Revved and ready for Homecoming
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VOL. 105 ISSUE: 10
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Lawmakers show little urgency to end
A partial government shutdown is entering its third week with lawmakers on Capitol Hill showing little urgency to end it, according to Tribune News Service (TNS). There was no agreement on a continuing resolution that would restore funding after no senator objected to the Senate leaving town last weekend for an extended Columbus Day weekend. No indication has been made that an Oct. 14 procedural vote requiring 60 votes on the Housepassed, Republican-led stopgap measure will have a different result. Senate Democrats have continued to block the measure to negotiate over expiring health insurance tax credits, according to TNS.
CORRECTION
The Ball State Daily News is committed to providing accurate news to the community. In the event we need to correct inaccurate information, you will find that printed here.
To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.
Fears of ICE ripple across Chicago Public Schools
Oct. 13: The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has left families on edge across Chicago Public Schools and other surrounding districts, according to Tribune News Service (TNS). Schools have been directed to establish Immigration and Customs Enforcement protocols, as well as hold staff trainings. Volunteers have organized ICE watch groups and student escorts for safe arrival and dismissal. Chicago Public Schools has expanded its 24-hour Student Safety Center to triage incidents related to federal law enforcement. The center will allow school leaders to report incidents and receive real-time guidance, according to TNS.
Ball State women’s volleyball sweeps Toledo
Oct. 10-11: Ball State hosted Toledo on Oct. 10 and 11 for a MidAmerican Conference (MAC) matchup. Heading into the match, Ball State and Toledo were the only two teams in the MAC with undefeated conference records at 5-0. In the Cardinals’ weekend series against Toledo last year, Ball State won both matches with a 3-0 sweep, something the team hoped to replicate. Ball State won Friday’s match in five sets, 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 25-17, 15-12), and won the next match in four sets, 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-12, 25-19).
ANDREW HARNIK/TNS
EILEEN T. MESLAR/TNS
ANNA EVILSIZOR, DN
HOMECOMING calendar
Thursday, Oct. 16
7:30 p.m. Air Jam & Royalty Coronation Emens Auditorium | Tickets available at the Emens box office
Saturday, Oct. 18
8:45 a.m. Chase Charlie 5K Run/Walk
Starting at Muncie City Hall and finishing on Riverside Avenue
9 a.m. Homecoming Parade
Beginning at Muncie Central High School and continuing through downtown and campus
Friday, Oct. 17
12 p.m. 46th annual Bed Race Riverside Avenue
9 a.m. Alumni Parade Viewing Party The Village email homecoming@bsu.edu to register
1:30 p.m. CharlieTown Tailgate Alumni Center
3:30 p.m. Ball State vs. Akron Football Game Scheumann Stadium Purchase game tickets on the Ball State Athletics website
Celebrating safely
Celebrating safely
Ball State can potentially waive university disciplinary action for incidents involving alcohol or other substances.
Shelby Anderson, Linnea Sundquist Co-News Editors
Tailgating and football are two of the most popular ways students celebrate Ball State’s Homecoming Week — but these events come with risks tied to alcohol and other substances.
Research shows that substance use, especially alcohol, can have serious negative effects on students. According to an April 25 Counterspike article, “about 1 in 13 students admitted to being victims of experienced drink spiking.”
One way Ball State helps students who are scared of disciplinary action is through the “Good Neighbor Policy.”
“The Good Neighbor policy is a Ball State policy that provides university officials the opportunity to waive university disciplinary action regarding alcohol or other drugs,” said Assistant Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy (HPA) Maddie Campbell. “[It’s when] a student risk[s] revealing one’s own violation to seek medical or other emergency assistance for another person.”
To utilize this policy, students can first contact 911 or the University Police Department (UPD) at 765-285-1111. Once called, they must wait for help to arrive and then share any information requested by emergency personnel or university officials.
Following this, students may be asked to participate in post-incident meetings, after which university officials will decide whether to apply the policy to the students involved in the incident.
The policy can apply to all students. The specifics of the policy and policy application vary by instance, which can be found on the Office of Student Conduct’s webpage.
For Campbell, she said this policy is helpful for students since it encourages them to ask for help for themselves and others who might need it.
She said that since many factors influence people to try substances, some situations could become “life-threatening.”
“Calling for help without hesitation may provide endangered students with access to lifesaving medical assistance in a timelier manner,” Campbell said.
When it comes to students getting in trouble with the university, she said that “the decision to waive university disciplinary action is ultimately up to university officials,” but in the end, she recommends that Ball State students always call for help if they or someone they know needs medical assistance.
Captain of UPD, Matt Gaither, explained that he wants students’ homecoming experience to be “positive” and “enjoyable.” At the same time, he said that students drinking irresponsibly starts to “take the safety away” from homecoming.
“We want everybody to come out and have a
good time, but [also] have a safe time,” he said.
Gaither said that one of the “biggest” warning signs that a drink has been tampered with is when an individual feels differently compared to how they normally feel after drinking a drink that person has had before.
He also explained that some other common symptoms of a drink being tampered with can be hallucinations, a racing heartbeat, profuse sweating or body shakes.
According to the Metropolitan Police website, some other physical signs of an individual’s drink being spiked can include confusion, nausea or vomiting, memory loss or loss of balance.
Anyone who thinks their drink has been spiked can complete a forensic test, which can only be conducted by the police. After testing is completed, the test results can be used as evidence to identify the perpetrator who tampered with the drink.
However, it is up to the individual to decide whether to undergo forensic testing or report the crime, according to the Metropolitan Police website. In the case where someone drunk becomes unconscious, they should be placed in the “recovery position,” according to a Jan. 20 article from Drug and Alcohol Information.
According to the article, “If they are left lying on their back, they could suffocate on their vomit or their tongue could block their airway. Putting someone in the recovery position will help to keep the airways open.”
To put someone in this position, students must kneel by the victim and then straighten out their arms and legs. Following that, they must fold the arm closest to them over the victim’s chest, with the other arm at a right angle to it.
After that, they have to bend the knee that is closest to them upward. Once the knee is bent, they must slowly support the victim’s neck and head, moving the bent knee away from the victim. Then, students must adjust the victim’s upper leg, making sure the hip and knee are bent at right angles. Be certain the person is steady and cannot roll.
While ensuring the victim is steady and can not roll, the final step is to ensure airways are open and clear.
According to HPA’s website, if students or others find themselves in any dangerous situations involving alcohol or other substances during Homecoming Week, UPD can provide emergency assistance to students at any location on campus.
The Office of Student Conduct can also help with questions regarding Ball State policies surrounding substance use and the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu and Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea.sundquist@bsu.edu.
hand under chin to keep mouth open leg bent to support position
arm bent to prevent rolling over
Resources
• HPA provides on-campus community health and wellness education on a variety of topics including substance use. We also provide free naloxone to students, which helps with opioid overdose revival. HPA also houses the Center for Survivor Support that has confidential victim advocates for students who have experienced interpersonal violence.
• The Counseling Center at Ball State offers a variety of self-care services, group and individual therapy, screenings, and education related to a variety of topics, including substance use prevention and coping. The Counseling Center is located in Lucina Hall room 320 and can be reached at 765-285-1736.
• The Ball State Crisis Line is available for students who need to speak with someone regarding a mental health crisis. The crisis line phone number is 765285-HOPE (4673) and it is available for use 24 hours, every day.
KAI HARRIS, DN DESIGN
Meet Ball State’s 2025 Homecoming Court finalists
Meet Ball State’s 2025 Homecoming Court finalists
From sorority and fraternity leaders to athletes and performers, here are Ball State’s top ten Homecoming Court finalists.
Student Government Association
“I decided to run because I obviously love Ball State and wanted to try another way of showing school spirit,” he said.
“I wanted to show others that SGA is here to participate in school traditions.”
Cardinal Catholic
Interfraternity Council
“Winning this position is important to me because I think it would be awesome to represent all Greek life in a positive light here on campus as the Homecoming King.”
“I think overall exposure for Cardinal Catholic is why I would want to win,” he said.
“So more people can hear about the great joys that can be had in our organization.”
“I grew up in Muncie, so I’ve been coming to Homecoming my whole life and was in the parade each year when I was little,” he said. “I thought it would be a really cool full-circle moment to run.”
Cardinal
“I decided to run because I felt like I represented the university well,” he said. “I have always had school pride, going to sporting events and homecoming events since my freshman year.”
“I’ve had great experiences at Ball State and want to give back by helping others feel included and involved. I want to try and make an impact before I graduate and leave a positive mark on Ball State.”
“There’s not as much representation in the music realm when it comes to Homecoming King,” Van Lu said. He wants to show that other music students can run for something like this, as well.
Cosmo Rodriguez
Chaos
Hunter Case
Karter West
Brayden Matheny
Jack Hopkins
Residence Hall Association
Titus Hill
Ball State Cheer Team
Devin Van Lue
University Singers
Meghan Braddy Editor-in-chief
Ball State University is set to honor its 2025 Homecoming Royalty Court at the annual Air Jam celebration, which will take place Oct. 16, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Emens Auditorium. During the event, the top ten finalists will be recognized, and the Homecoming king and Homecoming queen will be crowned. The king and queen will then make appearances in the Homecoming Parade and at the football game against Akron Oct. 18. The rest of the finalists may make appearances at the Bed Race Oct. 17, as well as the football game and homeocoming parade. Each finalist spoke with the Daily News about their campus involvement, what motivates them and why they hope to win.
Contact Meghan Braddy via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu or on X @meghan_braddy.
“I decided to run because I wanted to give back to the organization that gave me so much,” she said. “CHAARG helped me discover confidence, balance and the power of female community.”
Alpha Chi Omega
“I hope people saw a glimpse of themselves in me when they voted,” Mullins said. “I hope they saw that I am an advocate, that I understand the everyday challenges we all face.”
“Running for Homecoming queen felt like the perfect way to celebrate my time here, connect with new people, and shine a light on what Code Red truly represents,” she said.
National Residence Hall Honorarium
“I really care about Ball State students,” she said. “I make sure that everybody can be successful and comfortable and live their best lives in their environment.”
“Getting this level of recognition and getting our name out there means so much to me and those behind me,” she said.
Alpha Omicron Pi
“I was just nominated off the floor by my sisters, which makes this even more of an honor,” she said. “They see my character, and they see me for me, and they place their trust in me to be able to represent Alpha Omicron Pi.”
“Representing each sorority is so unique. To be able to represent all of them is a really awesome opportunity,” she said. “I hope they think I would represent them well as queen.”
“I want students to recognize that my campaign revolves around increasing unity, school pride and school engagement,” Statler said
Ball State University Singers
“I really do care deeply about the university, but also about the success of my peers,” she said. “I see them, and I want them to feel like they do have a voice.”
Miller College of Business
Emerick said she wanted to “see if it would be possible to run representing an academic program” and hopes her campaign encourages more students outside of larger organizations to run in the future.
Anna Drake CHAARG
Jaida East Code Red Dance Team
Hannah Elkins
Cardinal Chaos
Raegan Mullins
Addie McMillan
Megan Moshak
Caroline Emerick
Reagan Augustine
Aliya Statler
Ball State Cheer Team
Sara Zink
Panhellenic Association
‘1-0 in the Scheu’
Elijah Poe Reporter
Ball State football Head Coach Mike Uremovich repeatedly mentioned after the 42-0 loss to Western Michigan University (WMU) that the Cardinals were simply outcoached.
The head coach wants it to be clear that whatever is on the films is a reflection of himself and the staff.
“Anytime one of our guys makes a mistake, it is on the coaches, not the players,” Uremovich said. “It starts with us.”
Uremovich said everything that happened with Ball State was the Cardinals not putting their players in a position to execute. He said it starts with gameplay, practice, teaching and adjustments. Now, the Cardinals are looking to bounce back against Mid-American Conference (MAC) foe Akron for Homecoming Weekend at Ball State.
Homecoming is for everybody but the actual football team, Uremovich said. He said it’s to honor alumni and players coming back, but for the
actual team, it is business as usual.
“We’ve got to improve on everything,” Uremovich said. “We’ve got to get better as a team.”
Redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly said the Cardinals as a whole were upset and frustrated after the loss to the Broncos, and he said there is a tangible sense of them wanting to be better after the performance.
“I feel like at times, we are just getting punked out there,” Kelly said. “We just have to be the aggressors and fight back. Really, [we have to] fight first and stop waiting to get punched in the mouth.”
Uremovich said the Zips will be a challenge for the Cardinals, and gave credit to Akron head coach Joe Moorhead for being “one of the best offensive minds in the country.”
He said the Zips can cause trouble for defenses because they have so many different offensive looks.
“You can’t not do your job,” Uremovich said about the Ball State defense. “You can’t not be focused on what you have to do, because the quarterback can pull the ball at any time and throw
it. Almost every play for them is a run, alongside having routes tagged on to it.”
Akron quarterback Ben Finley was at North Carolina State from 2020-22, where some of the Cardinals’ current coaches coached Finley on the roster. Uremovich said Ball State has a good understanding of his talent based on those previous coaching interactions.
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Joey Stemler said communication was the biggest issue for the defense against the Broncos, and he took full responsibility for that issue. Stemler said those issues can be cleaned up in practice throughout the week.
“I am very confident that we will get everything right going into this week,” Stemler said.
Stemler said everybody on both sides of the ball can improve. He said he wants to see the Cardinals respond to the WMU loss with a complete game, something he said Ball State has not done yet.
Kelly said there needs to be a regrouping to move on, learning from each possible moment.
The quarterback was sacked five times against
the Broncos, losing 31 yards total on those sacks.
Kelly said it was a mix of things that went into those sacks. He said sometimes the O-line might miss an assignment, or he can make a mistake that results in a sack.
“[The] good thing is that we can fix everything we’ve seen on the film,” Kelly said.
Kelly said he sees the hunger that Akron has, much like Ball State. He said he thinks the Zips do not get the credit they deserve, and that shows up on the film in the way they play.
Stemler said he and the Cardinals are very thankful for the support they get on homecoming weekend, but just as Uremovich said, he is focused on football only when the ball is kicked.
“We don’t want to lose at the Scheu,” Stemler said. “It is unacceptable, we strive for it every day and every week to be 1-0 in the Scheu each opportunity.”
The matchup against Ball State vs. Akron will begin at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in Scheumann Stadium.
Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu. edu or on X @ElijahPoe4.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Qian Magwood celebrates with his team after winning the game against Ohio 20-14 Oct. 4 at Scheumann Stadium. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Redshirt senior linebacker Jackson Wiegold celebrates after Ball State won against Ohio 20-14 Oct. 4 at Scheumann Stadium. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Cole Mosier signs a football for a kid in the crowd after winning against Ohio Oct. 4 at Scheumann Stadium. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
‘Grow through the process’
Women’s golf seniors reflect on their time spent with the program.
Senior Jasmine Driscoll swings the club during the Brittney Kelly Classic Sept. 16 in Yorktown Ind. Driscoll is in her fourth year playing for Ball State with a career stroke average of 75.97.
STATE ATHLETICS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Ethan Kelso Reporter
Four years ago, Ball State Women’s Golf seniors Jasmine Driscoll, Madelin Boyd, Sabrina Langerak, Sarah Gallagher and Head Coach Cameron Andry came into the program together, each making their mark in unique ways.
Langerak realized what a great opportunity it was to shift from a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school to a Mid-American Conference (MAC) school with teammates who push her to be the physical best. With this being her last year at Ball State, she now knows what it truly means to push herself in golf.
Langerak plans to pursue a Master of Business Administration after she graduates.
Boyd also expressed her appreciation for the program and the fact that wearing everything Cardinal is a pleasure for her. With the individual invitational in Muncie Oct. 6-7, Boyd valued people coming to the last home event this season, calling the whole experience “special.”
Her time spent on the team has now influenced
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING AIR JAM
• Thursday, October 16th / 7:30pm / Emens Auditorium
• Tickets available at Emens box office
• All tickets are reserved seating
her to want to coach golf, potentially becoming a graduate assistant for the Ball State Women’s Golf team after graduation.
As a Cardinal for the very last time, Driscoll hopes that her senior class leaves an impression on the future class. She said the community has been great for her, even though golf is more of a solo sport than a team sport.
Driscoll said that being on the team with all her teammates supporting one another is a huge part of how they work together.
“To be a Cardinal is like [being] there for each other, as golf is such an individualized sport and sometimes you are alone, but behind a team you show you care for each other, the spirit of the game and the spirit of being a part of Ball State. There is great history here and [I’m] grateful that we can follow it,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll has not yet decided what she plans to do after college, as she is working on one thing at a time.
Gallagher has appreciated being part of the “Cardinal squad,” calling it an “honor.” For her, being a role model for younger kids who want to play golf is special.
• No coats or bags allowed! Scan here to learn more!
“As a senior, looking back at my time here at Ball State, it has allowed me to create memories and build lifelong friendships that could have never happened without this program,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher’s goal is currently unknown, but she noted that she would love to earn her master’s degree in finance or work for a financial institution in Toronto, Canada.
Andry began his Ball State tenure alongside the seniors. As a coach, he said, you are supposed to teach the team, but sometimes the roles are reversed.
“They have taught me more than I have taught them,” he said.
When Andry came to Ball State four years ago, he was trying to learn things on the fly as the new head coach for the team.
“I was a rookie in coaching. We were able to learn together and they were gracious to me,” he said.
Transitioning from freshman to senior year, Andry has enjoyed his players’ positive attitudes. He said they have the right mentality “when it counts,” especially during tournaments.
While the seniors have been composed this season, Andry said he likes it when people push themselves because it leaves an impression on him. He stated that he has also enjoyed developing the seniors’ individuality as great golfers.
For him, “making players become their best” is a privilege and has helped him grow as a coach.
Andry said he has especially appreciated the community his players have allowed him to be a
part of at Ball State.
“That is why I love this group,” he said. “They have been here and grown through the process [themselves] and allowed me to grow through the process.”
Ball State Women’s Golf is set to return to the green Oct. 19, away at the Diamante Intercollegiate event.
Contact Ethan Kelso via email at ethan.kelso@ bsu.edu or X @ethankelso.
As a senior, looking back at my time here at Ball State, it has allowed me to create memories and build lifelong friendships that could never have happened without this program.”
- SARAH GALLAGHER, Senior golfer
Senior Sarah Gallagher celebrates with her team during the Brittany Kelly Classic Sept. 16 at The Players Club at Woodland Trails. BALL STATE ATHLETICS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Members from the Ball State Women’s Golf team pose for a photo during the Brittany Kelly Classic Sept. 16 in Yorktown Ind. BALL STATE ATHLETICS, PHOTO PROVIDED
Staff Reports
GRUB GAME DAY
These few recipes are the perfect a ition to any homecoming tailgate.
Ca ed chicken dip
Makes 32 2-tablespoon servings
Ingredients:
2-cups shre ed cooked chicken
1-package (8 ounces) cream ch se, softened
1/2 cup-hot sauce of choice
1/2 cup-ranch dre ing
Optional: 1/2 cup blue ch se crumbles
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix a ingredients in a large bowl.
Spoon into a sha ow 1-quart baking dish.
Bake for 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir.
Grape je y meatba s
Serves 24
Ingredients:
32 ounces of store-bought or homemade grape je y
2-12-ounce bo les of tomatobased chili sauce
A pinch of caye e pepper for a subtle heat
1-(6-pound) bag of frozen, cocktailsized meatba s
Serves 16
Ingredients:
Mini reuben sandwiches
1 (1 pound) loaf cocktail rye bread
1 cup thousand island dre ing
1 1/2 pounds deli sliced corned b f
1 (16-ounce) jar sauerkraut, rinsed and we drained
1 pound sliced Swi ch se
Directions:
Directions: Preheat the oven’s broiler.
Combine grape je y, chili sauce and caye e pepper in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until warm, Five to 10 minutes.
Place meatba s in a slow cooker and top with grape je y mixture. Cook on low for thr to four hours. Serve warm.
Arrange cocktail rye slices on a baking sh t.
Top each with about 2 teaspoons of thousand island salad dre ing and fold 1/2 slice of corned b f to fit the bread.
Place a sma amount of sauerkraut over the meat, then top with 1/4 slice of Swi ch se.
Broil for thr to five minutes, or until the ch se is melted. Serve warm.
UNIVERSITY URBAN LEGENDS
Ball State has garnered a rich collection of unwritten rules through the years.
Katherine Hill Lifestyles Editor
Founded in 1918 by the four Ball Brothers — Lucius, William, Edmund, Frank and George — Ball State University has curated a few rules through its 106-year standing that have never been written — until now:
1. If you walk under the bell tower, you won’t graduate
Standing at 150 feet, Ball State’s Shafer Tower is the tallest collegiate bell tower in Indiana. The tower contains 48 bells that ring every 15 minutes. Despite the tower’s structurally transparent center, it is rumored that if a student walks directly under it, they won’t graduate on time.
4. The Gum Tree
For over a decade, Ball State students stuck their used gum on a honey locust tree trunk near Bracken Library on the west side of the Emens Auditorium parking garage. The beloved tree was trimmed down in May 2017 and has not been replaced.
2.
Frog Baby holds good luck
Donated by Frank Ball, Frog Baby was originally housed in the campus’s David Owsley Museum of Art, where students rubbed her nose for good luck during finals season. Too many students needed Frog Baby’s luck, as she was sent away for a nose job in 1994. Upon her return, she was relocated to the fountain north of Bracken Library. Students now dress up Frog Baby during campus events.
5. Beneficence is an indicator of true love
Rumor has it that if two significant others travel to the Beneficence statue at the midnight hour and kiss, it is true love — only if Beneficence flaps her wings.
3. The Whisper Wall
Adjacent to Frog Baby stands the Ball State Whisper Wall. Its circular construction means acoustics travel in equal distances around and can be heard even at a whisper.
6. The Ball Brothers live on
Behind Beneficence stand five pillars. Those five pillars are believed to represent the five Ball Brothers, and it’s rumored that the urns atop each pillar contain each brother’s ashes.
Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine. hill@bsu.edu.
Five decades of cardinal spirit
Over his 57 years, Charlie Cardinal has changed his looks and embraced his significance.
Sidney Miller Ball Bearings Reporter
Walking up the bleacher stairs, Charlie receives points and cheers. As he confidently walks through the student section during a Ball State football game, he takes the time to pose for pictures and videos with students who want to interact with him. Without a voice, he uses his movements to interact with fans.
1968-69
At the 1968 Homecoming football game, Charlie stood on the field in Converse shoes and a cheer uniform. Different from the Charlie we know today, he had no fluffy feathers. Instead, the performer’s hands were out, and his head was made of papier-mache. This original form kicks off the 57 years of Charlie Cardinal.
1970s
Charlie Cardinal has officially represented Ball State University since 1969, though he made his first appearance a year prior, according to Ball State Athletics. He has undergone five makeovers since his debut, each change representing a substantial share of the school’s evolution. But, even in the midst of change, Charlie has been a constant.
In September 1975, Charlie is seen once again with a large, featherless head. But in this version, he wears no uniform or costume. Three years after this appearance, he changed his look. In 1978, a photo of him in Irving Gym, which eventually became the Jo-Ann Gora Rec Center, showed him donning a softer look. He wore a small mascot head, red pants, a sweater and feather-like mittens. Despite the more mellow look, he still lacked a smile.
1980s
In a 1981 football game photo, Charlie displays all his feathers. With no uniform or clothes, he poses with only a red, fuzzy suit. Later in the 80s, he takes a form much closer to his current look. Although he was still without a uniform, the baggy form is gone. He took more of a bird shape. His hands were no longer mittens, but more glove-like with fingers. Between his beak, his teeth show proudly.
1990s
From 1994 to 1999, current Ball State Senior Graphic Designer Jason Fragomeni was Charlie Cardinal. He learned about tryouts from an announcement in the Daily News. While he was excited, his tryout process was a little different, with no suit to act in.
“Wendy Richards, the cheer coach, would give instructions like ‘Ok, so now say that you’re walking along and a kid wants to say hi to you, so what do you do?’” Jason said. “So we would do it, but it just was weird because we didn’t have the suit on.”
Despite the awkward tryout process, Jason got the part. Only sharing the role with a few other students, he got a fair share of events and sports to attend. At one specific football game, he took a break after halftime and took the mascot’s head off. When he came back out, the head was not where he
was able to locate Charlie’s missing head.
“[Turns out] it was up in the crowd and it was getting passed around from person to person, student to student,” Jason laughed.
Even with this tumultuous
Present day
Since the start of his Instagram account, Charlie had been posting about his adventures at Ball State, but he had never posted any updates to his look. In Aug. 2023, 11 years after his last improvements, the mascot was in need of a change. He posted a video showing off his new and most recent changes to his look. He flaunted his updated feathers and football jersey to match the team. Also in this update, his wings gained more muscle. With over 3,000 followers on his Instagram, Charlie is often used to drive engagement between fans and Ball State sports. Josh
to utilize the smiling mascot in new and different ways as time goes on.
“I’m excited to see what else we can come up with and see how we can get him even more engaged with our fans, with our community, than he already is,” he said.
Charlie’s changes since his first appearance have altered his look drastically. The photos of him have gotten better quality and are now being shared on social media, but his significance has stayed the same.
For decades, he’s shown up at various university events to showcase and encourage Ball State spirit. His strong character will continue to embrace his
Handshakes at
HOMECOMING
Homecoming creates networking opportunities for
OLIVIA MCSPADDEN, DN ILLUSTRATION
Reporter,
Inkling”
Kyler Effner is a first-year journalism and psychological science major and writes “Just An Inkling” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
I have often marveled at the level of spirit one can have for a singular school. To clothe yourself in all your school colors, hoop and holler at a game you might even be losing, and, in some extreme cases, paint your skin to blend in with your spirit gear seems rather excessive.
These are the characteristics of homecoming that we are all so familiar with — the grandeur, the celebration and event after event honoring our beloved mascot, Charlie Cardinal.
And while this may be what comes to mind when you think of Ball State’s Homecoming, there is so much more happening under the surface. There are like-minded individuals meeting for the first time, alumni stepping foot on hallowed ground yet again and first-year students taking it all in, one painted face after the other.
Homecoming is more than an event we use to build spirit and tradition on our campus; it is an event that harbors the connection between fellow Cardinals — both past and present. To put it plainly, homecoming is not simply a time to cheer on a football team that may or may not win that day, but rather an opportunity to build connections and relationships with your future. It is a chance to network.
Merriam-Webster defines networking as “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions,” which ultimately leads to the spread of ideas and connections among people. Homecoming cultivates the perfect environment for both students and alumni alike to foster relationships over their shared love for Ball State.
Upon arrival this fall, the importance of networking for my future was drilled into me from the very start. Those who made connections with deans and professors were rewarded with both intellectual conversation and opportunities that are not available to everyone else.
Therefore, I found myself attending any event related to my major. I wanted to soak up as much wisdom as I could from those more experienced than I. My professors had spent time in the field doing what I longed to accomplish, and it only felt right to seize the opportunity to learn from
their background.
This came in the form of actually attending my Living Learning Community’s kickoff party, stepping out of my comfort zone and checking out Super Party, along with many other events that were held and invitations that were extended.
From those experiences, I have learned that it can never be a bad thing to get out there and make yourself known to others. Meeting other people and sharing your experiences not only fuels your passions but can also generate opportunities that can benefit you in the future. That is why college and networking go hand in hand — they are the conduits for your future, and the providers for the wind you need to
Communications (SJSC). I even live in the dorm that houses all the other people with similar passions to mine. And while this can be a strength in providing future career connections to those in the same field, it discounts the many other majors here at Ball State that can also contribute to your success.
Homecoming gives us the opportunity to break free from the limited bounds we may find ourselves in, both in our dorms and at networking events. The person standing next to you at the game could be someone you never would have met otherwise, and could also be the very person who makes a difference in your life later on.
After all, our careers are not solely defined
That is why college and networking go hand in hand — they are the conduits for your future, and the providers for the wind you need to bolster your sails.”
KYLER EFFNER, Columnist
bolster your sails.
This homecoming proves to be yet another networking opportunity for students, as we are crowded into one stadium, cheering our team on to victory. If we are lucky, we could also end up making a life-changing choice by interacting with the person next to us, as we never know what they might have to offer.
This extends to individuals beyond our own majors. So often, we get stuck in a constant communication loop with the same people within our schools and colleges, and this week we have the chance to cross the boundaries of our studies. Homecoming does not just connect you with other people; it connects you across majors, too.
Many of the networking events I have attended this year have been geared toward those in the School of Journalism and Strategic
by our degrees; rather, they are built on the connections we have made, including with those who may have no experience in our desired field.
However, the game and its tendency to force conversation upon individuals, both alike and not, is not the sole proprietor of networking during this classic and timeless tradition.
The real networking is taking place at the events in between the fervor and excitement of game day. Ball State events such as the campus dinner, the annual bed race down Riverside Avenue and the CharlieTown tailgate lend themselves to creating fellowship opportunities where students can connect with peers and established alumni.
The bed race is a perfect example of how a community can come together and foster deeper connections, as different student organizations create teams to compete. Many of the student
organizations are extremely large, which makes it difficult for some to even be aware of who participates. The bed race brings everyone together to cheer on their hastily assembled teams, ultimately leading more students to connect with people they can relate to.
Events like this can also bring out community members and alumni from the university, presenting another opportunity for students to introduce themselves to people who could change the trajectory of their career success.
CASE, an educational philanthropic organization, claimed, “Homecomings and reunions provide the highest visibility opportunities to engage alumni from all generations.”
With that in mind, Ball State’s homecoming not only focuses on the student experience but also seizes the opportunity to connect alumni with one another.
Ball State has many Homecoming events this year to promote interaction among alumni, creating networking opportunities for those who have already graduated. The alumni parade viewing party is one example of this.
Alumni are encouraged to attend due to the free refreshments and door prizes, but the connections they will begin to form with former BSU students will hold much more value than any prize they may win. Networking does not end with graduation; rather, it is an ongoing process we engage in throughout our professional lives, which is why there are even events for alumni to connect, not just students.
However, homecoming is one of the few times when students are guaranteed the opportunity to meet an alum who has experienced the very things they wish to do in their professional lives. That is why it is critical to attend as many homecoming events as possible and to interact with a variety of other students and alumni during their stay on campus.
So, while the allure of homecoming still remains gilded in decor, cheers, and way too much face paint, the importance of having an initial handshake and interaction with someone you do not typically interact with can not be overlooked.
Homecoming brings students, alumni, staff, and faculty together in one place to celebrate our university. The least we can do is take the leap and test out a handshake at homecoming. After all, it could change your life.
Contact Kyler Effner via email at kyler. effner@bsu.edu.
Just An
Kyler Effner
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