under the care of her cousin, who also studied at the university.

32 // BALL BEARINGS

“I’m the only child in my family, so my parents kind of had a hard time about sending me out,” says Chen.

Though Mo and Chen both lived in the international hall, and recognized each other, they never spoke to one another.

After almost three years, they discovered they had a Japanese language class together. Mo, recognizing Chen, messaged her, asking if she remembered him from Shively Hall.

“Yeah, I know you! I have your Facebook,” said Chen.

“Then we start to talk when we’re back home. I ask him ‘Where are you living?’”

“I’m living in Anthony Apartments,” he told her.

“Oh, really? Me too,” said Chen. “Which number?”

Mo told her he lived in apartment 52, and Chen just so happened to live in apartment 51. In a twist of fate straight out of the storybooks, the two had come from entirely different countries and moved halfway across the earth just to land at each other’s doorsteps.

The two began dating shortly after, getting to know each other, growing a stronger bond with every day and then making a habit of being late to class together.

Their love story isn’t without its struggles. Since the two come from different countries, communication became a

constant source of frustration. Though both learned a considerable amount of English, their native languages are entirely different.

Mo speaks Korean and Chen speaks Chinese Mandarin.

“We’re communicating with each other kind of using the third language,” says Mo. “It’s not even English sometimes. It’s a double-translating process.”

“It is so significant that the two can sometimes understand each other’s broken English better than the proper pronunciations,” Chen says.

The two love to poke fun at one another’s mistakes.

“Say ‘turtle’,” Chen says, looking at Mo. “She cannot pronounce ‘zero’,” he playfully replies. “She pronounces it ‘day-ra.’”

This confusion often causes dissonance between what they want to say and what the other potentially hears.

“Sometimes we are trying to explain our love for each other, but the English word is just ‘love’,” says Chen. “In Chinese or Korean, they have different types of words to describe love.”

The Chinese character for love, or “Ai” was born from the mind of Chinese philosopher Mozi, in an effort to distance the concept of love from family and clans, to a more universal affection.

Not only is communication between them a challenge, speaking with each other’s parents is almost impossible.

“I already met her parents,” says Mo. “They are coming here for [Chen’s graduation], but I cannot communicate with her parents.”

The two have made great efforts to better

understand each other’s language and culture. They plan to take additional language courses and seem determined to adapt to the other’s native culture. Even if one of them were to earn their degree, living in the other’s country would result in very few job opportunities. Neither possesses a green card though, meaning they cannot reside in the U.S. after earning their degrees.

It’s not just the language they’re learning.

Both have learned what makes a person the way they are goes beyond just the words they use.

“The more time we spend together, the more we know about each other,” says Mo. “Sometimes we realize we are not only culturally [different], but man and woman.

It’s different, you know, right?”

In many Asian cultures, marrying within the same race and territory is often expected of youth. “[Sometimes], in his opinion I’m this kind of person,” says Chen. “But, as time goes by, he can tell, ‘Oh, I’m not this kind of person.’ For me, personally, I never [thought] I could fall in love with a foreigner.”

For now, the couple plans to stay in the U.S. as long as possible to capitalize on the career opportunities available. Though their road ahead will be more difficult than most, the two continue to demonstrate their love through their concerted efforts to learn about and support each other.

“The other typical couple, just American to American, South Korean to South Korean, you guys are more similar to each other than us,” says Mo. “But, try to understand, everything is possible.”

Mo Eun Chen

and Chen He poke fun at each other when the other mispronounce words in English.

“FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I NEVER [THOUGHT] I COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH A FOREIGNER.” - CHEN HE

33

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BALL BEARINGS

For the ipad & Android

ON APRIL 16th Get it at the ipad app store and the android marketplace What’s on the iPad? Roller Derby Rachael Smith turned her desire for an aggressive women’s sport into the only renegade league in Indiana.

Tricked out van One senior is preparing to live out his dream by means of his Ford Cargo van.

RISING FROM THE ASHES After flames destroy everything, it takes a community to help a family back to their feet.

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story and photos // Rick Purtha photos // megan kingery design // Hannah Dominiak

ebruary 27, 2014, started as a normal Thursday morning for Louise Castle and her family.

4:30 a.m.: Louise woke up and got ready to leave for work, as she does most mornings. She left not too long after to go to the Speedway gas station in Hagerstown, Ind., where she is the manager.

6:30 a.m.: Louise’s husband, David, woke their kids and helped them get ready to leave for school.

After getting ready, David took his four kids to the babysitter where they would be picked up by the school bus.

9:40 a.m.: Louise was going about her duties at work when she received a phone call from her husband, which caused her to drop everything and leave without telling her cashier.

David called to tell her their home had caught fire. She made the 15-minute drive back to their home in Cambridge City, Ind., in what she said ‘felt like five minutes.’ Louise looked down and noticed she was driving about 90 mph in a 55 mph zone, but she didn’t let off the pedal.

9:50 a.m.: Louise arrived back at their home to find that it was engulfed in flames. She talked with the firefighters on scene to ascertain if they were able to save their three dogs, two boxers named Krista and Patches and their pug named Bear. The dogs were only ones in the house when

it caught fire and did not survive.

The four kids were devastated when they were told that all of their belongings were destroyed, but not as much as when they found out their dogs were gone as well. The Castle family lost more than just their belongings; they lost an important part of their family.

“I just thank God that we weren’t home. If we were home, it started in our bedroom and so we probably would have been dead, and the kids wouldn’t have had either of us.” Says Louise. “It makes you really realize what’s important. I know the material things aren’t as important as having family.”

Shortly after the fire, she called friends to let them know what happened.

Not too long after Louise made those calls, the community jumped into action to help the family.

The first few people to act were Staci Eales and Sue Chandler.

Both women posted to Facebook about the family’s loss and asked the community to help the family. Shortly after their posts went up on Facebook, they had people sending them offers for donations and questions about what had happened.

10:10 a.m.: One of Louise’s friends, Sue Chandler, received a call from a woman in Hagerstown,

35

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When the castle family’s

house burnt down on feb. 27, the community of Hagerstown, Ind. joined together to provide the family with food, clothes and even a house to temporarly live in. Although you cannot see the destruction from all sides of the house, everything inside was destroyed and the family pets died in the fire.

Ind., named Jennifer Bowman. Jennifer was curious as to whether the Castle family had found a place to stay.

Since they had not, Jennifer had a short-term solution.

Jennifer offered to let the Castle family live in a house for a month that her and husband, Trent, own in a nearby town.

1:30 p.m.: The Castle family began cleaning up the house and getting it ready to be moved in to.

The donations didn’t stop there. People in both Hagerstown and Cambridge City began donating everything possible to help the Castle family out.

Louise was really surprised when they started receiving donations of brand new clothes. Some of the items that have been donated include gift cards, clothes, money, furniture and even time to help them get the donated house cleaned. By Saturday, March. 1, the house was cleaned, fully furnished, and ready to be moved into.

It wasn’t only the people in the community that were

36 // BALL BEARINGS

donating to help the family. Many businesses in the area decided to help them as well including The Boot Box. After hearing about the fire, the people at The Boot Box contacted the Castle family and brought them into the store. They gave every member of the family a new pair of shoes for free. One woman that Louise works with also worked with a local bank in Hagerstown to open up an account to accept monetary donations.

Another thing that many businesses in Hagerstown and Cambridge City were doing was setting up donation collections located in various locations. Louise was getting help from Sue Chandler as they were trying to sift through all the donations to separate them between the six members of the family.

“Everybody’s generosity, I think, has really changed the way David and Louise have looked at the community. Sometimes things are meant extremely well for the people that the community is doing it for, but it can be very overwhelming,” says Sue Chandler. “There’s

extend beyond our own border As a Ball State couple prepares for marriage, two families in their home church have inspired them to consider adoption.

M

story // HAYLI GOODE | PHOTOS // Provided | DESIGN and illustrations // Ricardo Lopez

ichael Clark, senior accounting major, and Emily Case, senior family and consumer science major, spent spring break planning for their May wedding.

Decorations were made, the invitations were printed and programs were completed. All that’s left is the reading of the vows.

Clark and Case have been engaged since April 2013, and both agreed that before they thought seriously about marriage, it was important to discuss goals they hope to accomplish. After a conversation over a dinner Michael made for Emily, they both

discovered they hope to adopt a child.

“It’s just something we both had in common. We thought we might like to do (it) later on,” Clark says. “Just seeing what you can do for other children halfway around the world. It’s impacting lives.”

Case was serious enough to talk to members of her home church, Community Church of Columbus in Columbus, Ind., who have adopted children.

“It was just really cool to hear their stories. We have friends who adopted from Ethiopia and it was interesting talking to them, verses those who 39

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There are an estimated

153,000,000 orphans worldwide.

Of the millions of adoptions each year, there were 1,782,000 Adoptions by americans last year

37%

25 %

foster care adoption

38 %

adopted from Russia because of the way the orphanages are set up,” Case says. “It’s really good to learn from them and how they handled those experiences.”

One of the families Case and Clark talked to was Mark Foster, owner of Hoosier Tool & Die in Columbus, Ind., and Wendy Foster, a stay at home mom. In January of 2010, the Fosters-Mark and Wendy and their three sons Jacob, Jordan and Jonathon-decided to adopt two little girls from St. Petersburg, Russia.

“Just being around other families who had decided they would extend their own families in the same way. Watching those results in those kids lives…had a huge impact on our desire to extend beyond our own border and welcome other kids in,” Wendy said.

Wendy and Mark started by looking at domestic adoption, but realized the process was lengthy and not guaranteed. They also did not want to take an infant from a family who could not have any more children. But because they already had three children, they decided to narrow their search down to 2-year-old children through 6-year-old children and look into international adoption.

They partnered with the American World Adoption Agency that presented them with four countries: China, Ethiopia, Russia and Ukraine. They took 2-weeks to 3-weeks to pray about it, narrowing

40 // BALL BEARINGS

international

private domestic adoption

the search down to either Ukraine or Russia.

A week later, Mark and Wendy sat down with their three boys, and the family decided they would adopt from Russia.

“We genuinely like raising kids. And we do it pretty well together. We think God has given us that and also stirred that desire in us to make that kind of offering to a couple more [children],” Mark says.

When the family was having the discussion about where to go, Mark and Wendy put in their dossier, an application that shares the families financial and personal history, that they would like two sibling girls, newborn to 6-years-old, but would prefer 2-years-old to 4-years-old.

“We were just sitting there and I made the comment, ‘You know, if we’re going to go to Russia, I would love to get a chance to go to St. Petersburg. Because St. Petersburg is the old, historic, cultural part of Russia and it would be neat to be able to do that,’” Mark says. “At this point, we didn’t even know how it was all going to work, but we had to get paperwork done.”

And since they didn’t know when they were going to travel, the Fosters put October as a temporary travel date on their dossier.

Right after they decided to adopt from Russia and found out it would be a 2.5-year process, Mark underwent back surgery that left him with a foot and ankle that didn’t heal properly.

ADOPTION EXPENSES 56%

Foster

29%

6% 9%

no cost $1,000 - $5,000

PRIVATE

22%

33%

33%

13%

$5,000 - $10,000

INTERNATIONAL

93%

5%

$10,000+

FaMILY Structure breakdown choosing to adopting internationally is more expensive than choosing to becoming foster parents. The majority of americans who adopt children are married.

unmarried couple

70.2 % 1.6 %

5.5 % 22.7 %

married single female single male

Source: Adoption USA : National Survey of Adoptive Parents, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

“We thought maybe we ought not try to pursue adoption. We hit a rough time in our business and money wasn’t real strong. And so we were going to withdrawal totally from the process,” Wendy says. “We (dropped) our adoption agency and all kinds of things had happened.”

Just a couple days following their decision, Wendy found herself in her bedroom, on her knees, praying.

“I said ‘God, I feel like we’re running from you in the other direction.

And if you want us to adopt, you’re going to have to really make it clear.

Because we are deciding we’re not capable anymore.’” Wendy says.

In July, 2010, two days after Wendy’s prayer, she was driving to Nashville, Tenn. when she received a call from an agency they had not worked with before.

The agency told Wendy about Yana, 2, and Dyana, 3, two sisters from St. Petersburg, Russia who were about to be separated in January because Dyana, the oldest, was becoming too old to stay in the baby adoption home.

“In order to keep them together, a wonderful lady who owns an adoption agency made sure that our path was made clear so that we could get there and get the girls out,” Wendy says. “Seeing God’s hand in some things has been amazing.”

The lady that conducted the Foster’s home study submitted their

paperwork to International Assistance Group, the agency that contacted Wendy.

“We were a little skeptical, because we thought someone was running a scam on us,” Mark says. “But we went ahead and listened and talked to the lady on the phone. She told us about the girls and said ‘if we get this moving forward, your first trip will be October of this year.’ It gives me chills every time I get to tell this story.”

Mark and Wendy admitted they had no idea how they were going to pull it off, but agreed God made it clear to them that He was in control.

When the Fosters went to Russia, they met Yana and Dyana within the first 24-hours of their visit.

“The first 24-hours with the child is known as the ‘grace period’,” Salome Lamarche, an executive director for Families Thru International Adoption says.

Lamarche explains adopting parents have this first day with the child to decide if they no longer wish to adopt.

“If it’s not a good fit for the family, it won’t be a good life for the child.

We will work with them to do whatever is in our ability and whatever the…officials are willing to do, because it is really up to them. It’s really not something that we want to encourage and it’s something China does not appreciate,” Lamarche says.

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The 24-hour grace period was part of the reason why Russia closed off adoption from the US in 2012, Lamarche says.

“The children in orphanages in Russia don’t receive attention that children do in other countries. Some of the issues children face were more severe and families were less prepared, I think. We were seeing more and more issues of children adopted from Russia whose families have them home and say, ‘I can’t do this’ and that became a real problem for Russia,“ Lamarche says. “But the whole process was not clear and organized and it wasn’t setting people up for success. I think Russia ultimately decided we just need to stop.”

But the Fosters say it’s to Russia’s credit.

“It’s kind of a confusing thing, honestly, to deal with. But it’s amazing how the people in Russia, the Department of Education, the agency directors - the judges and the translators - they absolutely want to protect their children with a very jealous passion. It’s very important to them and they are scrutinizing very, very carefully where these children go,” Wendy says. “They are loving their children the best they can with the circumstances they’re under.”

Wendy explained that when she and Mark were on their final visit to Russia to bring the girls home, the girls each clung on to one parent, and resisted relationships with the other parent. Dyana, Wendy says, still remembered her birth mother, so she clung to Mark while Yana clung to her.

In Russia, Mark and Wendy consulted a child counselor and a translator. The four of them sat the girls down and explained they could have two mothers and two fathers. “(Dyana) seemed to like that idea and understood that there were two of us. At the end of the conversation, she wrapped her little arms around me. They have such a fierce loyalty to their family,” Wendy says.

Michael did not have to go too far to ask for adoption advice. When he was 12-years-old, and his brother Chris was 15, their parents adopted a little girl from Shangrao City in the Jiangxi Province of China. Xu Zhi Ling, now named Elizabeth Kennedy Xu Zhi Clark, as Kim and Dave decided to keep her Chinese name a part of her, came home with the Clarks in December 2009.

“We just felt like we were being led by God to do that, because everywhere we went, there [were] little Asian girls. At Lowe’s, in front of us, literally everywhere,” Kim said. “I don’t know why, I just knew that was where we needed to go. There was no other place I wanted to go.”

The couple partnered with FITA and began the year-and-a-half long adoption process.

Since Michael and Emily have not yet picked a country to adopt from, it was important to them to talk to friends who have adopted from different parts of the world.

“Just the way the orphanages are set up and what the kids remember about their families…is interesting to hear. It’s really good to learn from them and how they handle those situations,” Emily says.

After the couple marries in May, they plan to have their own children before revisiting the topic of adoption, much like Michael’s family.

42 // BALL BEARINGS

Top Photo Mark and

wendy foster outside of the adoption agency. top Left all of the Foster’s children playing in the park. Top right Dyana smiles in a tutu at her birthday party Bottom Left mark meeting the girls in russia. bottom Photo elizabeth in china before coming home with Kim and Dave clark.

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dreams that you wish will come true

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BSU Women bring royal stardom to young admirers

STORY // brittany watson | PHOTOS // Megan hilaire | DESIGN // DANIEL BROUNT

From the moment she knocks at the door, the little girls, dressed in their favorite Disney Princess garb, are captivated by the magic of having one of their idols attend their party.

“How does every story begin?”

“With ‘Once upon a time?’”

“That’s right,” says the princess, as several bright-eyed, speechless little girls gather around and the princess’ tale begins.

Happily Ever After Productions is based out of Greenville, Ind. Despite only existing for less than three-years, their following is quickly growing. The organization is the sister company of Indianapolis’ Balloongenuity, a company specializing in balloon twisting. It offers customers party packages and other public appearances, including hospital visits throughout the year.

“As we were out making balloons, people started asking, ‘Do you know any magicians, any clowns, any of this and this’…and then they started asking, ‘Do you know anyone that would come as a princess?’” says co-owner Chelsea Couture.

Their customers were looking for high quality performers and they discovered the form of entertainment they wanted was not available in the area.

“There was nothing to the caliber we wanted, so we figured we would start doing it ourselves,” says Couture.

They started with a few of the classic Disney Princesses. Now their cast is made up of seven performers who play 13 different roles and perform between five events to 10 events each week.

Maddie Deeken, a sophomore acting major and “self-proclaimed Disney freak,” first heard about the company through a friend who showed it to her as a joke, saying it was Deeken’s dream job. But Deeken took the opportunity seriously. She emailed them and ended up getting the job soon after. She now plays Rapunzel from Disney’s “Tangled” and has been a part of the cast since May 2013.

New members are added to the cast whenever a new Disney princess is introduced. Elsa and Anna from the movie “Frozen” are the newest characters to join the available princess selection.

Those who wish to join must first send an email with a headshot.

The characters are cast much like an audition for a play, but performers must also go through a background check, because

44 // BALL BEARINGS

As disney

princesses for Happily ever After Productions, bates, bussell and deeken get to dress the part.

BECOMING A PRINCESS: FROM STUDENT TO ROYALTY

AZIA BUSSELL they will be working with young children.

“We’re very selective with our princesses,” says Couture. “They have to fit the part, they have to look the part, they have to sound the part.

We’ve been lucky to find the performers we have.

They’re all phenomenal.”

The parents of the children or hosts of the events are unlikely to expect the organization to be the quality they claim to be.

“Anybody can put on a costume and say that they are somebody but until you really get into that character and become that character you aren’t believed that you are truly from Disneyworld,” says senior interior design major Megan Bates.

She has played the role of Cinderella for the majority of her time with Happily Ever After Productions but has recently gained the part of Ariel.

In addition to exuding a natural royal persona and having a clean record, the princesses are also quizzed on their Disney knowledge.

“They had a packet of questions that they rattle off,” says Deeken. “One of the questions was ‘What is Cinderella’s stepmother’s name?’ I didn’t know then, but I found out it’s Lady Tremaine.”

Knowing the answers to Disney trivia is only the beginning of the audition process.

“I remember singing ‘Almost There’ for them,” says senior telecommunications major Azia Bussell, describing her audition.

They were so impressed by her performance that they invited her to join the cast as Princess Tiana.

MEGAN BATES “I remember them saying I’d have to wear my own makeup and false eyelashes but mine were so long. I was like ‘these are the eyelashes I have,’ they were so amazed. I was born to be a Disney Princess,” says Bussell.

They made her dress soon after.

All of the dresses are handmade by Couture’s mother, Crystal Rose. If she can’t find a pattern she’s satisfied with, she makes the dress off of what she sees in that specific princess movie.

Typical princess attire includes her dress, shoes, makeup, false lashes, a wig and sometimes an accent.

Being a princess is more than just looking the part.

You have to sound the part. When portraying a character like Tiana, who is from New Orleans, a performer must mimic that accent.

MADDIE DEEKEN Though the girls are each casted as a specific character, they have the opportunity to play others if they fit the part. Megan Bates was originally casted as Cinderella, but has portrayed Belle, Jasmine and now Ariel.

Regardless of the princess the women of Happily Ever After Productions are portraying, the organization is all about giving children happy memories and putting smiles on their faces.

“It’s the kids who are the most surprised and [that’s the] rewarding part. It doesn’t matter if you’re having a bad day and aren’t quite on your game, what matters is the kids and the experience they have and the memories that they have,” says Couture. “We make sure that everyone takes away only happy memories.”

before getting ready for each event, the girls lay out their makeup and help each other get ready.

45

IN FOCUS

SMOKEART Smoke art is a photographic technique that captures the flowing designs of smoke as it rises. Capturing the shapes and forms of smoke is challenging, but possible with the appropriate lighting and camera settings. Our staff photographers created these images by using incense to produce a constant flow of smoke lit in a dark room from the side. The colors are a result of hue adjustments in Photoshop.

46 // BALL BEARINGS

PHOTO // lauren dahlhauser

PHOTO // lauren dahlhauser

PHOTO // NICholas EWING

PHOTO // brittany overstreet

PHOTO // kaytee lorentzen

PHOTO // Brittany overstreet

ILLUSTRATION // RICARDO LOPEZ

What can I eat on campus that’s healthy?

From expanding our selection of grab-n-go fruits & veggies to adding whole wheat pastas and lower-cal breads, BSU Dining is committed to making healthy choices easy to find on campus.

Check out NetNutrition for menus, nutrition facts, and allergen information. www.bsu.edu/dining >> Nutrition Information