BSU 03-14-19

S T N E M E T A T S G N I S CLO ams | k Willi

Editor Sports

. Jac t Three different r u o c e h roads have converged for t d n o y e b three different players.

One was a recorde gon s a breaking 3-point shooter who wanted to lace up for one more h l l season. One was a quiet center from Louisville, Kentucky, who grew beyond sketba a B s ’ n his imagination. One was a transfer from Northern Kentucky who played with e M e t a t S his heart on his sleeve. l l h Ba t i From as little as one season to as many as 132 games, these three players w e m i t ’ have impacted and been impacted by the Ball State and Muncie communities s r nio e s e in their time as athletes and students. When the final buzzer sounds, these are e r Th their final remarks in donning the cardinal and white.

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BallStateDailyNews.com Did you miss it? Catch up on the news from March 3 - 11 on…

Women’s swim and dive breaks record

REBECCA SLEZAK, DN

March 3: Going into the

Hunter Ongay wins MAC diving award

Center closed March 4 after a water main break, according to a campuswide email. The Health Center was unable to see patients. According to an automated voice message left on the center’s phone number, it was closed “due to water line breakage and no water” and would reopen 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Ongay finished sixth in the onemeter dive (262.45 points) Tuesday and seventh in the three-meter dive (255.85 points) Thursday. Other accolades include junior Logan Ackley breaking the school record in the 200 backstroke. The Cardinals finished in fifth place with a score of 255.85 points.

March 4: The Student Health

last day of the Mid-American Conference Championships, Ball State Women’s Swim and Dive already obtained 15 top-10 times in various events. The Cardinals finished with 20 top-10 times after Saturday including the 200 freestyle relay. The team finished in eighth place with 148 points.

Softball ignites for 6 straight wins

Slates defend platform points in final debate

extended its win streak to six games, taking down the likes of Bethune Cookman twice, Cleveland State, North Florida, Georgetown, North Florida and Presbyterian. The team outscored its opposition 28-4 over the course of the week. The team heads to Georgia for its final nonconference tournament.

of the 2019 Student Government Association (SGA) election cycle had members of the slates Empower and Elevate defending the viability of their platform points Monday in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.

The voting for the runoff election begins 8 a.m. Monday and ends 5 p.m. Tuesday.

March 9: Ball State Softball

Health Center closes due to water break

March 11: The final debate

Peyton Domschke

Weather Forecaster, Benny Weather Group

THUNDERSTORMS Hi: 70º Lo: 40º

March 11: Ball State’s Disability Services and the student group Alliance for Disability Awareness (ADA) have coordinated events for Disability Awareness Month.

According to the Disability Services’ website, the goal of the month is “to promote the independence, integration and inclusion of all people with disabilities.”

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CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@ bsudailynews.com

FORECAST THURSDAY

Disability Awareness Month events planned

SCOTT FLEENER, DN

4-DAY WEATHER

FRIDAY

MOSTLY CLOUDY Hi: 42º Lo: 28º

SATURDAY

MOSTLY SUNNY Hi: 38º Lo: 25º

SUNDAY

MOSTLY SUNNY Hi: 42º Lo: 26º

NEXT WEEK: On Thursday, showers and thunderstorms will dominate the afternoon and evening. For your St. Patrick’s Day plans, temperatures will be in the low 40s with mostly sunny skies.

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.

ON THE COVER: PHOTOS: (FROM LEFT) ERIC PRITCHETT, DN, SCOTT FLEENER, DN, PAIGE GRIDER, DN, ELLIOTT DEROSE, DN ILLUSTRATION

March 8: In his diving events,

EDITORIAL BOARD Brooke Kemp, Interim Editorin-chief Andrew Harp, Interim News Editor Tier Morrow, Features Editor Jack Williams, Sports Editor Rebecca Slezak, Photo Editor Demi Lawrence, Opinion Editor Jake Helmen, Video Editor Lauren Owens, Social Media Editor CREATIVE SERVICES Emily Wright, Director Elliott DeRose, Design Editor Michael Himes, Web Developer

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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.

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Elections

THE FIRST OF ITS KIND VBC course develops program to help end generational poverty.

Empower fined for voting day violations Student Government Association (SGA) electoral slate Empower was fined twice for violating elections code during the voting days. The first is a $15 fine after a member of the slate wore an Empower T-shirt in Bracken Library where a voting booth was located. The second fine of $25 was issued after Empower sent an email to more than 130 students asking them to vote Feb. 24.

State Government

Ball State heads to Indiana Statehouse Students and faculty from Ball State had lunch and discussions with representatives on Tuesday at the Indiana Statehouse. The meal included several dishes, such as chicken Florentine soup and red velvet cupcakes. Ball State faculty and students informed state lawmakers about what the college is doing with the money allotted to them in the state budget.

Student Government Honors students of the semester’s Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry course pose with Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns in the Kitselman Center. The course is working to develop and research materials for Beneficence Family Scholars whose goal is to end generational poverty. LIZ RIETH, PHOTO PROVIDED Andrew Harp Interim News Editor A new organization headed by Ball State students could help stop generational poverty within the Muncie community.

Beneficence Family Scholars is a non-profit organization whose goal is “to help families, particularly single-parent families, get out of generational poverty.”

This objective is completed by selecting families and providing them resources for

higher education in hopes of leading them down a path out of poverty.

Lydia Kotowski, president and founder of the organization and junior political science and medallion scholar major in health policy, volunteered at the original Family Scholar House in Louisville, Kentucky, in summer 2018. While there, she got to know the staff and families.

During that time, she said one of the kids in the program approached her about going to law school because she knew Kotowski

wanted to be a lawyer. Because the resident and her mother were in poverty and abused, she told Kotowski she wanted to become a lawyer to help those in need.

“The fact that that’s what a 13-year-old girl is thinking about blew my mind,” Kotowski said.

Kotowski said she saw similarities between Muncie and Louisville in the number of single-parent families and non-traditional families, along with the educational obstacles that come with that.

4See SCHOLARS, 06

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: 7 FAST FACTS ABOUT PI DAY

Resolution for cabinet member reports fails Student Government Association (SGA) President Isaac Mitchell vetoed a resolution that would have had cabinet members report to the senate on a monthly basis. In a statement, Mitchell said, “there is no reason for us to create additional pressures to the executive board and waste Senate time simultaneously.” After discussion, the bill was voted on, 22-13, meaning the veto stands.

DNNews

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CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Rohith Rao Reporter

A team comprised of Ball State students and a professor embarked on a project to cover the stories of a small, diverse Muslim community in Muncie.

The 11 undergraduate students from eight different majors worked with Elizabeth Agnew, associate professor of religious studies, to create the documentary “Muslims in Muncie” as part of the spring 2018 Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry seminar.

“This was about Muslims becoming Americans, Americans becoming Muslims and those who were born both as Americans and Muslims and then together forging a community,” Agnew said.

Apart from her previous work with members of the Islamic Center of Muncie, Agnew said the timing worked in favor of the project as rhetoric about Muslims was “ramped up” following President Donald Trump’s announcement of candidacy along with the Paris and San Bernardino, California, attacks in 2015.

The project features interviews with 22 members of Muncie’s Muslim community from 12 countries

with no voice-over narration as interviewees share their stories. Agnew said they focused the documentary on how Muslims forged a community among themselves in Muncie.

Among those interviewed was Mir Masoom Ali, distinguished professor of statistics emeritus at Ball State, who arrived in Muncie in 1969 and played a key role in the establishment of both the Muslim Student Association at Ball State and the Islamic Center.

Now 82, Ali recollects how the Islamic Center grew from a small room in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center to rented locations — first on Calvert Street in the Village, followed by an apartment on Ball Avenue — before moving to its current location in 2007.

Ali said when he came to Muncie, the community had respect, admiration and curiosity for Muslims.

When the Muslim community feared going to the Islamic Center to pray after 9/11, people from churches and the neighborhood stepped up to ensure their safety, Ali said.

“I think they still have the same kind of feelings — most of the people — for the community,” Ali said.

Documentary presents the story of Muncie’s diverse Muslim community.

Bibi Bahrami, president of the Islamic Center of Muncie, receives Ball State’s 2019 Community Partner of the Year award from President Geoffrey Mearns. Bahrami, the first female president of the center, said the reason she accepted the nomination to become president was to set a precedent for Muslim women in the community interested in leadership positions at the center. BALL STATE UNIVERSITY, PHOTO COURTESY

Elizabeth Agnew, professor of religious studies, reviews questions with Richard McKinney, former president of the Islamic Center of Muncie, for the “Muslims in Muncie” documentary.

Agnew said the documentary focused on making the entire community the protagonist instead of particular individuals. ELIZABETH AGNEW, PHOTO PROVIDED.

Another interviewee for the project was Bibi Bahrami, the current president of the Islamic Center and the first woman to hold that position.

Bahrami said while the Muncie community for the most part has always been welcoming and understanding of the Muslim community, there have been some negative reactions to their presence.

“People have been told, ‘Take your towel back to your country. What are you doing here?’” she said.

Bahrami said these messages usually come from those who are uneducated and ignorant about the history of Muslims and immigrants in general.

She said while the negativity is minimal, she has seen more resentment against the community after Trump than after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“That’s what bothers me,” Bahrami said. “We are all looking up to our leader. If our leader is OK with certain things then ordinary persons will obviously be OK with it.”

Bahrami said 9/11 was “a wake-up call,” not just for Americans but Muslims as well “to reach out to the community and educate the community about who we are.”

With regards to improving outreach in Muncie and the Ball State community, she said the onus falls on both the Islamic Center and the university.

“Ball State has been a great connection and supporter to our community,” Bahrami said. “I think it could be done more.”

Also interviewed for the project was Richard McKinney, former president of the Islamic Center, who said he once held a “deep-seated hatred” for Islam, even wanting to “blow up the center.”

McKinney’s decision to visit the center one day came with a different intention — to learn more about Islam.

“The best advice I can give any non-Muslim to learn about Islam was the advice that was given to me,” McKinney said. “They handed me a Quran and said ‘Read it. Come back when you have questions.’”

He followed the advice, and eight weeks after that day he converted to Islam. Two years later, he became president of Ball State’s Muslim Student Association and president of the Islamic Center the following year.

During his presidency, McKinney said his only objective was to bring the Muslim community in Muncie “out of the shadows.”

McKinney said he believes America is “the best place for a Muslim” because a “Muslim can be a Muslim” and live by the teachings of the Quran in a country that is relatively better when it comes to politics, human rights and freedom.

While the documentary is not about Islam itself, it aims to help viewers gain an understanding by hearing the stories of Muslim individuals in the community, Agnew said.

“This is not a film that’s trying to tell people about Islam,” she said. “It’s about individual Muslims; it’s about their lives, their perceptions.”

Contact Rohith Rao with comments at rprao@bsu.edu or on Twitter @RaoReports.

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JOINING THE RACE The Ball State community reflects on South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential run.

Rohith Rao Reporter Indiana, a state not known to produce many American presidents, might have a new presidential nominee contender for the 2020 election.

Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, since 2012, has launched an exploratory committee to look into a potential 2020 run to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

“It’s possible. It’s improbable,” said Chad Kinsella, assistant professor of political science, about Buttigieg’s chances of winning the nomination. “It’s going to be a wide open field in the Democratic primary and you never know.”

William Henry Harrison, who served for 32 days in 1841, and his grandson Benjamin Harrison, who served from 1889 to 1893, are the only two U.S. presidents to have had a political association with Indiana, according to the White House’s website.

Kinsella said President Donald Trump’s 2016 primary run, former Presidents Bill Clinton’s 1992 primary run and Barack Obama’s 2008 run were examples of primary elections that delivered unexpected results.

“The key thing about primaries is it’s all about who runs and if you can get hot,” Kinsella said.

He said Indiana is a state that matters later in the primary process. So, being the mayor of a relatively unknown city and not having held a statewide or national office are going to make it hard for Buttigieg to win the nomination.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle for that guy just because he’s not a national figure,” he said. “A lot of other people in the race are.”

Despite all the factors working against him, Kinsella said, the many Democratic candidates running in the election “divides up the vote.”

Being the first openly-gay married person to run for the presidential nomination of a major party as well as having prior military experience bodes well for Buttigieg, Kinsella said.

He said what really matters is who can perform in the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary.

“Momentum matters,” he said. “Frontrunner status and all the polling that’s done right now — it isn’t really worth squat. It’s more for entertainment.”

A candidate’s ability to fundraise from “big money donors” who “are making some bets right now” also matters, he said.

“I don’t think he’s going to have access to those big money people,” Kinsella said. “His fundraising is probably going to be anemic, which is probably going to make that leap much harder.”

Michael Keen, communications director of Ball State Democrats and sophomore computer science major, said he thinks that Buttigieg is a strong candidate and that there is “always a chance” for him to win.

“From what I have heard about what he’s done

to South Bend — like reviving it in the wake of the deindustrialization age — I feel like he’s done some pretty good work revitalizing it,” Keen said.

Buttigieg’s age of 37 helps him have “some appeal to younger voters” and be “more in touch” with issues like climate change, student debt and Medicare for all, Keen said. “[Buttigieg]’s an exciting candidate,” Keen said.

“While he may not get very far, he definitely will attract some attention.”

Gavin Schulz, vice president of Ball State Republicans and freshman social studies education major, thinks people not having heard of Buttigieg will probably be “his biggest hurdle running for president.”

Schulz said members of the organization from South Bend don’t think he’s being as effective a mayor right now because he’s been more focused on possibly running for president in 2020.

“They think he’s been more focused on trying to get media attention to himself than actually running their city,” Schulz said.

However, Schulz said Buttigieg’s moderate stance as a Democrat and his military experience could be a unifying factor for the South Bend mayor.

“To get going in the Iowa caucus, [Buttigieg] needs only 5-10 percent of the vote to get some traction,” Schulz said.

Buttigieg, who was re-elected for his second mayoral term in 2015 with 80 percent of the vote, holds a favorable view from some Ball State students from South Bend.

Erin Pinter, sophomore elementary education major, joined the mayor’s youth task force when she was in high school to help stop violence in the community, in schools and among young people.

She said it was successful because it brought attention to the problems in her community and a lot of students wished to join the task force.

Pinter, whose parents help resettle refugees in her community, said Buttigieg “played a huge role” in their efforts. She also said community events like South Bend’s Best Week Ever celebrating the city’s anniversary makes everyone feel welcome in the city.

“Our community has really developed and changed with him as mayor,” Pinter said. “You can tell he cares and he puts in the effort to do everything he can and I believe that’s very important and a very good quality to have.”

Mara Medors, freshman political science major, said the mayor is “a big advocate for turning things around” and gave his 1,000 Houses in 1,000 Days program which addressed vacant and abandoned homes in areas in South Bend as an example.

Medors said Buttigieg is “personable,” “open to ideas” and will be successful in “reaching both sides of the political spectrum.”

“I definitely think that’ll be tough for him but I do think he’ll gain recognition for what he has done in South Bend,” Medors said.

Contact Rohith Rao with comments at rprao@bsu.edu or on Twitter @RaoReports.

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SCHOLARS Continued from Page 03

“The more I got to know how meaningful and impactful education and a true support system can be, the more I wanted to make that something that we have in Muncie,” Kotowski said.

These similarities led Kotowski to contact Jason Powell, vice president of Beneficence Family Scholars and professor of humanities, who has experience studying subjects like generational poverty and social justice.

At the time, Powell had accepted to serve as a Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry (VBC) fellow for an immersive learning class, so after talking with Kotowski, he decided to make the scholars program his VBC course.

Powell said he was “blown away” by the scope of the program which implements education, food, housing and guidance.

On Dec. 14, 2018, Beneficence Family Scholars was incorporated, making it a legal corporation.

Now, Kotowski said they are working on an affiliation agreement with the original Family Scholars organization in Louisville, as the organization is the first of its kind in Indiana.

“This is exactly [what I] have been dreaming would be like the thing to do here in Muncie,” Powell said.

Currently, the organization has a board of directors and a staff of 16 honors students working on the project for their semester-long honors immersive learning course at the VBC.

These students are creating marketing and branding for the project; designing the website and social media; and researching childcare, food and education.

“There is a fairly significant portion of our population that is not just the traditional family unit and I think that’s really important to recognize because different shapes of families have different issues that they face,” Kotowski said.

According to the Indiana Youth Institute’s 2019 Indiana Kids Count data book, Delaware county is ranked eighth out of 92 counties in the state with the number of single-parent families. Along with this, the county is also ranked 18th highest in the number of children in poverty, aged 17 and under.

Kotowski said the project’s plan is segmented into three phases designed for families to develop into over time: pre-residential, residential and post-residential.

The pre-residential phase will begin this summer and encompass several programs including financial literacy courses, academic support and application help for parents. Kotowski said these programs will be facilitated in rented downtown Muncie office spaces.

Families need to apply for this phase and then are selected based on their experiences within generational poverty.

The only automatic disqualifier for applicants, Kotowski said, is having a debilitating dependency on drugs. Once that addiction has been eliminated, applicants can reapply.

Once the families are selected, there is an orientation, and then parents will learn about financial literacy, applying for FAFSA and Pell grants and

Honors students from the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry course talk at the Family Scholar House in Louisville, Kentucky. Beneficence Family Scholars was created after Lydia Kotowski volunteered at Family Scholar House and noticed similarities between Muncie and Louisville. LIZ RIETH, PHOTO PROVIDED making commitments, which will be taught with inperson teaching and online videos and quizzes.

All of these programs are completely free, Kotowski said, and the only thing the students really pay for is the tuition for their education.

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“We think that parents will be empowered to pursue an education and instill a love of education and respect and appreciation for family and their children as well,” Kotowski said.

See SCHOLARS, 15

DNSports A LASTING IMPACT

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Men’s Basketball

Ball State Women’s Basketball reminisces on NCAA Tournament victory over Tennessee 10 years later.

Cardinals upset Eagles in MAC Tournament Outscoring Eastern Michigan 3814 in the second half, No. 11 Ball State took down No. 6 Eastern Michigan 61-43 in the first round of the tournament. The team will face Bowling Green Thursday.

Women’s Basketball

Ball State’s season ends in Toledo A field-goal percentage of 46 played in the Rockets’ favor, and MAC Player of the Year contender Kaayla McIntyre posted 19 points to guide the Rockets to a 67-63 victory.

Cardinals finish season at 8-23.

Baseball

Amber Crago celebrates with a temmate after No. 12 Ball State upset No. 5 Tennessee in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament March 22, 2009, at E.A. Diddle Arena. It was the Cardinals’ first win in tournament history. BALL STATE PHOTO SERVICES, PHOTO PROVIDED Gabi Glass Reporter In her first year as Ball State Women’s Basketball head coach during the 2008-09 season, Kelly Packard found herself with a handful of talent and a Mid-American Conference Tournament title.

Heading into the NCAA Tournament, it was no question their opponent, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, would present a challenge in the first round. But the outcome was anything but predictable.

The fifth-seeded Lady Volunteers, led by beloved and seasoned head coach Pat Summitt, had never lost in the first or second round of the big dance. The Cardinals, on the other hand, were

appearing in their first ever NCAA Tournament.

The Lady Volunteers were no stranger to victory.

They had won eight national titles and, entering the 2009 tournament, they were the only team to have made the tournament every year since it’s conception in 1982.

While it was a year of rebuilding for Tennessee, having lost superstar Candace Parker to the WNBA draft the season prior, the team managed a record of 22-11. However, failure to win the Southeastern Conference hindered the usual fear the team typically instilled in its opponents.

The ultimate stunner came when the Lady Volunteers met the Cardinals in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In a game labeled by ESPN as “the

greatest upset in tournament history”, then-senior Porchia Green led the Cardinals’ efforts with 23 points and eight rebounds to guide them past one of the premier teams in NCAA women’s basketball.

“The win over a Pat Summitt-coached team, given the legacy of her success at Tennessee, put more emphasis on the victory without a doubt,” Packard said. “However, we savored and celebrated an NCAA win and the opportunity to continue playing in the tournament.”

With a season record of 26-9 and a mark of 14-2 in MAC play, Packard said it took a number of small moments to position the team for the major one that occurred.

4See IMPACT, 09

Maloney captures 800th career win The 6-4 victory over Georgetown Mar. 8 was career win No. 800 for head coach Rich Maloney. Maloney became the 27th active coach to reach the 800-win plateau. His 461 wins with the program make him the winningest baseball coach in school history.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: MEN’S VOLLEYBALL EVENS RECORD IN HAWAII

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SENIORS Continued from Page 1

A different perspective Austin Nehls was a big fish in a small pond in his time at Central Connecticut State. He was the Blue Devils’ go-to guy from deep, knocking down more than 67 3-point shots and racking up more than 1,000 points in his four years in New Britain.

AUSTIN NEHLS Senior guard, Graduate student at Ball State * = As of March 13 (At Central Connecticut State) • Member of the Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team for 2015-16 • Owns 1,038 career points for an average of 11.7 per game • Has never made fewer than 67 3-pointers in a season • A career 36.5 percent shooter from 3-point range (at Ball State) • *72 points, 368 minutes, 28 games played, 20 field goals made, 18 three pointers made, 15 assists • Totals: 1,110 career points, 224 three pointers made, 118 games played, 335 field goals made, 3,539 minutes played • From Tucson, Arizona, and went to Cheshire Academy • Notable moments: Game-tying three in final seconds of first overtime against Eastern Michigan Jan. 8, 2019

While Nehls was a force for Central Connecticut, he didn’t really feel like he played in a traditional college town. With the school being so close to Hartford,Connecticut, the focus wasn’t just specifically the Blue Devils. In Muncie, Nehls said it has been different from what he came from.

“Muncie is all Ball State, and it’s really cool to be in that atmosphere,” Nehls said. “At Central Connecticut State, we maybe had 1,000 people at our games. Here we got four times that. It’s been really cool to play in front of a wider audience.”

In making the switch from a smaller conference like the Northeast Conference to the Mid-American Conference, a bigger stage has been set from every home and road game he has played.

From 5,000 in Muncie to 15,000 at Purdue, Nehls said he is taking it all in.

“That Purdue game was sold out, and they were top 25 in the country,” Nehls said. “I had never played a ranked team, and it was a true road game. Every arena in the MAC is the arena. Most arenas I played at didn’t have the jumbotrons and usually had portable seating. This is something I’ve wanted to do, and I’ve been enjoying it.”

In running this victory lap after an impressive showing at his past school, some might think Nehls’ accomplishments might get to his head. However, head coach James Whitford said Nehls is the exact opposite.

“He’s only been here for a year, but when I hear his name I think of a great teammate,” Whitford said. “He didn’t come to Ball State saying what can Ball State do for me. He came to Ball State saying what he could do for Ball State.”

Whenever Nehls comes off the bench, even if it’s for a few seconds, Whitford said he takes of advantage of his time. Only averaging about 13 minutes per game, he has done what he does best in draining 18 shots from deep, leading to his 72 points on the season.

“It’s really easy for that guy at the end of the bench to say, ‘Well I’ve scored 1,000 points,’ and not bring a great attitude every day,” Whitford said. “However, Austin has given his best for five minutes or 20 minutes. He’s all in.”

That attitude has given Nehls memories that will last a lifetime.

The guard hit a game-tying 3-point shot at the buzzer in overtime against Eastern Michigan on March 5, igniting Worthen Arena.

The game before, he had only played 11 minutes.

“Maybe three or four games before, I hadn’t even played,” Nehls said. “We had an injury, and I started to play more. The fact that it was even in my hands to shoot it at the end surprises me, but I was wide open. I made the shot, and it was a great feeling.”

As Nehls heads onto the court for the final time in his college career, he is grateful for the opportunity he has had for one last ride.

“I’m thankful for all the support we’ve gotten this season,” Nehls said. “It’s been a great one year, and I wish I honestly could’ve been here longer. It was a good ride.”

Coming out of his shell He was young and shy, but he had talent others did not see. That is how Whitford describes the first time Trey Moses walked onto the court in the summer of 2015.

TREY MOSES Senior center, Child Development major * = As of March 13 • An All-MAC Third Team selection as a junior and a MAC All-Defensive Team choice as a sophomore • *1,126 points • *Sixth in school history in career field goal percentage (.528), second in blocked shots (139) and fourth in rebounds (904) • *281 career assists • *Averaging 8.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for his career • *Has played 131 games for the Cardinals, missing just one to injury (most in school history) • *Played 3289 minutes • From Louisville, Kentucky, and went to Eastern High School

“He was 17 when he got to college,” Whitford said. “He was a young kid who wasn’t in great shape, but he was a great player. He had great hands and great feet which really stood out.”

Four years later, the center has made a major impact not just on the court, but in the Muncie community. As a figure kids look up to, Moses said he never expected to be in this role.

“I really never imagined to be this person that people look up to,” Moses said. “I’m from Louisville, and I follow Louisville basketball and football closely. When I was younger, I looked up to those guys and wanted to be them one day. Ball State isn’t as big as Louisville, but I’m just looked at as one of those guys when I was younger.”

As an underclassmen, Moses looked up to former teammates Franko House and Bo Calhoun. Both have taken routes that Moses would like to follow in playing basketball overseas and venturing into a teaching career.

“I still talk to Franko quite it bit,” Moses said. “He’s a guy who played overseas, and he’s a guy that I looked to for advice. I keep up with Bo more than he thinks, but he’s a teacher now. Both guys are doing things I look to do eventually.”

Moses’ impact in the community has resonated with the entire team. On senior night, fans young and old were taking photos with him and congratulating him on Twitter. Alongside his parents, two individuals with down syndrome Trey has created a close bond with accompanied him on the court.

“His work with the community reflects on us well, but more importantly it impacts the lives of a lot of other people,” Whitford said. “There are a lot of other people who have been touched by Trey. The fun thing to think about with that is how many lives got to touch and feel him and people who improved their quality of life from the things he did.”

In these interactions, whether it’s reading to a group of elementary school kids or teaching a preschool class for his major

focus in child development, Moses said he is grateful for every experience he has had.

“Everything that has happened to me here at Ball State has made me a stronger person and more of a leader,” Moses said.

“It’s helped me reach my full potential, and I know I have a ways to go, but I’m forever thankful for every person that has come in contact with me.”

As someone who has shed the persona of a quiet teenager, Whitford looks back at how much he has grown and how prepared he is for the world.

“He’s really matured as a person,” Whitford said. “He’s really equipped to handle the world. Like a lot of 17-year-olds that come to college, he wasn’t mentally ready when he got here. He’s going to do well when he leaves us.”

For Trey, it’s the fans and the support that make it worthwhile.

The impact this community has left on him will stick with him for a long time.

“I know this year hasn’t been the year that we wanted, but the fans, the students and my friends have all stayed faithful to us,” Moses said. “I know we’re all thankful for that. I can’t thank them enough.”

Blue-collar heart If you jump back to the Cardinals’ 2015 season and look for a game against Northern Kentucky, you won’t find it.

In a game Whitford described as a “secret scrimmage,” the Cardinals were rolled by a 230-pound, 6-foot-3-inch freshman guard from nearby Kokomo, Indiana. From that point on, Whitford knew he wanted him on his team, and by luck, the player was looking for a new home.

TAYLER PERSONS Redshirt senior guard, General Studies major * = As of March 13 • Two-time All-MAC Second Team at Ball State • Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year in 2014-15 at Northern Kentucky • Has started every game in his first two seasons at BSU • Averaging 15.3 points and 4.6 assists for his BSU career • *1,533 points, 440 assists, 2963 minutes, 98 games played, 105 steals, 557 field goals made at Ball State, ninth all time in points, fourth all time in assists • From Kokomo, Indiana, and went to Kokomo High School • Notable plays: Game winner against No. 9 Notre Dame on Dec. 6, 2017, game winner against Valparaiso on Dec. 9, 2017, game winner against Bowling Green State on Feb. 6, 2018

“As soon as we found out he was leaving, we had a scholarship open up,” Whitford said. “We called right away and went through the recruiting process. We knew that we wanted him.”

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09

IMPACT Continued from Page 07

“The initial feeling was joy. Joy not just limited to the victory over Tennessee, but joy created by the entire journey of the season with that particular group of young women and that coaching staff,” Packard said.

Audrey McDonald-Spencer, then-player and now-assistant coach for Ball State Women’s Basketball, has seen first-hand the impact the historic victory has had on the program.

“After that win, the biggest thing you saw was that Ball State was being talked about,” McDonald-Spencer said. “Whether you were hearing that Tennessee had lost in the first round or that Ball State had made it to the tournament.

It was a boost for us and for the Mid-American Conference as well.”

Following her senior year, McDonaldSpencer took the position of Director of Operations for the women’s basketball team.

At the start of the 2015-16 season, she took on the title of assistant coach. Having been a part of the program since 2006, McDonald-Spencer has made her mark on women’s basketball at Ball State.

“I don’t know if there is anyone who has put more into the Ball State Women’s Basketball program than Audrey,” current head coach Brady Sallee said. “From being a player, to

director of operations, to a coach, she has shown her love for this place and this program in all that she does.”

Three years following the historic win, the Cardinals were taken under new leadership in Sallee. Since the 2012-13 season, Sallee has

The win over a Pat Summittcoached team, given the legacy of her success at Tennessee, put more emphasis on the victory without a doubt.”

- KELLY PACKARD, Former Ball State Women’s Basketball head coach led the team to six straight WNIT appearances, making it to the round of 16 in his first year as head coach.

Reminiscing on the 10-year anniversary of the Tennessee upset, Sallee said the win is still talked about to this day and remains to be the best thing that has happened to the program.

“We talk about it every year,” Sallee said.

“This year we celebrated it. It’s something we’re not going to let go away, at least in

Ball State Online Make the Most of Your Summer Whether you need to catch up, stay on track, or get ahead; make the most of your summer with more than 300 online courses available!

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Kelly Packard cheers on the Cardinals during a game against No. 5 Tennessee in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division I Woman’s basketball tournament April 15. BALL STATE PHOTO

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my time here. Even though none of us, other than [McDonald-Spencer], had anything to do with it, we still take a ton of pride in the fact that this program made the team that accomplished that.”

At the start of the 2018-19 season in November, the Cardinals made a day of recognizing the victory over Tennessee with players and Packard being recognized at halftime and various clips of the game being shown throughout the day.

While it has been 10 years since the Cardinal’s historic victory and the MAC has seen great changes since, the legacy the team created and left behind also remain prevalent in the MAC. “With [Sallee] being the head coach for seven seasons now and seeing us go to the postseason the last six, that’s really saying something,” McDonald-Spencer said. “You’ve seen the MAC turn into the seventh-best league in the country with extremely top-notch competition, and it raises the bar even more.”

The Cardinal victory over Tennessee will live on as not only one of the biggest upsets in women’s basketball, but a defining moment for the University as a whole. A key component of the foundation of Ball State Women’s Basketball, the win serves as a memory, a continued goal to strive for and a historic moment in Cardinal history.

Contact Gabi Glass with any comments at grglass@bsu.edu or on Twitter @gabiglassbsu.

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DNLife

03.14.19

St. Patrick’s Day Shenanigans Many Muncie restaurants and businesses offer creative ways to help celebrate the Irish holiday.

11

DIY

Lucky charms to decorate the house

Planning parties can be difficult with all of the elements you have to remember. Decorations are not always at the top of the list, but with a little bit of construction paper and a few staples, they don’t have to be something to stress over. With a pot o’ gold at the end of a rainbow and a few four leaf clovers, you can bring luck to any party. 412

Online

UPB movie choices for end of semester Every semester, the University Program Board chooses a new lineup of recent releases to show Friday night in Pruis Hall. For the remainder of the spring semester, students can enjoy a broad mix of genres, as well as student-produced films from the Frog Baby Festival.

Online Muncie residents endured snow, rain and hail to receive candy at the 32nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 17, 2018. More than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades occur across the U.S. every year. MADELINE GROSH, DN FILE

W

hen the same holidays come every year, it can be hard to find new events for entertainment, especially in an unfamiliar town.

Stores are packed with the same beads, shamrocks and green everything, but nothing feels lucky.

Here are a few shenanigans and ways to celebrate the Irish holiday in Muncie:

St. Patrick’s Day Parade This year will mark the 33rd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Muncie. Spreading luck and candy down Walnut, Charles and Mulberry Streets, participants can enjoy the Irish holiday with attendees. Line-up for entries will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Muncie Central Fieldhouse

parking lot, and the event will kick-off at 6 p.m.

Night-Before-St.-Patrick’sDay Dinner Music with America’s Hometown Band Vera Mae’s Bistro will again offer its annual Irish menu “the night-before-St.-Patrick’s-Day.” The Walden Pond Band, the

AHB Little Green Band and the Phil Cooley Jazz Combo will help bring shenanigans to the night with traditional Irish music. While this event is $5, and reservations are needed, it is designed to be cost-effective for customers and could be the highlight of your celebrations.

4See SHENANIGANS, 12

Students share stories in ‘Human Library’ For 20 minutes at a time, guests could “check-out” a book of their choosing from a line-up of 15 volunteers. With titles ranging from “Intersex, Feminist, Queer and Disabled” to “Addicted to Admission,” volunteers and guests held open conversations about complicated topics in order to reduce biases.

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12

SHENANIGANS Continued from Page 11

Guardian Brewing Company (21 and Older) With the beginning of its fourth year as a business underway, brewers at Guardian Brewing Company will release a new beer specifically for St. Patrick’s Day: the Rosscommoner Irish Stout.

In tribute to the holiday and its heritage, Guardian created a beer that is “as authentic an Irish Stout as one can get on this side of the Atlantic.” To add to the spectacle of the celebration, the Irish Stout will flow from two taps: a typical tap and another

filled with chocolate chips and mint. The bar will also offer an “affordable green beer,” Guardian’s 765 Premium American Lager, for those looking for something more traditional. Rounding off the day of fun, The Bashville Boys will perform from 8-10 p.m.

Starbucks For those who can’t leave campus or just have a coffee addiction they need to satisfy, the Starbucks in the Student Center Tally will offer a matcha, mint and chocolate drink for St. Patrick’s Day. Two Ball State employees, Natalie and Megan, created the drink to help students celebrate the holiday in style. Titled “Irish You Were Here,” the special drink will only last from March 14-18.

McDonald’s Every year, McDonald’s offers its minty milkshake for the holiday, and every year, it continues to extend the life of the green treat.

This trip over the rainbow started almost a month before the actual holiday and will end a week after, giving milkshake lovers more time to savor the drink. The Shamrock Shake debuted in 1970, and the chain continues to make it with the same vanilla soft-serve ice cream, mint syrup, green coloring and whipped cream. To help those wanting to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style, McDonald’s has also added a “Shamrock Shake Finder” to its mobile app.

- Staff Reports

ST. PATRICK’S DAY DIY Tier Morrow Features Editor

8.

There are some holidays most Americans have begun to expect a big party attached to, including St. Patrick’s Day. Between planning for enough food to please all of your guests and bringing in every chair you can find from the garage, decorations can be the last thing on your mind.

If you need a little inspiration, here are three easy construction paper crafts you can make simple or add a little flare to it without pushing your already bulging budget.

Hanging Pot o’ Gold

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TIER MORROW, DN

What you need: • Construction paper: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and black • Scissors • Tape or stapler • Ruler • A circle shape about 1 inch in diameter Directions: 1. Lay the pink sheet of construction paper on the table vertically.

2. Measure out an inch from the side edge of the paper on both the top and the bottom.

3. Line the ruler up with the two lines you drew and connect them with another line down the page.

4. Cut out the long strip.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 with the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and black construction paper sheets.

6. Starting with the pink strip, bend it into a circle to make the first link of the chain. Use tape or a staple to hold the ends of the strip together.

7. Take the red strip and put one end of it through the center of the pink circle. Bend it to make another circle, while it is still linked

to the pink circle. Tape or staple the end.

Repeat step 7 by placing the next strip through the circle you just made. Put the colors in the following order: orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and black.

Set your completed chain aside and get the rest of the black construction paper you used to make the strip. Using a pencil, draw out the shape of your pot which will hold the gold.

Cut out your pot.

Using the leftover yellow construction paper, trace around your circular object eight times to make the gold.

Cut out the yellow circles.

Tape or staple the yellow circles to the back of your pot in an even layer. (Or however you think looks the best for your pot o’ gold.)

Tape or staple the pot to the black strip on your chain. (Make sure it is facing forward.)

Hang the decoration from a door or table.

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UNSPLASH, PHOTO COURTESY

With construction paper and staples, anyone can impress party guests.

Cut out the strips. You should end up with five.

Take the yellow sheet of construction paper and lay it horizontally on a table.

Follow steps 2-6 with this sheet as well except only cut out 4 inches, but these strips should be shorter than the green ones. You will only need four of these.

Take one green strip and bend it into the shape of a heart. Crease the bottom of the heart to make a point. Staple the two ends of the strip together to keep the shape.

Repeat step 9 for the other three green strips.

Take one of the yellow strips and bend it into the same heart shape as the green ones. Place it inside the larger green heart and staple the

ends of the green heart to the ends of the yellow heart to attach the two together.

12. Repeat step 11 with each yellow heart. You should end up with four double hearts.

13. Lay the four double hearts in the shape of a clover. Staple the sides of each one to the one next to it to keep the shape.

14. With the remaining green strip you cut in the beginning, loop the strip into a oblong teardrop shape. Staple the ends together.

15. Place this in between two of the double hearts and staple it to the side of both to hold in place.

16. Hang on a door or set on a table for decoration.

Contact Tier Morrow with comments at tkmorrow@bsu.edu or on Twitter @tiermorrow.

Clover Decoration

NICOLE THOMAS, DN

What you need: • Construction paper: dark and light green (or you can use green and yellow) • Scissors • Tape or staples • Ruler Directions: 1.

Take the dark green sheet of paper and lay it vertically on a table.

2.

Measure 5 inches out from the side edge of the paper on both the top and the bottom.

3.

Line your ruler up with both marks and draw a line between the two to connect them.

4.

Cut out the strip.

5.

Make lines on the top and bottom of the strip at every 1 inch. Use your ruler to draw lines from top to bottom and make strips.

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DNOpinion

03.14.19

13

Sharp Around the Edges

Abandoning Neverland Michael Jackson’s success fueled his power to silence his alleged victims.

Jack Williams is a junior journalism major and writes “Sharp Around the Edges” for The Ball State Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper. Write to Jack at jgwilliams@bsu.edu.

Editor’s note: This article contains information about sexual assault or violence which may be triggering to survivors.

Jack When I was eight, people Williams called me weird for liking Columnist, Michael Jackson. I would dance Rough Around around the house to songs like the Edges “Beat It,” “Bad,” “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal” blasting through the earphones on my iPod Shuffle.

When I was 11, I went with my friends to see “This Is It,” a behind-the-scenes documentary on Jackson’s upcoming tour. I sat there with my 3D glasses on and popcorn in hand wondering what could’ve been if he hadn’t died. It was amazing to see the evolution of Jackson from an ‘80s pop icon to a modern day king of pop.

Now, at 21, watching the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland,” I am left speechless and in shock by the gruesome details from his alleged victims. I knew what he had been accused of before watching the documentary, but now I can’t even look at him without thinking about what he could have done to those two children, and maybe even more. The manipulation he was said to have used on them is inexcusable, and he is undeserving of respect from anyone.

The four-hour documentary tells the story of two boys, Wade Robinson and James Safechuck.

Both came from middle-class families, with Robinson from Australia and Safechuck from the United States. Both were Jackson fans who caught the attention of the singer and were befriended by him.

When Safechuck was 10, and Robinson was seven, Jackson allegedly began to sexually abuse the two boys.

Jackson allegedly used his power and stance to manipulate these kids into thinking what he was doing was normal and OK. Their parents were so starstruck that their children were friends with Jackson and by how innocent he seemed, they

didn’t worry about their sons sleeping in the same bed as a grown man.

Some might think his alleged sexual interactions with young boys over the course of 20 years has nothing to do with his music, and that his music and being accused of molestation are separate occurrences. This is not the case at all; because of who he was, he was able to target these young boys.

While all of this is sick and disgusting, there is one aspect that stands out as the most appalling: he allegedly told them that if whatever they did got out, they would both go to jail and never see each other again. I struggle to put into words how wrong and disgusting that is. It gives me chills.

They couldn’t consent. They were young and didn’t know what was happening, but Jackson did. Safechuck and Robinson said in the documentary that he preyed on them by being their friends, manipulating them into a loving relationship with him and taking advantage of them numerous times.

Even when they had the chance to speak up in 2005 when Jackson was put on trial, what he is believed to have engraved into their minds forced them to stay silent and lie. While Safechuck refused to speak in court, Robinson, from what he stated in the documentary, stood trial for Jackson and lied.

This is a man who allegedly used his position in society to get what he wanted: to molest young boys. It may look as if this situation is held in the same regards as what Kevin Spacey or Harvey Weinstein did, but it’s not even close. While Spacey, who allegedly took advantage of younger boys, and Weinstein, who allegedly targeted his female co-workers, used their power in society to target, Jackson allegedly groomed his victims to seem as if what he did was OK. Jackson knew

Michael Jackson is depicted in a sketch by Mona Shafer Edwards during his 2005 child molestation trial in Santa Maria, California. In a recent HBO documentary, Jackson was accused of molesting two boys. MEL MELCON, LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS these kids loved him, and their families knew who he was and played upon that.

If the allegations are true, then why should we respect someone who used his fame to do unthinkable things to innocent children? They wanted to be his friend and if the allegations are true, he knew what he was doing to them. Why should we continue to listen to “The Way You Make Me Feel” or watch the “Thriller” music video when we know what he is accused of?

What Jackson allegedly did, and what he may have gotten away with for so many years, should leave a permanent gash in his overall reputation.

“Bad” and “Dangerous” were two of my favorite albums when I was younger. Now, I

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cannot even look at the cover knowing that’s when Robinson and Safechuck were allegedly targeted.

That frizzy, black hair Jackson was known for in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, was described

by Robinson in gruesome detail when Jackson allegedly asked him to pull it while Jackson was performing oral sex on him.

A person’s work reflects who they are and their success. These works allowed Jackson to climb to where he was in society and seemingly get away with everything he’s alleged to have done to those boys. His success built his power and silenced his alleged victims for years. We not only need to leave Jackson’s Neverland of music and alleged sexual abuse, but we need to decry it.

DNPuzzles

03.14.19 14

Crossword & Sudoku

CROSSWORD EDITED BY RICH NORRIS AND JOYCE LEWIS; SUDOKU BY MICHAEL MEPHAM ACROSS 1 Grammy category word 6 “And here it is!”

11 Pickup spot, perhaps 14 Take a break 15 “Return of the Jedi” forest moon 16 Fashion or sense preceder 17 *Like power lines 19 Band booking 20 Conspiring (with) 21 Cake invitation Alice accepted 23 Does, say 24 *End an engagement?

27 Alternative rock genre 29 “Come on in!”

30 Any member of ABBA 33 What a birdie beats 34 Aromatic herb 37 ‘90s game disc 38 *Teddy kin 42 One of the fire signs 43 Pull a fast one on 45 Served, as time 46 Brilliance 48 One-footer, e.g.

50 Gray shade 51 *Feature items in some annual sales 55 World-weary words

59 Up 60 Babe __, only woman in ESPN’s Top 10 North American Athletes of the 20th Century 62 Life-saving pro 63 Simple card game, and what’s hidden in the answers to starred clues 66 __-disant: self-styled 67 Ancient Aegean region 68 “The Wreck of the Mary __” 69 Channel that airs many RKO films 70 __ closet 71 John of “The Addams Family” DOWN 1 Agricultural pest 2 “Rawhide” singer 3 Taps player 4 Brought (in) 5 Like a footnote that explains footnotes 6 Locale 7 Early stage 8 Dictator played by Forest 9 Leicester toilet 10 Journalist Peter 11 Time of one’s life 12 Cartoon genre

13 Continued unabated 18 “The one who makes it, takes it” breakfast brand 22 Breezed through 25 Recipe verb 26 Crucifix letters 28 Fellows 30 Beach letters 31 Try to attract 32 Lacking humility 33 Third deg.?

35 Verdant patch 36 Auction unit 39 “Gotcha!”

40 Singer Vannelli 41 Some RIT grads 44 After-hours 47 Supplies power to 49 #2, for one 50 ‘60s-’70s tennis great Arthur 51 Extract forcibly 52 Bleachers sign 53 David and Ricky’s dad 54 Israeli hero Moshe 56 Drum kit part 57 Motherly introduction?

58 German steel center 61 Operatic princess 64 Versailles monarch 65 Taylor of fashion

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Once these requirements are fulfilled, the families can enroll in the second phase: the residential program.

This phase has all of the same programming from the last phase, but also enrolls parents as full-time college students while their kids are going to school.

The project also helps those involved enroll for food services like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program and Section 8 housing to give them access to housing, food and child care.

Kotowski said parents will have to meet with an academic adviser twice a month and will have a family advocate to help manage family relationships. She said she wants to make sure these parents are pursuing degrees they enjoy and are passionate about.

Powell and Kotowski said they are hoping to fully develop the preresidential program by the 2019-20 school year and have four to five families enrolled in school.

In the next year or two, they hope to have some kind of housing complexes or facilities built to accommodate the families and learning community.

Kotowski said the organization wants to partner with different organizations in the community and have met with the Muncie Mission, YWCA and A Better Way. Eventually, she hopes the

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organization will become a hub for the different resources in the area.

“We don’t want to duplicate services or anything that’s already being done really well in the community and there’s certainly lots of organizations who are doing a fantastic job in their areas,” Kotowski said.

Students working on the project have visited Family Scholars together in Louisville to draw inspiration for the project in Muncie.

Stephanie Schlichting, sophomore honors marketing student, met faculty and participants and saw the mission actually being completed.

“It was inspiring because then I knew what our future could look like and what we could achieve,” Schlichting said.

Contact Andrew Harp with comments at adharp@bsu.edu or on Twitter @adharp24.

SENIORS Continued from Page 08

It didn’t take long for Tayler Persons to feel at home in Muncie.

From the people to the area code, he said the blue-collar feel of Muncie and Kokomo has been a driving factor to his growth.

“It’s just the people here,” Persons said. “They’re yelling and screaming, which might get annoying sometimes, but they care, and that’s important. That’s how it was like growing up. I grew up in a tough family, and the community is the same way.”

The closeness of the community has been something Persons has valued, something he thought a larger school may not have offered.

With his hometown and college town holding similar populations, the passion from the community is something Persons hasn’t played without.

“I talk to everyone I can,” Persons said. “Every person that tells me, ‘Good job,’ or to, ‘Keep my head up,’ makes me happy. Life’s not just about winning and losing. It’s about the interactions you have with people and the time you take to communicate with them.”

On the court, Persons has taken a role of leadership for the Cardinals. His passion for the game have pushed him to succeed.

Whitford said his ability to control that passion has made him an even stronger player.

“His passions have been his greatest strength and sometimes his greatest weakness,” Whitford said. “You can’t lead if no one follows.

He’s done a better job of being able to manage them and communicate in better ways and still play with the fire of who he is.”

That fire has driven him to long-lasting memories not just in his life, but in Ball State basketball history. Persons will be remembered as the guy who hit the game-winning three against then-No. 9 Notre Dame on Dec. 6, 2017, to give the Cardinals their first win against a ranked opponent in 16 years.

“It’s just a blessing for my teammates to have confidence in me to take that shot,” Persons said. “I’ll never forget those moments, but my career is far from over. I still want to make even more of those moments.”

As his time as a Cardinal has reached its final days, Persons does not view Ball State as the school he goes to or the team he plays for.

He thinks of it as home. A place where he is with his family, where he has created long-lasting relationships.

“My coaches have been like uncles to me, and some of my best friends live in Muncie who are family,” Persons said. “I have this tight-knit group of friends here, and it’s just home to me.”

Persons said he doesn’t want his legacy as a Cardinal to be about records. He doesn’t want it to be about the big shots. He wants to inspire and bring joy to those who watched him play the game that he loves so much.

“Life isn’t just about basketball but about the interactions that make people happy,” Persons said. “The best part about being here is that you can impact a kid’s life and know it made a difference.

I grew up in some tough situations, and if I can make it out and succeed, then anyone can.”

Contact Jack Williams with any comments at jgwilliams@bsu. edu or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.

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