DN
‘Lifelong Love for Reading’
ANDREW BERGER, DN
ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
BallStateDailyNews.com
VOL. 105 ISSUE: 04
CONTACT THE DN
Newsroom: 765-285-8245
Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com
EDITORIAL BOARD
Meghan Braddy, Editor-in-chief
Andrew Berger, Digital Managing Editor
Shelby Anderson, News Editor
Linnea Sundquist, Associate News Editor
Kyle Stout, Sports Editor
Trinity Rea, Associate Sports Editor
Katherine Hill, Lifestyles Editor
Jayden Vaughn, Opinion Editor
Charlotte Jons, Associate Opinion Editor
Channing Matha, Copy Editor
Isabella Kemper, Multimedia Editor
Jeffrey Dreyer, Associate Multimedia Editor
Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor
Brenden Rowan, Social Media Editor
Corey Ohlenkamp, Adviser
The Ball State Daily News (USPS-144-360), the Ball State student newspaper, is published Thursdays during the academic year except for during semester and summer breaks. The Daily News is supported in part by an allocation from the General Fund of the university and is available free to students at various campus locations.
TO ADVERTISE
• (765) 285-8256 or dailynewsads@bsu.edu
• Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri. • ballstatedaily.com/advertise
TO SUBSCRIBE
Call 765-285-8134 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mon. -Fri.
Subscription rates: $45 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Daily News, AJ278, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306
JOIN THE DAILY NEWS Stop by room 278 in the Art and Journalism Building. All undergraduate majors accepted and no prior experience is necessary.
David T. Owsley, longtime supporter of Ball State University, dies at the age of 96
David T. Owsley, a longtime supporter of Ball State University, has passed away at the age of 96 in New York City on Aug. 23, according to a Sept. 3 press release from Greg Fallon, associate vice president of university communications and digital strategy. Ball State renamed its campus museum the David Owsley Museum of Art after his financial support towards the university, according to the press release. A private burial will take place in Dallas, Texas, and will only be open to family, with the reception being held in New York City at a later date.
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.
The National Hurricane Center reports system moving into the Atlantic
Aug. 31 The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noticed a system moving into the Atlantic that could develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm, according to an Aug. 31 article from Tribune News Service (TNS). NHC expected a tropical wave to emerge off the west coast of Africa by Monday, giving it a 30 percent chance to develop in the next seven days. If it develops, this would be the seventh tropical cyclone of the season and could become Tropical Storm Gabrielle. The height of hurricane season runs from mid-August into October while the entire six-month season runs June 1 to Nov. 30., according to reporting from TNS.
Ball State women’s volleyball weekend recap
Aug. 29-31: For the first time in 2025, Ball State Women’s Volleyball took a road trip as they played in the Minnesota Invitational this weekend. They matched up against St. Thomas, Minnesota and Cal Poly in the threeday tournament. Game one was led by graduate transfer Noelle VanOort and sophomore Carson Tyler, who recorded a combined total of 37 kills in a win against St. Thomas. The Cardinals fell three sets to one against Minnesota in game two. In a thriller game three, Ball State fell short to Cal Poly 3-2. After coming out of the Minnesota Invitational 1-2, the Cardinals have a few days before they’re back out on the road as they head to Connecticut for the UConn challenge.
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER/TNS
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL STRATEGY
Campus
Muncie reading scores soar with new approach
Third grade elementary student follows along in ‘Alice and Wonderland’ while their teacher reads aloud Sept. 2 at Grissom Elementary. Muncie Community Schools have one of the highest reading score improvements in the state
Shelby Anderson News Editor
Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has been recognized by the state for having one of the highest reading score improvements through the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) test.
North View Elementary jumped by 19 percent and South View Elementary jumped by 17.3 percent. Grissom Memorial Elementary School’s score went from 46.6 percent passing in 2024 to 79 percent passing in 2025.
“Overall, MCS improved approximately twice the state average. Its 79.2 percent
The northbound lane of North McKinley Avenue between West Ashland Avenue and West University Avenue is closed due to the construction surrounding the new Performing Arts Center. The closure began on Sept. 1 and will remain closed until Sept. 6, according to an Aug. 29 email from Facilities Planning and Management.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be at Canan Commons Park
After implementing targeted support, MCS students are showing progress in literacy development.
passing rate is 9.4 percent better than last year,” according to an Aug. 13 announcement from MCS via their website.
According to an Aug. 13 Indiana Capital Chronicle article, “The new data revealed that 87.3 percent of third graders — about 73,500 out of more than 84,000 students statewide — demonstrated proficient reading skills in 2024-25. That’s roughly 6,000 more proficient readers.”
Chief Communications Officer of Muncie Community Schools, Andy Klotz, said even though he is not involved in the direct teaching, he knows a new program that definitely made an impact on the improved scores is the Science of Reading, which is a
curriculum that rejects the idea that reading is a process that involves the detailed perception of letters or words.
“When we see the kids having the success that [they] were struggling [with] before, it’s just tremendously rewarding,” he said.
Another person who saw the growth is Grissom Elementary School Principal Brittney Charles.
“We implemented a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) [that] focused on foundational reading, with daily structured literacy instruction, DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Learning Skills) progress monitoring, and targeted smallgroup interventions,” she said.
Local State North McKinley Avenue road closure
The Alzheimer’s Association is hosting a “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” at Canan Commons Park in Muncie Sept. 20, according to an Aug. 28 email from the association. During the walk, participants will be able to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with a Promise Garden ceremony.
Gov. Mike Braun signs bill to support Hoosier families
Mike Braun signed House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1248 to make it easier for foster families to afford foster care, Press Secretary Amanda Schreibler said via email Aug. 29. The bill expands the eligibility for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program, which “stipulates that Hoosier foster families are eligible for CCDF vouchers for their foster child, as long as they meet the program’s income requirements.”
through IREAD. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Ball State releases new bus tracker widget
Here are three easy steps for how to use it.
Caleb Caulkin, second-year, Media Production
“I think the bus tracker is a really useful tool if you use the bus a lot. Without it, you’re just left guessing, and I saw people waiting at bus stops for 10-15 minutes not knowing when the next bus was going to come.”
Kadence McClain, third-year, Communication Studies
1
2
Head to the App Store and download the MyBallState app. Once the app is downloaded, you will be prompted to log in using your Ball State username and password and Duo Mobile app for authentication.
Once in the MyBallState app, on the home screen, there should be several widgets displayed. Press the red “Find New” button next to the word “Widgets”. The “Find New” button will take you to the Widget Library, where you will be prompted to type “Bus Tracker” into the search bar. Once you find the widget, press the red “Add to Dashboard” button.
3
As you head back to the homescreen, your new widget will appear with the other widgets. Press on the Bus Tracker widget. It will appear with both the green loop and the blue loop. If you want to only see the blue loop, press the green circle at the bottom of your screen. This will make the green loop go away. When looking at the map, the colored circles indicate the buses and where they currently are. The bus locations get updated every 15-20 seconds, according to MyBallState. Along with the buses, gray squares indicate the bus stop locations for each loop.
The Ball State Bus Tracker widget officially went live on Aug. 18. Digital Corps spent the summer building the program with an immersive experience for the students who helped work on the widget.
“The Bus Tracker Widget was built by Ball State students and staff, for Ball State students and staff,” according to Bus Operations and Digital Corps. If anyone has questions or concerns about the Bus Tracker widget, they can contact Busoperations@bsu.edu.
“It’s helpful in getting to where you need to go, especially in the colder months. I feel like it was hard to want to go to class. And at least with the bus tracker, I can stay inside for a maximum amount of time. This is a really good resource we have.”
Kit Pollard, first-year, Graphic Design
“I really like the new bus tracker. I think it does get laggy at times, but I do still like the fact that I know where the bus is, and it can help me know when I need to be at a bus stop.”
Sam
Howersberger, first-year, Finance
“I use it probably once a day, especially getting to my car at Scheumann Stadium. I also use it to get to my science class in Cooper Science from Kinghorn. It’s a pretty long walk and I can’t make it there too quick, so I use the bus app then.”
Isabella Kemper Multimedia Editor
NILat Ball State
Football
Ball State football falls to Purdue
Ball State football started the season in the loss column after losing on the road to Purdue. In West Lafayette, the Cardinals failed to score a point while allowing 31 to the Boilermakers. Senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis, had a standout game, with four tackles and a sack. This marks the first game in the Mike Uremovich era.
Soccer
Ball State soccer picks up its second win
Ball State soccer bounced back from two straight losses to start the season with two straight wins, the most recent coming Aug. 31 against IU Indy. The Cardinals went on the road for the third consecutive game, traveling to Michael Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis. Senior forward Addie Chester scored the lone goal for the Cardinals, her fourth on the season. The Cardinals will host Butler at home on Sept. 7.
Field Hockey
Ball State field hockey wins again
Ball State field hockey picked up their second win of the season this weekend, winning 3-2 against the Saint Louis Billikens. Sophomore forward Julia Verratti scored all three goals for the Cardinals. Moving forward, the Cardinals will go on the road for a three-game west coast road trip.
Ball State head coach Brady Sallee talks to his team during halftime against Ohio March 13 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. ANDREW BERGER, DN; RAQUEL RUFFIN, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
NIL is a huge topic of discussion in college athletics today. How does Ball State compete?
Kyle Stout Sports Editor
Name, Image and Likeness. This phrase, otherwise known as NIL, is a hot topic in today’s age of college athletics. Whether it is a $10 million deal with ‘Beats by Dre,’ which former University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams signed, or free barbecue for a year from a local bar, these deals shape college sports today.
Before 2021, college athletes were not allowed to make any money off of their name, image, or likeness according to the NCAA. Universities were not allowed to sell merchandise with a player’s last name on it, and any profits that universities made from athletics were not allowed to go to any player.
In July of 2021, NIL was brought into form. After NIL was introduced, players were allowed to make money while being student-athletes.
Universities have a specific amount of money that they are authorized to spend on NIL per year, and this varies depending on the school. There is a sizable difference in how much a Power Four University can spend than a Mid-American Conference (MAC) school can spend.
The “Power Four” is made up of the four biggest conferences in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, that being the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Big 10, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Ball State football head coach Mike Uremovich has spent time at multiple mid-major schools, as well as North Carolina State, which is in the ACC.
When Uremovich served as offensive lines coach at NC State, NIL was not in existence. But Uremovich has felt a difference between being at a Power Four and now a mid-major, and knows the differences between the two in how they can use their NIL money.
“They just have more money,” Uremovich said. “The Power Four schools are going to have more resources to spend on the players, and the MAC schools will have a little bit less.”
Comparatively, there is a look at this difference from the last Ball State women’s basketball season. The Cardinals had a historic season, making it all the way to the NCAA tournament first round, where they lost to the Ole Miss Rebels.
On a revenue scale, Ole Miss brings in much more money as a program and can offer many more NIL deals than a school like Ball State. This type of difference shows in games like this, when, despite the Rebels’ worse overall record at the time, they oftentimes have a deeper roster and more talented players due to how much money they can spend.
This is in part from NIL, with how much talent bigger schools can bring in with the money they have. Ball State women’s basketball head coach Brady
Sallee talked about the difference in money that a Power Four University can bring in with “how deep their pockets are.”
“As you compare our level to the power fours in women’s basketball, I would say, clearly, the power fours have a bigger pot of money,” Sallee said. “As a so-called mid-major, it really is about how smartly and efficiently you can use what you have compared to some of the big boys.”
Recruiting has always been prevalent in college athletics; it is how universities bring in players. Before NIL, recruiting was a different game, with the more successful and historic universities always having an edge in recruiting.
They need to be serious about academics, they want to have to get a Ball State degree, and they want to play football the way we want to play it.”
- MIKE UREMOVICH, Ball State head football coach
For example, the “Blue Bloods,” better known as Duke, Kentucky, Villanova, the University of North Carolina and Indiana University, according to the NCAA, in college basketball consistently brought in the highest-ranked players due to their historic success and overall status as a basketball university.
Now, after NIL has been in play for a few years, it has broadened as to who does well in recruiting. Big schools that bring in a lot of money are now getting the best players, even if they are not a historic program.
For Ball State, like Sallee said, there is a smaller pot of money. Recruiting is different for mid-majors, and Uremovich talked about how he approaches recruiting in today’s day and age.
“I still think [recruiting] comes down to the best fit for the kid,” Uremovich said. “I know that some guys are gonna make decisions based on money, but frankly, if all they’re worried about is the money piece of it, they won’t be a good fit here.”
Because a school like Ball State does not have the same third-party resources that other schools have, like major brand deals, their NIL deals for athletes are more community-based.
Ball State athletic director Jeff Mitchell talked about the function that the community has with the school’s student athletes and NIL deals as a whole.
press
the media
for the
Ball State head coach Mike Uremovich looks at plays while facing Purdue University Aug. 30 at RossAde Stadium. ANDREW BERGER, DN Brady Sallee talks with
during a
conference
NCAA Women’s Basketball National Tournament, March 20 at Foster Pavilion in Waco, Texas. ANDREW BERGER, DN
I want student athletes to become more knowledgeable about NIL as a movement.”
- JEFF MITCHELL, Ball State athletic director
“We want to continue to educate our student athletes about the power, the personal brand relative to them and how the community can rally around our student-athletes and rally around the institution as a whole,” Mitchell said.
Recently, NIL has taken a shift, and how universities can distribute money to studentathletes has completely changed.
In June 2025, a settlement in the House v. NCAA case was reached. The settlement, which was $2.8 billion according to the Associated Press, changes the way NIL functions.
Instead of strictly third-party deals, money that can go to student-athletes will also come down to revenue sharing. This makes it so that the NCAA still regulates third-party brand deals so they do not go over a certain dollar amount, but allows universities to pay players directly from the revenue they gain.
That changes the way that Mitchell has to approach conversations with coaches about who gets what money.
“As we continue to experience seasons in this new environment, I, along with members of my staff, will continue to have conversations with our coaches to see what the path forward looks like,” Mitchell said. “Decisions around those additional benefits and how we are going to adjust to continue to be competitive.”
Despite Ball State having less money than Power Four schools, Sallee still sees NIL and revenue sharing as an opportunity.
“If I use mine [NIL money] smartly and maybe more efficiently and better than a P4 uses theirs even though they’ve got more, I can still be competitive,” he said.
Contact Kyle Stout via email at kyle.stout@bsu. edu or via X @kylestoutdailyn.
Average total revenue per conference
$58,765,390 $400,985,504 $400,985,504 $58,765,390
Source:
Ball State head coach Mike Uremovich waits with his team in the tunnel before facing Purdue University Aug.
RAQUEL RUFFIN, DN DESIGN
Ball State football falls to Purdue
Purdue defeated Ball State 31-0, as the Cardinals failed to reach the endzone.
Purdue senior running back Devin Mockobee is tackled by Ball State sophomore Eric McClain Aug. 30 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Ball State lost 31-0 against Purdue. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Ball State senior quarterback Kiael Kelly runs the ball downfield against Purdue Aug. 30 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Kelly had 54 rushing yards on 18 carries. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Purdue senior running back Devin Mockobee runs the ball against Ball State Aug. 30 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue defeated Ball State 31-0. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Purdue senior running back Devin Mockobee is tackled by Ball State senior defensive back Muheem McCargo Aug. 30 at Ross-Ade Stadium. ANDREW BERGER, DN
Purdue sophomore running back Antonio Harris runs the ball against Ball State Aug. 30 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Harris ran for 44 yards in the game. ANDREW BERGER, DN
From Crayon to Curtain
Campus
‘The Addams Family’ is coming to Emens
Emems Auditorium is preparing for opening night of “The Addams Family,” which will premiere Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m, according to a Sept. 2 press release from Ball State’s Communications Center. Student tickets are free with a Ball State ID, according to the press release. See more details on the auditorium’s website.
Ball State alumni Christopher and Justin Swader share insight working with Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis.
10
Community Muncie’s ‘The Clubhouse’ now private event center
An Aug. 31 press release from Muncie’s Clubhouse coordinator, Dawn Fluhler, detailed the event center is now strictly for private events. The transition — effective this past Tuesday — comes after listening to the community and recognizing the strong demand for flexible, fun spaces for gathering, according to the release.
Community
Grateful Tail Wagging Showcase returns
Sept. 7
Morrow’s Meadows in Yorktown will host the 2025 Grateful Tail Wagging Showcase Sept. 7, put on by Grateful Rescue & Sanctuary, according to an event flyer. The event will feature a 5K run, food trucks and dog parade, according to the flyer. Registration is required. For more information, contact frankie4414@gmail.com.
Christopher and Justin Swader headshot in New York. MATTHEW DUNIVAN PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTO PROVIDED; AVA BOWER, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
The production features scenic designs from Ball State alumni Christopher and Justin Swader.
Katherine Hill Lifestyles Editor
To the untrained eye, the only difference between Christopher and Justin Swader is the color of their shirts. The identical twin brothers have been creating artwork in tandem since birth.
In childhood, the pair would finish each other’s colored pencil sketches or heavy-handed marker drawings, a testament to their synchronized imaginations. Now as adults, they finish each other’s sentences when describing their scenic design careers and partnership with Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis.
Going from sketch to stage was never a route the Evansville, Ind. natives imagined taking, but it was one their parents fostered by exposing the twins to nearly every performance and curtain call that came through the landlocked Midwest.
“At that age, we didn’t necessarily think of theatre as a career. We just were really excited by it and entranced by it. But then, we started to realize there are people behind the scenes [who] can create all the ‘magic,”’ Christopher said.
Pursuing the “magic” of scenic design allowed
the Swader Brothers to “blend [their] two passions together, both theatre and art,” through double majors at Ball State University in directing and design.
“We owe so much to Ball State, because when we applied, we weren’t quite sure what we were interested in doing. We knew we were really interested in theatre, but we were [also] interested in directing [and] all areas of design. So, we owe so much to those first few months at Ball State, where we were able to communicate what we were interested in and see how [our interests] could be tailored to work within four years at Ball State,” Justin said.
One thing the brothers specifically credited the university for was its emphasis on immersive learning, which Christoper said enabled them to get the sort of “firsthand experience” they perhaps wouldn’t find at another university. Meeting with
faculty and staff as prospective students was the icing on the cake that left the brothers feeling “very much at home,” he added.
Since graduating in 2012, the Swaders have made New York their home but recently partnered with Minneapolis’ CTC within the past year. The brothers said the company’s September 2025 production of “Treasure Island” will be the first set they’ve designed with a younger audience at the forefront, a creative distinction that sets CTC apart from other, New York-based theatre companies.
“We’ve always admired the work [CTC] has done and the mission they have [of] providing really high quality theatrical productions to young audiences and families [who] may have never seen theatre before or theatre of this scale before,” Justin said.
“For us as designers and theatre artists, we’re so inspired to kind of be a part of [a child’s] first introduction to theatre,” Christopher added. “It’s very rewarding.”
For us as designers and theatre artists, we’re so inspired to kind of be a part of [a child’s] first introduction to theatre. It’s very rewarding.”
- CHRISTOPHER SWADER, Children’s Theatre Company set designer and Ball State Alumnus
The Swaders “start with the script,” using the text as a guide to steer their creativity in a direction that honors a story’s origins. While brainstorming designs, concepts and meeting with directors to transform ideas into reality, sibling rivalry stays in childhood.
“The nature of what we do, it’s all about collaboration. It’s never about who has the best idea; it’s about what’s best for storytelling and for helping to shape the vision of the director,” Justin said.
The brothers “take inspiration from everything.” Walking down the street, Christopher said building with chipped paint may seem to most like an eye sore in need of restoration, but to the twins, the jagged texture of the paint flakes coinciding with the way the evening sunlight scrapes across the side of the building is inspiration for their next project.
For CTC’s production of “Treasure Island,” a show the brothers said is aimed toward 8 to 12-year-olds, Christopher recalled early meetings
Reed Sigmund as Long John Silver in ‘Treasure Island’ July 2025 at Children’s Theatre Company. KAITLIN RANDOLPH, PHOTO PROVIDED
with the creative team where the director, Rick Dildine, asked an essential question: “If you were seeing theatre for the first time, what would be exciting to you, and how [can] that be translated into the design [of] this production [to] make it feel thrilling, unexpected, surprising, all the things?”
While searching for an answer, the designers opted for a set that exhibited “sophistication” but tried to “introduce whimsy into the design.” They browsed illustrations and researched blueprints of old crewship architecture. The deeper they dug, the more the skeletal framework of the vessels started to remind them of bookshelves—the perfect way to emulate the originality of storytelling and imagination, as Dildine requested.
“[The set] could suggest a library, it could suggest a ship. It starts to feel a little more expressionistic and abstracted,” Christopher said. “What we’ve done, or tried to do, in this design is create almost like a big playground, in a way, that can become all of these locations,” Justin added
Stimulating one’s imagination is something the brothers strive to do through all of their artwork. By creating a multi-purpose set for “Treasure Island,” the Swaders intend to “let the audiences’ imaginations fill in the gaps,” Curiosity is something they said is especially important to allow for in today’s digital age with accessible video editing software and paparazzi photos flooding social media.
In 2023, research compiled from The Motion Picture Institute found, “Social media marketing has revolutionized the way movies are promoted and consumed, offering filmmakers unprecedented opportunities to engage with audiences and generate buzz. While it has brought numerous benefits to the entertainment industry, challenges such as information overload, negative feedback and privacy concerns need to be addressed.”
The impermanence of live theatrics is what the brothers said drove them to make a career out of it.
“People have screens and technology and everything, [but] there’s something so much more
immediate and exciting about seeing something live on stage that can’t really be replicated,” Justin said.
They encourage other scenic designers to “see as much theatre as you can,” because “having the understanding and appreciation for the art form of theatre is everything,” Christopher said. “We learn so much every time we see [a performance], so there’s always some takeaway [to be had],” Justin added.
The brothers both agreed that even in their homebase of New York, the theatre community is small—which means kindness makes a big impact.
“There’s so much collaboration that happens [in the field], and it’s the projects where everyone is working together — openly and willingly — to solve some sort of challenge and welcoming of ideas…that are the most rewarding,” Christopher said.
Tickets fo CTC’s production of “Treasure Island” are available now through October 6. Those interested can visit the company’s website for more information.
Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine. hill@bsu.edu.
Reed Sigmund as Long John Silver in ‘Treasure Island’ July 2025 at Children’s Theatre Company.
KAITLIN RANDOLPH, PHOTO PROVIDED
Stage renderings for Children’s Theatre Company July 2025. SWADER, PHOTO PROVIDED
Stage renderings for Children’s Theatre Company July 2025. SWADER, PHOTO PROVIDED
KAI HARRIS, DN ILLUSTRATION; ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Being the oldest child can negatively affect your mental health while growing up.
Jayden Vaughn is a third-year journalism major and writes “The Community Chronicle” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
The greatest gift I have ever received has come in the form of two little boys — over a decade apart — who both like to torment me in their own ways. One likes to randomly hit me and play music that I can’t stand at full volume while I’m trying to sleep, and the other loves nothing more than to try and feed me Play-Doh multiple times a day.
The greatest title I have ever been given is “Big Sister.” But that’s not the only title I have earned over the course of my life. I am the oldest daughter. Even more than that, I am the eldest child. The role model. The guinea pig. The kid that’s supposed to set the example.
For most of my life, I never thought it affected me. I assumed my need for academic validation was simply because I loved school and nothing more. I assumed that me being a perfectionist and never wanting to ask for help was just my personality. I assumed that my maturity level and my impossible standards that I set for myself were just a part of me.
I never considered just how much the responsibility of being the eldest had weighed me down.
Why was I treated a little bit differently? Why was I the one that had to listen to my mother rant about adult problems before I was even old enough to understand them? Why did I get the worst punishments? Why was it my job to set the example for my little brothers? Why was I the one that got in trouble whenever they did something bad as a kid, and I was to blame because everyone assumed that they learned it from me?
My entire life I have been told that I’ve been too mature for my age. Ever since I was little, my mom has told me that she’s so lucky that I was the “perfect child.”
But perfection born under the weight of responsibility, fear and over-discipline doesn’t make you flawless — it makes you a mess. At twenty years old, my anxiety is so bad that I take prescribed medication every day just so I feel comfortable enough to be myself in public. When I go home for breaks, I feel guilty for taking time for myself or for not spending every hour of the day with my little brothers. I feel horrible for spending time with my friends because I can’t help but feel like there are other, more important, responsibilities waiting for me at home.
There is no one in this world that I love more than my brothers. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for them. But sometimes — when I let myself think about my life and the person that I’ve become today — I find myself thinking about how I wish I had the opportunity to be a kid a little bit longer. To not be the perfect role model. To not set the example.
Sometimes, I wish I could experience the world through the eyes of my brothers.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, eldest daughters are more likely to have certain character traits, such as being independent, responsible, empathetic, caring and anxious. Cleveland Clinic elaborates, “Female children can develop a lot of stress or anxiety. You may have perfectionistic tendencies and often not feel good enough. You may feel the need to please others, and that can result in not feeling good enough because you’re not living up to those standards.”
Not only that, but a 2024 article by VeryWellMind, written by Kendra Cherry, a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, states that oldest children — especially daughters — are often given duties and responsibilities that can shape their personality, relationships and well-being throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
increase in my medications during my early twenties and my neverending anxiety about going home tell a different story.
I am a perfectionist. I feel like I have to be perfect, all because I have two boys looking up to me and parents who look at me like I have something to prove. I have anxiety that keeps me up for hours on end at night, and I overthink enough to the point that I should be allowed to list it as a skill on my resume.
But all of this does not just end whenever I come back to campus. It doesn’t end whenever I’m hours away from home and only talk to my brothers on the phone every other night.
The side effects of being the eldest sibling are constant, haunting my every choice like a ghost.
According to Charlie Health, eldest daughters can also struggle when it comes to their career, relationships, and — of course — mental health. Many eldest children struggle with imposter syndrome, frequently feeling that they are never good enough and are chronic people pleasers.
Eldest children are also more likely to feel responsible for their partner’s feelings, and tend to avoid vulnerability out of fear of being a burden. I wish I could say that was not the case for me, but that would be a lie.
There are days when I want nothing more than to rant to my boyfriend about everything that went wrong that day, but instead, I resist the urge to pick up my phone. I don’t want to burden him with my bad day, even though I know he wouldn’t mind. Even if I know for a fact that he would listen to me.
That same article states that internalized pressure can lead to anxiety, guilt around self-care and a struggle to ask for help. Most days, I would rather suffer in silence than work up the nerve to ask someone for help, all because I believe that I should be able to do something on my own.
These are all things about myself I have learned to live with. A lot of them are things I am constantly working on, simply because no one should have to deal with a version of myself that I’m not always proud of.
Cherry also explains that eldest daughters experience “parentification” from a very early age, are expected to take responsibility for their younger siblings and “grapple with responsibilities far beyond their years and developmentally appropriate abilities.”
I am a prime example of a parentified child. For as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten lectured about how much I tend to mother my not-so-little younger brother. Almost every day, I hear him say that he doesn’t need me to parent him, all because I remind him to clean his room or take his medication.
I don’t think he knows how hard it is for me to stop. Protecting him, nurturing him and caring for him has been engrained into my veins for so long that I would have to break myself into pieces in order to force myself to stop.
In that same article, Cherry also states that parentification is associated with a lot of negative consequences, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and personality disorders. And although not all of these conditions can be seen in myself, the necessary
In the end, despite everything, I would never ask to change a thing. My little brothers have helped shape who I am today. They are both the greatest menaces in my life and two of the greatest joys. If I had to choose between my little brothers or perfect mental health, picking my brothers would be the easiest choice of my entire life.
I would choose them in every reality, at every given opportunity and every lifetime. At the end of the day, no matter how much we bicker, they really are the greatest blessings in my life. And if I have to work every day to be the best version of myself — for both myself and for them — then it is something I will spend the rest of my life doing.
If you are the eldest, I know how you feel. I know the burdens and consequences that come with being the first born. But no matter what, you have to work towards being the best version of yourself and separate yourself from the version of you that is still tied to your childhood responsibilities.
The greatest title I’ve ever been given is “Big Sister”, and I’m still learning that it’s okay for me to let go, too.
Contact Jayden Vaughn via email jayden.vaughn@bsu.edu.
Opinion Editor, “The Community Chronicle”
Jayden Vaughn
Faculty alerted on protocol as law enforcement questions loom
Faculty advised to contact UPD if approached by outside law enforcement agencies.
Shelby Anderson News Editor
The Ball State Daily News received an email that was sent to staff members on Aug. 19 on behalf of Ball State Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Anand Marri from Jacquelyn Buckrop, a special assistant for academic operations at Ball State.
The email reads, “If an outside law enforcement agency approaches you, your faculty, or staff regarding a meeting with a student, please get in touch with UPD (University Police Department) first. You may ask the law enforcement officer to identify themselves and their agency for the purpose of providing the information to UPD dispatch. Contact UPD at 285-1111.”
While this isn’t considered an emergency, staff may ask the law enforcement officer to wait until after class or after the arrival of UPD.
Indiana Public Radio (IPR) hosted a segment with Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns, in which he mentioned this happening. However,
SCORES
Continued from Page 03
With this new strategy, there were some challenges that also came with it, one of them being trying to align all staff in order to “ensure consistency in instructional practices across classrooms.”
Charles also said there were some obstacles in dealing with gaps in learning, mostly from groups who are recovering from learning disruptions in earlier grades.
Even with the challenges, she is very proud of the students in their resilience and growth mindset.
“Our students took ownership of their learning. They demonstrated significant gains not just in reading proficiency, but also in their confidence and ability to engage with texts independently,” she said.
Charles explained the way they overcame these challenges was by providing support where it was needed.
“We also built in collaboration time for teachers to share what was working and reflect on instructional shifts,” she said.
With the higher reading scores, Klotz noticed that students’ mental health has also improved due to boosting the “overall time spent reading.” One way MCS has been encouraging that is
Mearns said he doesn’t know of any agents on campus or anyone being detained by law enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Still, other Indiana universities, such as Purdue University and Indiana University Bloomington, have had ICE sightings on their college campuses.
According to an Aug. 4 article from the Purdue Exponent, a Purdue sophomore, Yeonsoo Go, was reportedly detained by federal ICE agents July 31.
According to a May 1. article from Indiana Daily Student (IDS), an Editor’s Note updating the story on May 2 confirmed ICE was on campus, stating, “The IDS confirmed ICE detained three people from Bloomington this week, though it’s still unclear if ICE is continuing to conduct operations.”
immigrants being deported. On July 1, the city held a vigil for deported community members.
When asked what the university would do if agents came to Ball State, Mearns answered, “In most instances, the federal government, state, or local law enforcement [agency] actually coordinate[s] with our University Police Department, regarding potential enforcement actions.”
However, Muncie itself has faced issues with
by adding book vending machines in all of the elementary schools.
However, teachers had to adapt to this new program for it to be effective. To help with this, Charles said they used ongoing formative assessments to guide instruction and group students by skill level.
Teachers also expanded their use of small-group instruction during literacy blocks and included more “scaffolded” supports.
Charles said it worked well because it was “increasing direct, explicit instruction with clear modeling and practice.”
Still, sometimes MCS relied too heavily on “general whole-group strategies” without adapting materials. Due to this, Charles said some students fell through the cracks without targeted support.
For Klotz, this means there is still room for improvement in the future since they are still not at the state average quite yet.
Charles believes that what is next in order to accomplish this is improving vocabulary development, reading comprehension and fluency.
“We remain committed to continuous improvement and ensuring that every child leaves third grade not just reading at grade level, but with a lifelong love for reading,” Charles said.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email sanderson9@ bsu.edu.
Previous reporting from the Daily News July 1 details how one Muncie community member was deported and “after four days of being held, he was transferred to ICE custody in Indianapolis, then to Chicago, without the opportunity to stand before a judge. As of June 25, he could no longer be found on the ICE detainee website, and soon after was deported.”
In a statement via email from Andrew Walker, Ball State’s content and media strategy manager, he
said the email was sent out “in response to proactive inquiries from numerous faculty members” and “to date, no non-University law enforcement agencies have contacted faculty members.”
At the end of the day, it is still unconfirmed what outside law enforcement agencies might be on Ball State’s campus.
Contact Shelby Anderson via email sanderson9@ bsu.edu.
A third grade elementary student works on their math during class Sept. 2 at Grissom Elementary. With the higher reading scores they have seen an improvement amongst students’ mental health.
ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
University Police Department building Sept. 2 in Muncie, Ind. ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Crossword and Sudoku
The news network for Ball State University
Follow us on Social Media!
Cardinal Media is the online hub for all student media groups on campus.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news, sports, community, entertainment and technology information through each unique student-produced media outlet.
Stay tuned for upcoming contests throughout the year!