Ball State Daily News Vol. 104 Issue: 02

BRENDEN ROWAN, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION CLAYTON KESSEN, DN ILLUSTRATION ANDREW BERGER, DN AMBER PIETZ, DN THIS COVER HAS BEEN DESIGNED USING ASSETS FROM FREEPIK.COM`

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BallStateDailyNews.com SANTOS PLEADS GUILTY

Corey Ohlenkamp, Adviser

VOL. 104 ISSUE: 02 CONTACT THE DN Newsroom: 765-285-8245 Editor: 765-285-8249, editor@bsudailynews.com EDITORIAL BOARD Kate Farr, Editor-in-chief Trinity Rea, Print Managing Editor Olivia Ground, Digital Managing Editor Katherine Hill, News Editor Meghan Braddy, Associate News Editor Zach Carter, Sports Editor David Moore, Associate Sports Editor Derran Cobb, Associate Sports Editor Ella Howell, Lifestyles Editor, Copy Editor Maria Nevins, Video Editor, Podcast Editor Layla Durocher, Social Media Editor Andrew Berger,Photo Editor Isabella Kemper, Associate Photo Editor Jessica Bergfors, Visual Editor Brenden Rowan, Visual Editor

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.

Aug. 19: Former New York state congressman George Santos

pleaded guilty Aug. 19 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a case that led to his expulsion from office. Ahead of trial, Santos, 36, is likely to spend at least six years in prison and owes more than $570,000 in restitution and forfeiture, according to the Associated Press. In a federal court in Long Island, weeks before the trial, Santos admitted to duping voters, deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 individuals, including people in his own family, to donate to his own campaign. He remains free on bond and is awaiting sentencing Feb. 7.

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PROTESTORS ARRESTED AT DNC

Aug. 20: Multiple pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested

Tuesday, Aug. 19, the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Protestors charged at a line of police that had blocked the group from marching. The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, which provided legal observers for Tuesday’s protests, said at least 72 people were arrested. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the vast majority were peaceful.

More protests were planned throughout the week, but attendance was lower than anticipated, according to the Associated Press.

CORRECTION

In the Aug. 15 issue of the Ball State Daily News, Sweet Confections’ prices were incorrect on pg.

6. Mixed boxes are $35, a dozen cupcakes are $36, a half-dozen is $20 and a dozen cookies starts at $25. Meghan Braddy’s last name was incorrect on pg. 2. Her name is Meghan Braddy, not Meghan Brady.

MAHKA ESLAMI, TNS

To submit a correction, email editor@bsudailynews.com.

MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

4-DAY WEATHER

Aug. 19: The Cardinal’s schedule for the 2024-25 campaign

FORECAST

is officially set in stone. Ball State will open its season Nov. 4 at Georgia State as a part of the Sun-Belt-Conference vs Mid-American Conference (MAC) series. During the non-conference schedule, Ball State will compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase and will then start MAC play Jan. 4 at Kent State. Last season the Cardinals had an overall record of 15-16 and were 7-11 in MAC play. The team’s last conference title came in the year 2000. Michael Lewis is entering his second season as the head coach of the Cardinals.

National Weather Service

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

SUNNY

SUNNY

Hi: 76º Lo: 53º

Hi: 83º Lo: 61º

PARTLY SUNNY

PARTLY SUNNY

Hi: 87º Lo: 67º

Hi: 87º Lo: 68º

ANDREW BERGER, DN

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Campus

Atrium dining hall shifts layout Ball State’s Atrium dining hall, in the Art and Journalism Building, changed to a buffet-style in Fall 2024. Upon entry, students must swipe their BSU IDs and will be given a compostable food container with a 16 oz. beverage cup. They are allowed to fill their containers with as much food as long as the container closes before exiting.

This Certifies that

Local

Proposed changes to the Indiana high school diploma requirements raise concerns amongst Hoosiers.

JULIAN BONNER, DN ILLUSTRATION BRENDEN ROWAN, DN ILLUSTRATION

Meghan Braddy, Olivia Ground Associate News Editor, Digital Managing Editor Editor’s Note: In the writing process of this story, the Ball State Daily News originally reached out to the Indiana Department of Education for questions regarding the first draft of the changes; the IDOE did respond with a statement. However, the Ball State Daily News did reach back out for an additional statement upon the second draft release and did not receive a response by the time of publication. Updates will be made online as a statement is provided.

Potential changes are on the horizon for K-12 students in Indiana, leaving parents and educators concerned about students’ abilities to achieve their post-high school plans.

Following the changes of 2023 bills, including Indiana House Bill (HB) 1002 and HB 1243, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) was given the task of altering the focus of Indiana high school diploma requirements.

This change shifts away from the current three

options — Core 40, Core 40 with Academic Honors and Core 40 with Technical Honors — to a diploma track with one core diploma and three different optional “seals.”

In Indiana HB 1002, a new emphasis on workforce development was created, which included “a structured, work-based learning program with an aligned, competency-based education and training plan agreed to by the student, school and employer.”

Students earning their “modern youth apprenticeship” work on the job for at least 650 hours over a time period not exceeding two academic years. Students are expected to be paid and would receive post-secondary credit for working.

Through Indiana HB 1243, a handful of changes to education in the state were passed, but the most notable curriculum changes were “Indiana diploma requirements and designations and satisfying certain course requirements by obtaining a diploma,” as described on the bill’s information page.

Hoosiers were informed that these incoming

diploma changes would start affecting the class of 2029 in late March 2024. Feedback was collected throughout the summer, and a second draft of changes was released in August 2024.

The first draft of changes was not as well received by community members, educators and in-state universities.

Representative Sue Errington (D) of District 34 hosted a community town hall in a packed room at the Kennedy Library following the first draft of changes. She invited local experts on diploma changes upon hearing concerns from the Muncie Community. Errington then took these changes to a DOE hearing.

“Hoosier students would not meet the admission requirements necessary to attend Purdue or Ball State, and because Indiana is the first in the nation to offer these diplomas, the requirements are not familiar to out-of-state institutions,” Errington said in her testimony at the DOE hearing. “As a result, we would be putting Hoosier students at a clear disadvantage compared to those applying from other states.”

See CHANGES, 06

Tillotson Avenue closed for reconstruction Tillotson Avenue closed Aug. 19 between West University Avenue and West Riverside Avenue.

The closure allows Indiana Michigan Power crews to safely install underground equipment.

Weather permitting, the closure “will last approximately four weeks,” according to Ball State’s Communications Center.

State

New water study shows management planning necessary A new study, commissioned by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, revealed statewide water supply to be “plentiful” but not evenly distributed. Researchers said the results make completion of a statewide water management plan even more urgent. It will likely take another 5 to 10 years for a plan to come full circle, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: TIM WALZ SELECTED AS HARRIS’ RUNNING MATE

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Blazing Trails in Business Muncie’s WIBU Branch continues its mission of empowering women across East and Central Indiana.

Katherine Hill News Editor Muncie’s Women in Business Unlimited (WIBU) Branch is a networking resource for women across East and Central Indiana, paving the way for a more equitable and empowering workforce.

The not-for-profit organization has one mission: claiming back women’s networking power by building something truly just for women. This mission was first established over a decade ago during the organization’s conception, branch president Jessica Shrout said.

Shrout started her journey in the business world in 2018, bordering the precipice of the COVID-19 pandemic, working as a marketing consultant. Although the pandemic was “certainly disruptive,” she was doing “virtual before it was cool,” Shrout said.

During her “major” career change where she opened her own business as a marketing consultant specializing in the waste and recycling industry— which led to her joining WIBU—Shrout said one of the greatest things she did was ask others for help. She encourages other women making similar career shifts to do the same.

“There’s very little you need to do on your own,” Shrout emphasized, something she learned early on while attending WIBU meetings.

Now, as the organization’s acting president of the Muncie branch, Shrout lives by the adage, “I know a girl who knows a girl.”

“There’s always some sort of connection — maybe not a first-degree — but a second or thirddegree connection. If you speak it, somebody in the room will know how to find it,” she said.

Shrout’s adage supports the idea of the six degrees of separation, a social concept studied by psychologist Stanley Milgram in the late 1960s.

Milgram tested the theory by assigning a few hundred people between Boston and Omaha, NE, to write a letter to a stranger in Boston. Participants were not allowed to use the postal service and were only allowed to utilize people they knew — individuals who they thought might be more closely connected to the “target” recipient — to deliver the letter.

“He found [letters] had changed hands only about six times. This finding has since been

We try to provide such a wide variety of different things because we know people are looking for different things [and have] different time commitments or availability or comfort levels.”

- LINDSEY SPEER, WIBU Board Member and Ball State University’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions enshrined in the notion that everyone can be connected by a chain of acquaintances roughly six links long,” Gardiner Morse wrote for Harvard Business Review.

WIBU Directorial Board Member and Ball State University’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions Lindsey Speer agreed that asking for help while building a network is vital when propelling a business venture. She said the right environment that allows for vulnerability will cultivate comfortability and productivity.

To encourage comfort among participants, WIBU offers flexible membership criteria to those looking to join, including no membership fees and non-mandatory attendance.

“We just decided as an organization that we are not going to put [membership fulfillment] demands on [anyone],” she said. “We’re not really seeking to make money on this. All of our board positions are unpaid volunteer roles.”

WIBU’s “low stress, low pressure” motto means participation rates ebb and flow throughout the year, which is anticipated. The organization sees limited attendance in the summer, especially as families go on vacations and children are home from school. However, Shrout said the decrease in participants during the summer months allows for more intimate group connections to be formed.

WIBU Directorial Board Member and Ball State University’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions Lindsey Speer Aug. 19 in front of Lucina Hall. Speer is responsible for running “Catalyst” and “Athena” — two annual WIBU programs that feed into one another. ANDREW BERGER, DN

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WIBU’s Muncie Board of Directors pose for a photo in November 2023. The photo followed the Athena Awards Reception. JESSICA SHROUT, PHOTO PROVIDED “We try to provide such a wide variety of different things because we know people are looking for different things [and have] different time commitments or availability or comfort levels,” Speer said.

Speer, who works in event planning on the board of directors, spearheads “Catalyst” and “Athena” — two annual WIBU programs that feed into one another.

The Catalyst program is a one-day event, usually taking place in the fall. It’s designed for women who come from underserved populations and may need “the encouragement, the empowerment, [and] the tools to fulfill what they want to do [with their career].”

The event hosts a series of speakers who share their experiences and answer questions about the business world, ranging from inquiries on proper business attire to creating resumes.

The group-based events allow for a safe space free of judgment.

“Those who attend Catalyst then have the opportunity to attend Athena,” Speer said.

The springtime program event allows participants to see “the bigger picture of [what happens when] women are making impacts, differences and feeling motivated.”

During the Athena program, scholarships are awarded to non-traditional students, typically women who did not follow the traditional high

school-to-college trajectory. Participants are also awarded for objectives completed during the program.

For instance, Speer, who now oversees the selection process for those honors, earned the Young Professional Athena Award in 2014, an

These meetings are for anybody who wants to learn and grow and make meaningful connections.”

- JESSICA SHROUT, WIBU Muncie Branch President award given to up-and-coming women who “demonstrate excellence, creativity and, initiative in their business or profession,” while also providing valuable insight and helping other women reach their full potential, according to WIBU’s Muncie Branch website.

WIBU also hosts monthly luncheons for those looking to partake, especially those wanting to build women-owned businesses. Attendees pay a fee per luncheon they attend, which allows the organization to welcome public speakers and entrepreneurs to the luncheons, but attendees don’t have to commit to any monthly dues or annual fees.

According to the U.S Small Business Administration, research conducted in 2022 found 42.5 percent of businesses in Indiana were womenowned. This number is slightly higher than the 2018 national average of about 40 percent, according to the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

“Our work is by no means over, but it’s not the same sort of binary,” Shrout said.

WIBU is not just for women, but people of all perspectives and backgrounds, as its origins are rooted in non-exclusivity.

“We’re not waiting for you to get to a certain point in business or a certain career level or job title. If you feel you fit the identifiers of being a woman in business, you’re welcome,” Shrout said. “You don’t even have to be a full-time employee to show up. These meetings are for anybody who wants to learn and grow and make meaningful connections.”

Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine.hill@bsu.edu.

47.5% of businesses in Indiana were women-owned in 2022

40%

of businesses in Indiana were women-owned in 2018 Source: according to the Women’s Business EnterpriseNational Council (WBENC)

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CHANGES

Continued from Page 3 The new changes require a base of 42 credits where students are required to complete a series of required courses, including but not limited to seven credits of English, seven credits of math, seven credits of “science, technology and engineering,” and five social studies credits.

Students have the option to pursue “seals” or forms of additional education. The seals are “enrollment,” “enlistment and service” and “employment,” with each seal having an “honors” or “honors plus” option.

The enrollment seal would set students up for college enrollment and includes requirements for advanced placement classes, advanced math courses and dual credits. The enlistment and service seal aims to prepare students pursuing military service by requiring Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) service, a score of 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam and completing a course in public service.

The employment seal prepares students for entering the workforce after graduating and is what Hoosiers were worried about after a proposal by the IDOE. To earn this seal, students would have to acquire a “pre-apprenticeship,” a “modern youth apprenticeship” and a “market-driven credential of value.”

Derrick Schaible, a Decatur, IN resident, initially had significant concerns regarding the proposed changes to Indiana’s high school diploma requirements. Schaible, whose son is set to graduate from Adams Central High School in 2029, worried that the adjustments could jeopardize his son’s goal of attending Purdue University and pursuing a career as a veterinarian.

“If nobody requires [these advanced classes], why would they offer [them]?” Schaible questioned. “Where will [my son] get these requirements to get into Purdue?”

Schaible was concerned the proposed changes would cause stress and uncertainty for his son, JULIAN BONNER, DN DESIGN

especially as they appeared to shift focus toward “workforce readiness” rather than college preparation. The lack of coordination between high schools and colleges increased his worries, especially since his son might need to attend a neighboring school district to meet specific college admission requirements.

However, Schaible’s stance shifted slightly after further review of the new diploma options.

“I was reading about the new diploma options — the service option, honors option and honors plus service — I was like, ‘Man, there’s so many options,’” Schaible said.

Though more at ease, Schaible remains cautious, especially concerning how the diploma changes will impact students in rural communities like his son’s.

“I’m still worried that he’s not going to be prepared, that he won’t have those necessary courses,” Schaible said.

It’s just unreasonable. I’m glad that these revisions bring back some of the standard classes that are essential for college readiness.”

- LINDA LAWS, New Castle High School history teacher Schaible’s lingering concern centers on the implementation of work-based learning opportunities in rural areas and whether schools will have the resources to meet the new requirements. He also questions the communication between the IDOE and various sectors, including the military, regarding the new diploma standards.

While Schaible acknowledges that the changes could open up more opportunities for students, he remains skeptical about whether

Laws also appreciates the increased flexibility in course options, as she was previously concerned about students having to go to a separate school district just to take the electives they need to gain admission to their desired colleges and universities.

“Now, they’re not entirely limited when it comes to world history,” she said. “It will be available for them, which is awesome.”

She believes this flexibility will better align with college expectations, as a lot of colleges and

ENGLISH - 8 CREDITS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/ HEALTH - 7 CREDITS

All students earn a base of MATH - 7 CREDITS 42 credits: • • •

SOCIAL STUDIES • • • •

Two credits in U.S. history One credit in U.S. government Two credits in world perspectives State officials say students will have flexible options to fulfill world perspectives using courses such as world language or a worldfocused social studies class.

these revisions will fully address the needs of all students, particularly those aiming for college or specialized careers.

“I think they’re close on the [fundamental] base for work programs,” he said. “But I think it needs to be clearer for students who want to go to a fouryear university or enter a specific trade.”

Linda Laws, a New Castle High School history teacher, has shifted her stance on the proposed diploma changes, now expressing satisfaction with the revised plan. Initially concerned about the absence of a mandatory world history course, she is pleased that the new requirements include two credits for “world perspectives,” including advanced world language classes and worldfocused social studies courses.

“I’m very happy to see that this is back,” Laws said. “At least they would get one year of world history or other world perspective classes, which I think is really beneficial for them.”

• • •

Two credits in English 9 One credit in a communicationsfocused course Five additional English credits Two credits in Algebra I One credit in personal finance Four additional math credits

• •

One credit in physical education One credit health and wellness

PERSONALIZED ELECTIVES - 12 CREDITS • •

Two credits in English 9 One credit in a communicationsfocused course Five additional English credits

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY • AND ENGINEERING COLLEGE AND CAREERS 7 CREDITS - 1 CREDIT • • • •

Two credits in Biology I One credit in computer science Two additional science credits Two STEM-focused credits

• • •

Two credits in English 9 One credit in a communicationsfocused course Five additional English credits

universities won’t admit students who have never taken a world history class before.

“It’s just unreasonable,” she said. “I’m glad that these revisions bring back some of the standard classes that are essential for college readiness.”

Although Laws was concerned about a potential shift toward an “assembly line” approach in high schools, she feels more reassured with the latest draft.

Laws also commented on the new “readiness seals” in the diploma plan, which covers enlistment, employment and enrollment paths.

She believes these seals are comparable to the existing technical and academic honors tracks and offer valuable options for students with different goals.

“I think the seals are great for students who want to do more, whether they’re aiming for college or a specific career right out of high school,” Laws said. “It’s good that students can still earn a base diploma.

Melanie Wright, a past representative from District 35 and Indiana teacher, encourages all levels of educators to continue to voice their concerns. She also encourages students, parents, local businesses and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to speak up and out.

Wright also voiced concern over the board of directors and state superintendent for the IDOE not being elected by the public but rather appointed by the governor, further removing public opinion from these decisions.

Above all else, she pointed to the importance of choice for students and the importance of educator voices.

“There are groups of people [who] legislators listen to more. Sometimes when teachers speak out, they don’t [listen], and there’s a negative perception that comes with that,” Wright said.

“When business people start talking, they start changing things and making them better. It’s just where the money and power is.”

Contact Meghan Braddy and Olivia Ground via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu or oliviaground@bsu.edu.

DIPLOMA SEALS

Optional seals are offered to students to complete in both an “honors” and “honors plus” option.

ENROLLMENT A focus on preparing students for postsecondary education ENLISTMENT A focus on preparing students for military service EMPLOYMENT A focus on preparing students for joining the workforce

Source: Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)

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Field Hockey

Cardinals scrimmage with Redhawks before season begins

KICKING OFF

Ball State will compete in a scrimmage against Mid-American Conference (MAC) foe Miami Saturday, Aug. 24. The match will start at 3 p.m. at Briner Sports Complex. The Cardinals officially begin the 2024 season Aug. 30 when Saint Francis University visits Muncie.

The game will start at noon. Ball State’s MAC schedule will begin Sep. 20 with a road contest at Kent State.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS The four area high school football teams prepare for the 2024 season.

Women’s Volleyball

Ball State opens season with Indiana St. exhibition match

Wes-Del junior Carter Flynn kicks the ball July 31 during a practice at Wes-Del Middle/Senior High School. The Warriors went 4-6 in 2023. ZACH CARTER, DN Zach Carter Sports Editor With the fall season right around the corner, it’s time to head to high school football stadiums and sit under the Friday night lights to watch teams take the gridiron. In 2024, the four Delaware County teams are all in a similar position.

Last year, area rosters graduated a number of athletes. Now, it’s time for the next class of upper and underclassmen to make a name for themselves and to represent the names on the front of their jerseys.

Delta

Coming off their first sectional championship since 2016, the Delta Eagles know how hard it is to repeat success. However, there is one thing the Eagles have already decided about the new season: their motto.

The 2023-24 Delta boys’ basketball team used “family” as their motto. Because that team finished their season one game away from the state finals,

They’re very close, and this might be one of the closer senior groups we’ve had. They’ve been all in since January.”

- CHRIS OVERHOLT, Delta Head Coach

the football team wanted to borrow it for the fall and wear it on the back of their practice jerseys.

“Every year before Christmas break, we meet one-on-one with every single kid, and that’s our time to sit down with me and we go with a series of questions,” Delta head coach Chris Overholt said.

“We evaluate them from the previous season.”

“It’s just a nice time for all of us to get our cards on the table before going to the new season, and the seniors were adamant that they wanted to incorporate the term ‘family.’”

Throughout last season, the Eagles proved to be the best squad in Delaware County as they finished with an 8-5 overall record and a 3-4 Hoosier Heritage Conference (HHC) record. One of the driving factors behind the success was the previous senior group. Yet, Overholt said this year’s seniors have the edge and grittiness to get the job done.

The Eagles will open the 2024 season with a county matchup with the Muncie Central Bearcats on Aug. 23. The game will be played at Muncie Central and starts at 7 p.m.

See KICKING, 14

The Cardinals are set to take on in-state rival Indiana State in an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 24. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. in Worthen Arena. The official opening to the 2024-25 campaign for Ball State will be on Friday, Aug. 30 as they travel to Boca Raton, Florida, for the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Tournament to take on Seton Hall.

Men’s Golf

Cardinals tee off season against UNC Greensboro

Coming off of a 2024 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship, Ball State begins its journey to win back-to-back titles Sept. 8. The Cardinals will play in the Bryan National Collegiate, hosted in Browns Summit, North Carolina, against UNC Greensboro to begin their season.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: FOUR DELAWARE COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAMS HEAD INTO 2024

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Payton Sparks and Addie Chester are back in Delaware County.

Zach Carter Sports Editor Payton Sparks and Addie Chester were in a similar position at the end of their respective 202324 athletic seasons. After Sparks ended his year playing for Indiana men’s basketball and Chester with Louisville soccer, they both wanted to move on and find a school where winning was the goal.

They both decided to return to the place where their athletic careers began: Muncie.

“It’s home,” Chester said.

Finishing business

After playing two seasons at Ball State, Sparks hit the transfer portal in 2023 and headed south to play for Mike Woodson and Indiana University.

However, during his time in Bloomington, the forward kept tabs on the Cardinals throughout the year.

“I watched a lot of their games,” he said.

“I still missed it, and I still wanted to cheer on my buddies.”

Sparks appeared in 24 games — and had two starts — for the Hoosiers in the 2023-24 season.

He averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Once the season came to a close, the thought of entering the transfer portal once more was prevalent in his mind.

He decided to put his name back in the portal, and it did not take long for Ball State assistant coach Ben Botts to reach out. Soon after his message, the Cardinals’ head coach Michael Lewis also extended his interest.

“We were all in because of who he is,” Lewis said.

When Sparks originally left Ball State for Indiana, Lewis was one of his biggest supporters.

A former Hoosier himself, he understood what the 6-foot, 10-inch forward was looking for.

“I don’t think we can hold any of those things against kids these days,” Lewis said. “He wanted an opportunity to test himself, and now he wants an opportunity to come back and kind of finish what he started.”

In his freshman season with the Cardinals, Sparks averaged 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, which earned him multiple accolades at the end of the season. Sparks walked away with the MAC Freshman Player of the Year award, made the All-MAC Freshman team and officially scored the third-most points for a freshman in Ball State’s history.

He followed that record-earning year with 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game his sophomore season and was named to the All-MAC Second Team.

Sparks said it was because of this prior success, and the fact his family was able to watch him play frequently, that he knew he wanted to end his college career where it began.

“I missed Ball State, and I just missed the community,” Sparks said. “I missed playing close to home, and I think I have business to finish here.

I want to win a MAC Championship.”

The other thing he said he missed was his former teammates. Redshirt senior forward Mickey Pearson Jr. said it felt “different” not having him in the program last season.

“He’s a big locker room guy and a good leader,” Pearson said. “You see his energy and him working hard like he’s supposed to do … I feel like guys just naturally follow him.”

When Pearson saw his former Cardinal teammate was entering the transfer portal, he was sure the pair would be teammates once again.

“I had a feeling that he was gonna come back, I’m not gonna lie,” Pearson said. “This is his first home. He had good years here, and he knows guys here already.”

While Sparks is months away from playing for the Cardinals and once again taking the court in Worthen Arena, he’s already settled into his role.

“He’s fit in seamlessly, and he understands what we’re about and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Lewis said. “He wants to play a major role for us, and he’s shown some good leadership.”

Changing Cardinals

In Chester’s time with Delta soccer, the forward rose to the top of recruiting boards as she finished fifth with the most goals in an Indiana high school season (59) and she finished her high school career with 201 goals — second in state history — overall.

Ball State soccer head coach Josh Rife knew her from her skills and the local connection between their two families. However, he could not convince the former Eagle to become a Cardinal in 2022.

After committing to the University of Louisville, Chester had one goal on her mind: to help her team win a national championship. But at the time, the team was doing everything but winning.

“It was just super discouraging,” she said. “After every game, I just walked away feeling super discouraged. It wasn’t just like we were losing a couple of games here and there. It was pretty much every single one.”

Dreaming of being a part of something bigger than herself, the winning attitude and the hopes of success were slipping from Chester.

“We were so far at the bottom of our conference that I was never going to have a chance to win something big,” she said.

During her freshman year, Louisville ended the season with a 6-8-2 record. Deciding to give it one more season, the team finished Chester’s sophomore year with a 4-9-5 record and sat in the No. 9 spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In her time with Louisville, she had two goals and eight assists.

After her second year finished, she was ready to move on. Thinking of her family and wanting to have a shot at hardware, Chester decided to make her way back to Delaware County.

“I knew [Ball State] would always be a good option. I’d be close to home, and winning the MAC would be super cool,” she said. “I kind of got to the point where I was like, ‘You can’t take too many risks transferring, and you don’t want to do it again.’”

4See RETURN, 14

Sophomore center Payton Sparks looks to pass the ball in a game against Ohio in the MAC Tournament Quarterfinals March 9 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. Sparks played two seasons at Ball State before transferring. AMBER PIETZ, DN

Junior midfielder Addie Chester dribbles the ball against Purdue Fort Wayne University Aug 15 at Briner Sports Complex.

Chester hails from Delta High School and holds multiple records for the school. ANDREW BERGER, DN

DNLife

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Capturing Identities Midwest LGBTQ+ photographers and videographers work to preserve LGBTQ+ identities.10

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Campus

Grad picnic The Graduate Student Welcome Back Picnic will be held Aug. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. in front of the David Owsley Museum of Art. Food will be provided, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet with other graduate students at the Quad — the green space in the historic part of campus. Admission to the twohour event is free, and spots can be reserved online through Eventbrite.

Community

Annual community concert series The third show of the Muncie Three Trails Music Series will feature The Sensational Barnes Brothers with Doc Peterson’s Club Band as the opener, starting Aug. 24 at 7 p.m.

The annual concert series takes place between July and September.

This second-to-last show will last three hours at Canan Commons and is free to attend.

Community

Clickbait trivia

Sage Look poses for a photo in Savannah, Georgia, May 17th, 2024. Look runs their own photography business. DANIEL ROA, PHOTO PROVIDED

The Clickbait Trivia event will be held at The Clubhouse Muncie and hosted by stand-up comedian Mikey Mason on Wednesdays. The event is set to start at 7 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. It is open to the public, and teams aren’t a requirement, but guests are welcome to bring friends. Guests can enjoy half-priced appetizers during the trivia night.

Guests can RSVP on The Clubhouse Muncie’s website.

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: MUNCIE THREE TRAILS MUSIC SERIES PARTNERS WITH BALL STATE

DNLife

08.22.24

10

LGBTQ+ and trans photographers across the Midwest are doing their part in capturing LGBTQ+ identities.

T

Trinity Rea Print Managing Editor he morning of March 22, Atlas Photography posted an inquiry on its Facebook searching for “trans Hoosiers” to participate in a photography project in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility.

Sam McCollum, a Muncie native, is the trans man behind the page and project. Although McCollum works as a crisis services coordinator with Mental Health America of Indiana, he has been practicing photography since college.

He said his initial goal for the project was to reach a handful of people in Muncie and empower them for free — a gesture he said is only partially common.

“I’ve found that there wasn’t a lot of opportunities for showcasing visibility,” McCollum said. “In Indiana, it’s hard to showcase this part of you … You don’t see a lot of representation for trans people.”

A lot of our history’s erased … there isn’t a lot of photographic evidence. This is proof we exist and we’re here — we’ve always been here and we’re going to stay here.”

- SAM MCCOLLUM, Photographer

Brit Hemphill (left) and wife Jasmine Tafoya (right) pose for a photo in August 2023 in Indianapolis. Tafoya runs her own photography business, and Hemphill is her assistant photographer. ELAINE PHOTO, PHOTO PROVIDED

McCollum said he was blown away by the response to his project. His initial hope to reach a handful of people in the community was easily met as he received responses from people all over East-Central Indiana.

In a surgical binder recovering from top surgery — and only a month after the initial post — McCollum was still planning photoshoots to fulfill incoming participation requests.

“When I took [participants’] pictures and I could show it back to them, a lot of them were like, ‘Wow, I usually don’t feel good about pictures of myself, I usually don’t take a lot of pictures’ or ‘I love how you made me look in this picture,’” he said.

11 08.22.24

DNLife

Videography has always been evil and been a weapon of white supremacy and heteronormative patriarchy. So, as a trans person, just making videos at all, I think there’s an incredible sort of active resistance in that.”

- RAY REPLOGLE, Videographer This level of excitement and comfort he felt between him and his subjects is not commonly experienced by trans people. He said that photography and videography of trans people have always been few and far between throughout history — another reason why this project was so important to him.

“A lot of our history’s erased … There isn’t a lot of photographic evidence,” McCollum said. “This is proof we exist, and we’re here; we’ve always been here, and we’re going to stay here.”

According to Stonewall, images and videos of transgender people, and the LGBTQ+ community in general, have commonly been erased from history. LGBTQ+ and trans photographers and videographers across the Midwest, like McCollum, are working to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.

Muncie native and videographer Ray Replogle grew up in an anti-LGBTQ+ environment but found a home in Muncie’s/Ball State University’s large LGBTQ+ community. Replogle began their business by creating primarily promotional videos for Muncie Civic Theatre and other nonprofits and small businesses.

After a while, Replogle was asked to shoot a wedding for someone they knew, a first for them. They continued to book weddings, and eventually, Replogle was asked to shoot their first LGBTQ+ wedding, something they described as “a game changer.”

“It was so radically different than these ‘honkytonk’ barn weddings I was doing,” Replogle said.

“I started bringing my queer identity more into the forefront of my business and began just being louder about being gay. I started getting more queer clients because of that, and it all kind of snowballed.”

This “snowball” effect took them across the country and led them to film all but one LGBTQ+ wedding last year.

Replogle has learned there is a huge need for videography in the wedding industry. When it comes to LGBTQ+ vendors or those who center sexual identity in their wedding experience, they said they’re almost one’s only choice.

The significance of that is not lost on Replogle, and they said they take “extreme pleasure” in knowing they’re preserving important memories for their clients. Along with this, they recognize the work they’re doing and how it is reclaiming videography and establishing a place in it for LGBTQ+ and trans people.

“Videography has always been evil and been a

JP and Kate walk down the aisle during their wedding, photographed by Jasmine Tafoya, in May 2024. Tafoya started her business 10 years ago and centers her work around making her clients comfortable. JASMINE TAFOYA, PHOTO PROVIDED weapon of white supremacy and heteronormative patriarchy. So, as a trans person, just making videos at all, I think there’s an incredible sort of active resistance in that,” they said.

Indiana wedding and portrait photographer Jasmine Tafoya echoed Replogle, similarly recognizing the importance of her identity within her business.

“It’s really rewarding to just see that there are a lot of us out here who are ready to work with you,” she said. “You deserve to have options, you deserve to have people who are loudly supporting you — people also who are loud about themselves.”

Tafoya started her business 10 years ago and centers her work around making her clients comfortable. She said this starts at the very beginning of her interactions with clients by providing inclusive intake forms.

This practice simultaneously helps break down the gendered and stereotypical “bride and groom” branding within the wedding industry.

“My wife and I got married just last year, and we were blasted with spam mail of groom stuff just mailed to our house that we did not sign up for. So it’s exciting, specifically for weddings, that couples — all lovers — have that option,” Tafoya said.

She said regardless of the strides being made within the industry, there is still active resistance.

“The hardest part is when it’s with weddings

and there [are] people that are around them that maybe don’t have those same values,” she said.

“Sometimes the people that they know and love are so visibly uncomfortable with the fact that my second photographer is my wife.”

At the end of the day, she recognizes that her photography work is important and allows her to continue to be a storyteller for her clients.

“The people who are hiring me are hiring me because of who I am, whether that be because I’m queer or because I’m a woman or because of the way that I view the world,” she said. “It’s really empowering to get to work with so many folks of the queer community.”

Recent Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) graduate, and current Chicagoland area photographer Sage Look, said they have a similar outlook on their own work.

After a 2023 SCAD student photoshoot began to spread harmful anti-trans rhetoric, Look, a trans person, was one of the first people to openly speak out against the shoot. The photoshoot, posted to Instagram, featured an individual who detransitioned with a caption that spoke on medical transitions being “harmful” to “thousands of youth.”

While Look’s speaking out against the photoshoot was praised by their peers and members of the LGBTQ+ community, it garnered

equal hate online.

“It’s really sad that I have gotten very used to being misgendered online, especially because people like to weaponize my own identity against me in a lot of ways,” they said.

After enduring hate for days, SCAD reached out to Look directly and asked them to have a spotlight on the school’s official Instagram page.

“I feel like there’s a target on my back. I’ve always felt that, but I feel it’s ramped up in the last few years, in a way of anti-trans violence — it’s been weaponized,” Look said. “It felt so good to realize that I did have a community that supported me, that loved my art — my trans art and my queer art — for what it is. That felt really special.”

Even with the difficulties they face in terms of being able to create LGBTQ+ art, they said that, though it sounds cheesy, having their job is all they ever wanted.

“I have such a deep love of people, especially the queer community, that it’s just really important to me to showcase queerness in a way that is really colorful, bold [and] larger than life,” Look said. “I want to force people to acknowledge queerness for what it is and that queerness can be beautiful, that queerness is strange — but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful.”

Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu. edu or on X @thetrinityrea.

DNOpinion 12

08.22.24

JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION

ON BALLSTATEDAILYNEWS.COM: MY BODY, NOT MY CHOICE

13

08.22.24

Kyle Smedley

Columnist, “Meaningful Conversation”

Kyle Smedley is a fourth-year journalism major and writes “Meaningful Conversation” for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

I’ve lived in Muncie, Indiana, all 21 years of my life.

During this time, I have experienced some of the highest highs and lowest lows I can imagine.

There have been days where I take a shower with the lights off at 1 p.m., the sounds of my fists pounding against my thighs and stomach, vibrating off the walls of my parent’s empty house. There have also been days where I happily open the passenger side car door of my Nissan Altima for my partner, a gesture that I hope never gets lost on me.

Between it all, there has always been a consistent destination for my escape.

AMC Muncie 12 has stood in the same lot on the north side of town for my entire life. I can’t imagine my home city without it. Although the former AMC Showplace 7 in Muncie was open for the first 11 years of my life, I only recall seeing a film there once or twice. While minor renovations have somewhat changed the look of Muncie 12, I still feel like a little kid every time I smell popcorn before even entering the building. As an adolescent, I didn’t realize what the theater would eventually mean to me — it was just somewhere my parents and I ventured on a day without any other plans.

My parents tell me my first time stepping foot in Muncie 12 was as a one-year-old going to see “The Incredibles” in 2004. My parents often laugh when they remember me hitting my head on a guardrail, ending the evening prematurely. My father says my first “real” experience in Muncie 12 was two years later, lasting the entire runtime of “Cars.”

My earliest memories of the cinema came from sitting in collapsing, red chairs made up of plastic and fabric, watching animated films such as “Up” on Mother’s Day 2009, “Bolt” in 2008 as my father snored beside me or “Alvin and the Chipmunks” two nights before Christmas that same year. My stepfather tells me the moment he knew I had a true passion for the movie theater was in 2014 when he took me to see “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Ten years later, I still remember the anticipation that filled every inch of my body when my stepfather,

mother and I took our seats at the very top row of a Muncie 12 showroom to watch Marvel’s latest installment. We didn’t yet know who the characters of the franchise were, but if there was a superhero movie in theaters when I was 11 years old, we were going.

That time was different. I couldn’t stop talking about what we just watched once the credits rolled after 122 minutes of magic. I can remember sitting in the back seat of my mother’s tan Camry, poking my head through the middle console to give my parents my full thoughts on the movie.

Looking back, I had more than one transformative experience in the AMC Muncie 12 while this film is one of Marvel’s greatest, it doesn’t compare to some of the transformative experiences I have had in AMC Muncie 12.

A 2024 study by the Advan Research Center showed that movie theater attendance rates have fallen 33 percent in the last five years, surely due to the wild popularity of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and MAX. Additionally, the average cost of a movie ticket at an AMC Theatre has risen from $8.65 in 2016 to $11.90 in 2023, according to Statista.

However, my ventures to the cinema haven’t slowed down a bit, and I still get that childlike feeling I’ve always had. But during my three previous years of college, I took most of my trips to AMC Muncie 12 for a different reason.

I didn’t want to bother any of my friends or family due to the body dysmorphia and eating disorder issues I had going on at the time. Since that was all I could think about when I wasn’t working, I isolated myself.

While the suicidal thoughts I had two years prior never arose again, I felt more alone than I ever had in 2023. Although I had a well-paying job, a supportive family and a good financial situation, I spent almost all of my free time by myself.

The only thing that made me feel whole during that period of time was film. Watching two movies a day in bed was one thing, but driving less than 10 minutes to AMC Muncie 12 was a different level of fulfillment.

I signed up for an AMC Stubs membership, and with a payment of just $20 a month, I could see three free films in the cinema weekly. I took full advantage — going to see films I wasn’t even particularly excited about, just mildly interested in.

I just needed anything to distract myself from reality and immerse myself in another world.

In a November 2021 article published by The Science Survey, it was found that the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) observed that people who attended the movie theater, among other in-person entertainment options on a monthly basis, were 48 percent less likely to show symptoms of depression.

At Muncie 12, I could go and release all of my pent-up emotions. Whether that meant streams of tears running down my face during the closing moments of “The Iron Claw,” howling with laughter during nearly every minute of “Poor Things” or expanding my view of life itself as I sat in awe of “Asteroid City,” I felt safe each time a new emotion entered my mind. It didn’t have anything to do with the cushy, red reclining seat, it had everything to do with the oft underestimated impact of film.

I don’t spend as much time at the movie theater anymore. That’s partly because I don’t have as much free time and partly because I don’t need to like I did last summer.

I have found a balance between healthy alone time and unhealthy seclusion, cherishing relationships with the close friends and families I have. And still, the movie theater is not just a safe place for me, but a way of coping.

Sometimes I think back to the darkest moments of my life while I watch a character in the latest picture struggle through a traumatic event. I may not know the person depicted on screen, but I feel like I do. Sometimes, I feel like the director or actor just understands me in a way no one else can at the time.

Even if I spend far more time at my rental house, my mother’s home, my partner’s place or on Ball State University’s campus than I spend at AMC Muncie 12, I never feel as fully immersed in a location as I do at the cinema.

I can leave my past traumas or current anxieties at the door or bring them into the theater with me, and that is the most liberating part of the movies: How you feel is your choice. AMC Muncie 12 only enhances that choice.

Contact Kyle Smedley via email at kyle.smedley@bsu. edu or via X @KyleSmedley_.

JESSICA BERGFORS, DN ILLUSTRATION

DNOpinion

DNNews

08.22.24

14

KICKING Continued from Page 7

Wes-Del

In 2023, the Warriors went 4-6 — the program’s best record in the last five seasons. With this growth, there also come expectations. Third-year head coach Matt Nuckols said to him and his players, the team’s expectations have risen even more.

“They have a lot of good sets of high expectations, as they should,” Nuckols said. “We bring back our entire line, tight end group, our entire box on defense and our fullback … I know they’ve seen the growth in themselves, the team and the program.”

After losing a senior class that included quarterback Triton Blevins and running back Trey Adams, some holes needed to be filled. Nuckols credited this year’s senior group and believes multiple underclassmen have taken full advantage of those opportunities.

Whether it’s the returning players or the new names who will wear a Wes-Del uniform, one goal is shared: improve.

“We’re gonna prove that we’re not some team people scheduled to get an easy win,” Nauman said. “We’re gonna prove that we can hit you in the mouth.”

The Warriors open the year with a home matchup against Alexandria Friday, Aug. 23, starting at 7 p.m.

Muncie Central

For the last two seasons, the Bearcats have stayed consistent with their play and overall records.

In 2022 and 2023, Muncie Central went 4-6 and had a North Central Conference record of 4-3. In year three of head coach Kyle Padgett’s tenure, he wants things to improve.

“Year three in any program is where everyone knows the system,” Padgett said. “You know the expectations on and off the field, and you feel like everyone has to be on the same page.”

While most positions are decided, the quarterback role is one still up for grabs. Currently, Muncie Central has three quarterbacks — freshman Mason Ferguson, junior Fletcher Kahle and junior Yorktown transfer Alakai Wallace — who are fighting for the spot.

Whoever the starter turns out to be, they and the rest of the Bearcats will kick off 2024 with a home contest against Delta.

Yorktown

The 2023 season may have been a little underwhelming for the Tigers, being just one year removed from winning a sectional championship.

After notching a record of 5-6 and 2-5 in the HHC, the green and white will need to move on after losing a senior class which included multiple starters.

“A lot of people probably think we’ll be down,”

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Yorktown head coach Mike Wilhelm said. “We have a lot of guys who have stepped up this summer and want to be playmakers.”

Though a younger and less experienced roster, the Tigers have an idea of where they want to be in 2024.

“This team wants to compete in every single game they play, regardless of who it is or what conference it is,” Wilhelm said. “We want to compete and give ourselves a chance to win football games.”

The Tigers will begin their campaign when they face Anderson on the road Aug. 23. The game will begin at 7 p.m.

Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.

The first Muncie Central home game is on Friday, Aug. 23rd at 7:00pm.

They are facing Delta.

A Wes-Del Warrior trys to make an interception July 31 during a practice at Wes-Del Middle/Senior High School. The Warriors went 4-6 in 2023. ZACH CARTER, DN

RETURN Continued from Page 8

While Chester was happy with the decision, Rife — and fellow soccer coaches — were even more pleased.

“Even being in the Power Four world, coaches were coming up to me after she committed and were like ‘Hey, man, we tried to get her on the phone,’” Rife said.

When Ball State first attempted to recruit her, Rife’s coaching staff liked what they saw. Now on their second attempt, Chester’s game had only improved after playing with Louisville and with Indy Eleven in Indianapolis.

“Athletically, she’s a dynamic player, and she can move,” Rife said. “Sure, her athleticism is elite, but then her soccer and technical ability is what makes her special. There are some kids who are technical soccer players. There are others who are elite athletically. She has both.”

In the last two seasons, Ball State soccer finished 7-5-8 and 8-8-3 despite a MAC record of 6-2-3 in 2023. While Rife doesn’t want there to be any pressure on Chester’s shoulders, he believes the new Cardinal could be a key piece in getting over the hump.

“Soccer is one of those fickle games where you can do a lot of the right things and still lose games,” Rife said. “I think when it comes down to the margins of error, to have some special players that at any moment can be a difference maker, you want to have those kids on your team ... Addie definitely

is one of those types of players that regardless of how the game is going, good or bad, I think you know at any moment, she can just change things for you.”

Whether it’s Sparks in Worthen Arena or Chester at Briner Sports Complex, the new Cardinals look to bring wins and success to Muncie.

Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary. carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.

We were all in because of who he is.”

- MICHAEL LEWIS, Ball State men’s basketball head coach

Crossword & Sudoku ACROSS

1 Bus destination 5 Upscale place for a furry friend 11 Like some Pride Month celebrants 14 Sigh of lament 15 Cold and unwavering 16 “I __ it all to you” 17 *Background for a scene using CGI 19 “Pow!” 20 Moray trap 21 PBS “Science Kid” 22 Steal 23 Like watermelon 24 *Meditation area with raked sand 26 Hip-hop group A __ Called Quest 28 Hindu spiritual adviser 29 Stretches the truth 31 Busy __ bee 33 Val Kilmer’s “Top Gun” role 37 1990 civil rights law, briefly 38 Involves, or a phonetic feature of the answers to the starred clues?

40 Pop singer Rita 41 Pointy-nosed fish 43 Class with crayons

44 __ pump 45 Oft-crumbled cookie 47 Lew of “Dr. Kildare” films 49 *Broadway star who won a Tony for “Pippin” 53 Eagerly took in 56 Great Lake near Detroit 57 Actor Brynner 58 Champagne cocktail 59 Dog park greeting 60 *Circle K competitor 62 Bon __: witticism 63 Wage recipient 64 Mathlete, to some 65 Texter’s “Whoops” 66 Make from scratch 67 Constellation bear

DOWN 1 Wise ones 2 Pitched 3 Breakfast buffet station 4 Leaf __: fall tourists 5 Hushed “Hey!” 6 “I could go on” abbr.

7 Like a one-word reply 8 Going out with 9 Admitted to charges in court 10 Author Rand 11 Grow mold, maybe 12 Tossing and turning 13 Arabian Peninsula country

15 08.22.24

18 Formal denial 22 __ crime: podcast genre 24 Citrus shavings 25 NBA “logo 3” paths 27 Particularly successful period 29 Relatives, slangily 30 Journalist Tarbell 32 Level for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 34 Activate an image without clicking, say 35 Sleeve 36 Preschooler’s snooze 38 Limerick setting 39 Turkey neighbor 42 Emotion indicated by a heart emoji 44 Predetermined selection of dishes 46 Lifework of a composer 48 Commuter option 49 Gymnastics balance testers 50 Proofreader’s catch 51 “Neato!”

52 Ketanji’s colleague 54 Passkey keepers 55 Bamboo-loving bear 58 Paltry 60 Moment, briefly 61 Pickleball barrier

Solutions for Aug. 15

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