The university's decision to fire Swierc has not only prompted a lawsuit, but has also evoked mixed reactions from students, alumni, staff, faculty and community members who have voiced their opinions regarding free speech on campus.

Kirk commentary leads to firing

In Ball State's statement announcing the termination via Facebook, Swierc was officially fired because her comments caused "significant disruption to the University."

"Let me be clear: if you think Charlie Kirk was a wonderful person, we can't be friends," Swierc wrote on her private Facebook account Sept. 11. Despite the statement, in the same post Swierc wrote that she views Kirk's death as a tragedy and feels for his wife and children, even though it's "difficult" to do so.

RELATED: Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy, Suzanne Swierc, terminated by Ball State

She further explained that Kirk's death reflects the "violence, fear, and hatred he sowed," while emphasizing that the shooting itself was a tragedy and that she sympathized with the campus community impacted by it.

Swierc also pointed to recent shootings involving children, writing that those losses deserve attention as well, and reminding others that Kirk defended such deaths in the name of the Second Amendment.

Ball State announced her termination soon after the post gained attention online, and terminated her employment "effective immediately." The university said no additional details would be released, but confirmed that a second post by another faculty member is still under review.

Swierc's post quickly garnered more attention after Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita posted a screenshot via Facebook Sept. 12 of Swierc's post alongside her Ball State profile.

Shortly after, Rokita reposted an "Eyes on Education" portal, originally launched in February 2024.

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the portal was initially designed for the public to report potentially inappropriate classroom materials. On Sept. 12, Rokita expanded its purpose, urging people to also submit evidence of educators or administrators making comments that "celebrate or rationalize" the Kirk assassination.

According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m., Swierc met with Ball State's Director of Employee Relations, Melissa Rubrecht.

During this meeting, Swierc was given a termination letter signed by University President Geoffrey Mearns and Vice President for Student Affairs Ro-Ann Royer Engle. The letter cited "disruption caused to the campus community" as the reason for her dismissal.

Rokita said via a Sept. 17 Facebook post that Swierc's commentary was among the first submitted to the portal.

"BSU made the right decision in firing her. Hope her vile comments were worth it," he wrote.

At a Sept. 22 press conference hosted by the ACLU of Indiana, Swierc said seeing her private post amplified in that way left her feeling "violated."

"Knowing that someone on my Facebook friends list would have been the person to take the screenshot that then got distributed … is just unbelievable," she said.

Swierc recalls threats and harassment

Swierc said Sept. 12 - the day her post became public - was "one of the worst days of [her] life." She described receiving harassing phone calls, vulgar messages and at least one credible threat from a voicemail she reported to the police. In the voicemail, someone recited Swierc's full name, work title and address before saying she deserved what happened to Kirk.

Despite the backlash, Swierc said she does not regret her words.

"I would not take back what I said," she said at the press conference. "I believe that I, along with every other person in this country, have First Amendment rights to be able to speak on a number of things."

Lawsuit filed by ACLU of Indiana
ACLU of Indiana announced on Sept. 22 that it had filed a lawsuit against Mearns over the Swierc's firing, arguing the university violated her First Amendment rights.

"We filed a lawsuit on Suzanne's behalf today because her employment at Ball State University was terminated solely because of a Facebook post that she made purely in her private capacity, which was protected speech," Senior ACLU Staff attorney Stevie Pactor said during the press conference. "Government employees don't give up their First Amendment rights just to become employees of the government."

The lawsuit seeks damages for lost income and emotional distress, as well as an injunction requiring Ball State to expunge her termination from university records. However, Swierc said she does not plan to return to her role - even if she wins.

Pactor also pushed back on Ball State's justification that the post caused "significant disruption," calling it a "heckler's veto," which is a term she used to describe an instance where public outrage is used as grounds to suppress speech.

"It just simply can't matter that a lot of people might disagree with something that someone says," she said. "That's just not … an injury to them that the First Amendment tolerates."

She added that universities are treated differently under the First Amendment compared to K-12 schools, citing the doctrine of academic freedom from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The document outlines the academic freedom of individual professors, calling such freedom "both a professional standard and a legal right."

"The idea is that colleges are unique places," Pactor said. "They are places that are designed to push back against authority and to do research that is cutting edge…answering new questions, and in order to facilitate that, university professors and college professors, even though they're government employees, should be able to do all those things and not be subject to the normal restrictions that apply to government employees when they're speaking in their official capacities."

During the press conference, a question was asked if there was anything in Ball State's freedom of expression statement that can justify her termination - a question that Pactor took head-on.

"Any policy, statement or guideline that a university has, has to comply with the constitution," Pactor said.

Reactions across campus and community

The firing has already evoked strong reactions from Swierc's Ball State community.

One alumnus, David Richardson, said he is "disgusted" with the university's action against Swierc, describing the portal as "Orwellian" and arguing that Ball State betrayed its commitment to open debate.

"A university is supposed to be a space for learning, debate and differing views. A safe place for students and faculty alike to voice their opinions. And this university has betrayed that trust," he said via email.

Richardson also expressed his belief that Ball State showed its true colors by "bending the knee to Rokita, Trump and the MAGA cult," ultimately "failing" students, faculty, staff and the community.

First-year music education major Matthew Baker also opposed the firing but said he disagreed with Swierc's post.

"I don't think what she did was okay. Regarding the Charlie Kirk situation, what happened to him was horrible, and it should have never happened," he said via text message.

Baker added that it upset him to see people debating whether Kirk's assassination was justified.

"At the end of the day, all death is bad," he said.

For Baker, Swierc's firing also raises larger questions about freedom of speech.

"It is our constitutional right to free speech - and if we are not allowed to express ourselves - then that right is being violated," he said.

Baker's comments were echoed by faculty as well.

Tanya Pearson, an assistant teaching professor at Ball State, said she disagrees with the termination and emphasized that her personal beliefs do not represent the university. After reviewing the Freedom of Expression statement , she said she does not understand how Swierc's post, made on a private account, was deemed disruptive.

To Pearson, the true source of disruption was the state's surveillance of educators.

"The reason for that disruption is this culture of surveillance that our [state] attorney general [and] the federal administration, is employing," she said.

Pearson called Rokita's "Eyes on Education" portal "unconstitutional," describing it as a tool that creates "a climate of fear." She said it represents a direct violation of First Amendment rights.

"I think it should concern everyone because freedom of speech, and especially in higher education on college campuses … [is] really under attack right now, " she said.

Pearson also said she experiences a range of emotions each day, from fear and anger to hope. In response, some students from her have planned a protest on Sept. 24 to speak out against Swierc's firing.

"I think if we come together, we're only stronger," she said.

Other faculty and staff voiced similar concerns. One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, criticized the decision, saying it reflected political pressure rather than campus needs - especially since Indiana is an at-will state - which means companies and universities can fire employees for "no reason" in Indiana, "in the absence of a collective bargaining agreement or contract providing otherwise," according to the Indiana Department of Labor

"The political pressure associated with this action suggests a breach of our First Amendment right to free speech," they said.

They argued that Ball State's decision caused more harm than the original post.

"Ball State's reaction to her post caused more damage to the university than her original post did, all to please the attorney general. This is going to lead to more censorship and subsequent unrest on campus," they said

Retired Ball State administrator Mike Gillilan, a longtime colleague and friend of Swierc, also opposed the firing. He said he personally disagrees with the decision but "thinks" he understands the university's logic behind it.

Gillilan criticized the "Eyes on Education" portal as "immoral" and "unethical," comparing the situation to the Red Scare of the 1950s, a time in the United States where fear of communism ran high.

He said the termination has created a chilling effect among educators, urging the community to consider the broader implications for democracy.

"If you can't gather in groups, if you can't protest, if you can't speak, if you can't practice your religion, if you can't enjoy a press and media that you believe to be accurate, that's not run by the state, then you don't have a democracy," he said.

He added that speaking out is important not only for Swierc but also for others who may feel silenced, as it's a "very dangerous time for people."

"It's important for people to stand up for each other and for democracy, and the building blocks for democracy, including the First Amendment," Gillilan said.

Another student who weighed in was Carter Johnson, a third-year economics major. While he disagreed with Swierc's wording, he said firing her went too far.

"Free speech, even if it is hateful, is paramount to the success of our nation, the free and ensured dialogue," he said.

Johnson argued that publicly funded institutions like Ball State should listen to their constituents but cautioned that universities should not "bend the knee" to public outrage every time.

He described Swierc's comments as "ignorant" and said they deserved criticism but not termination.

Johnson ended with a pointed question for those celebrating Kirk's death:

"What crime did [Kirk's assassin] commit warranting the death penalty? Who says that you aren't deserving of the same fate? We live in the western world where justice is delivered by trial, not by bullets and an agenda," he said.

While many students, faculty, staff and alumni voiced opposition to the decision, others supported Ball State's action.

Leslie Carter-Frost, a Muncie community member, said he believes Ball State "did a great thing by removing this person."

"I wish more faculty would have came out and spoken their nastiness as well, so they would have [also] been removed," he said.

Mark Heilman, another Muncie community member, also supported the termination, arguing that employees reflect the values of their employer, even on personal social media accounts.

"You have the right to speak, but not the right to force someone to pay you, regardless of what you say or do," he said.

He explained that while employees have the right to speak out on "controversial issues," their employer also has the right to act if those statements reflect poorly on the organization or cause harm. In such cases, he said, termination may be used to minimize damage to the company.

"If you support killing over speech, why would firing over it be a problem? From BSU's perspective, it may appear that they were in favor of killing to silence dissent," he said. "That is no place I would want to attend."

In Heilman's opinion, Kirk was killed for expressing himself and for saying things others disagreed with - or thought he said.

RELATED: Ball State responds after faculty posts on Charlie Kirk's assassination draw backlash

University professors union weighs in
The Ball State University's Chapter of AAUP released a statement strongly criticizing the termination.

"The BSU AAUP is deeply concerned that politically-motivated sharing of these private opinions and the firing of one of their authors is not only a violation of the First Amendment rights that the University extols, but will also lead to further chilling of the free exchange of ideas necessary for higher education to function," the group wrote.

The AAUP pointed to Ball State's Freedom of Expression Policy, which states in part:

"It is not the proper role of our University, however, to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. Our University greatly values civility…Our University may restrict expression that violates the law, that falsely defames a specific individual, that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment, that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or that is otherwise directly incompatible with the functioning of the University."

The group also argued that Swierc's post would not have generated such disruption had she not been targeted by individuals such as Rokita.

The AAUP cited section 1.7 of the expression policy, which stresses that Ball State does not typically take public stances on political, moral or ideological issues except when they affect the university's core mission.

"Our University takes positions on such issues only when they affect our core mission or our commitment to free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity long serving as the bedrock foundation of higher education and the pursuit of knowledge," according to the statement.

In response to Swierc's firing, students have organized a walkout and rally Sept. 24 at 3 p.m., to be held at University Green Peace Plaza.

Ball State's AAUP will also be hosting a subsequent "Academic Freedom of Expression" event in the Applied Technology Building Sept. 26 from 12 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., where they will discuss freedom of speech and analyze Ball State's freedom of expression statement.

Lifestyles Editor Katherine Hill contributed to this story.

Contact Shelby Anderson via email sanderson9@bsu.edu and Meghan Braddy via email meghan.braddy@bsu.edu.

The vigil began with a prayer from Ball State's Turning Point USA president Jacob Trueblood (TPUSA), in which he explained TPUSA organized the vigil "to pray and to remember and honor [his] life and legacy."

After the prayer concluded, Trueblood went on to explain how Kirk made it "cool" to be conservative again, comparing him to the apostles of Christ.

He then encouraged attendees that they could continue to grow his legacy by "living life the way Charlie would want [them] to."

College Republicans at Ball State President Charles Mandziara also spoke at the vigil.

In his speech, he shared how Kirk was a family man, influencer, brother, father, husband and an American patriot.

He went on to say that even though he didn't agree with everything Kirk said with his platform, after seeing the video of him getting killed he is "horrified" because Kirk was "one of us."

Mandziara described his feelings since the assassinatiom as being "angry" and "righteous."

He ended his speech complimenting the audience in attendance.

"If you're here today, it means you have a conscience. It means you have common sense, and it means you care about the state of this nation," he said.

Following Mandziara's speech, Delaware County Republican Chair Tim Overton talked about how Kirk's wisdom distinguished him since he was a young activist.

He advised any crowd members wishing to be like Kirk that they need to have the faith he had when he was alive.

"He would talk to people as individuals, not collected as groups. And that very much imitates Jesus Christ, who would talk to tax collected people low on the totem pole, [like] fisherman," Overton said.

Indiana State Representative JD Prescott of District 33 followed Overton's speech, also attending the vigil to celebrate the life and legacy of Kirk.

He shared how he heard about the assassination while attending an event in Indianapolis, and once the news broke, he said the whole room he was in went into prayer.

"That's what we need is prayer. We need a revival," he said.

He encouraged attendees to step into the faith and not just go to church for a week or two, but to "keep going, keep attending."

During the vigil, Indiana State Senator Scott Alexander from District 26 shared that he's also been feeling many emotions since the assasination.

He asked the question, "How can this happen in our country?"

Alexander encouraged students in attendance to get involved either with TPUSA or the College Republicans at Ball State. He also pointed to several signs in the audience that read "I Am Charlie," and noted "there's a piece of him now in every one of us."

The final person who spoke at the vigil was Congresswoman Victoria Sparks.

She started her speech off with a quote by Aristotle, in which she said the most important job of every legislator is to educate the next generation since they are the ones fighting the battles for us.

"It is very powerful to be an American," she said.

She encouraged young people to discuss these ideas and engage peacefully while they are young and don't have as many responsibilities, because that's the idea Kirk was trying to promote.

She also thanked the crowds for being there and encouraged attendees that "if they feel that they can make a difference in the world, they should."

"You can be the next Charlie Kirk, any of you can be," she said.

One of the students in attendance was second-year risk management and insurance student Camrynn Bowen. She said the event was important to her because she wants to support Kirk's family, as she does not believe any violence is okay in any way.

"I'm hoping that [the vigil] causes people to understand and look out for violence more and stand up for people, knowing that in America, we have freedom of speech, whether or not anybody agrees with anything," she said.

Something she would tell Kirk if he was still alive is "thank you" for fighting for people and religion, even though she said it is a "difficult and controversial topic."

Along with the sympathizers were protesters who, throughout the vigil, could be heard laughing and playing audio of Kirk speaking. One of them was Ball State alumnus Joseph Souza, who disagreed with the nature and location of the event.

"I mean to be honest, having a memorial for a white nationalist with a sitting U.S. congresswoman who is helping fund the genocide, I think it's important to come speak out," he said.

Souza went on to say how he believes that this vigil would not have been hosted for other people, such as if a faculty member died from political violence.

"Why is our university sitting here doing this memorial when there are police officers on our campus that we know have participated in illegal political violence, speechless on that issue," he said.

Another attendee was Juilan Franklin, who is part of Jackson for Congress, the Democratic party running against Sparks. He attended the vigil to hear the rhetoric, as he was worried the speakers would "share the same violent rhetoric" as comments he's heard recently about the assassination.

He thought it was important for people to attend the vigil "to be open to dialogue."

"It affects us. It's our country, we're gonna be inheriting these rules of power," Franklin said.

Contact Shelby Anderson via email sanderson9@bsu.edu

Today:

Expect showers throughout the day along with steady temperatures that are expected to drop in the evening. Low winds about 5 mph, storms will continue to move in.

Tonight:

Expect cooler temperatures overnight with a heavy cloud cover and clam winds. Lows at about 61 degrees, it will be a chilly night. Low chance of storms but a possibility of some rain through the night.

Tomorrow:

Skies will remain cloudy and produce some rain intermittently tomorrow. With a high of 79, the heat will cause it to be very humid, but in between rain showers, it should be a great day outside.

7-day Forecast:

Rain will be present over the next few days with highs in the 70s and lows in the high-50s and low 60s. Showers will persist through Thursday, and come to an end on Friday. The sun will come out of hiding as we move towards the weekend and with it, temperatures will get into the 80s on Saturday and Sunday. We can expect chilly nights and warm days with better weather coming up.

-Weather Forecaster Daphne Gibaud

Follow us on Twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

For more information about the Weather-Ready Nation program please click HERE 

RELATED:Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy, Suzanne Swierc, terminated by Ball State

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Suzanne Swierc, the former director of health promotion and advocacy, who was terminated after a Facebook post she made about the Sept. 10 assassination of CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk.

According to a Sept. 17 statement from Ball State, the administration reviewed Swierc's comment and determined the post "caused significant disruption to the University." Swierc's initial comment stated, "Charlie Kirk's death is a reflection of the violence, fear, and hatred he sowed. It does not excuse his death, AND it's a sad truth."

The ACLU of Indiana contends that Swierc's termination was unconstitutional and a violation of her First Amendment rights.

"People do not forfeit their First Amendment rights when they are hired by government institutions," Stevie Pactor, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Indiana, said. "Public employees are free to speak on matters of public concern, so long as they are speaking as private citizens. Swierc's Facebook post clearly meets these criteria, and her termination was unconstitutional."

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, seeks damages and requests her firing be expunged from university records.

Ball State has not commented on the pending litigation.

This story may be updated with more information as available.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Hookup culture has become a defining element of the modern college experience, shaping how many students form relationships and socialize on campus. Characterized by casual sexual encounters that often lack emotional connection or commitment, hookup culture remains a controversial and complex subject among Generation Z.

Understanding the potential emotional and psychological impacts of engaging in casual sex is essential, as the outcomes can vary. While some students report feelings of empowerment, others experience forms of regret or emotional distress.

Fueling this culture are college parties, dating apps and social media platforms. According to Hinge, a dating app popular amongst college students, 56 percent of Generation Z users said they have withheld their feelings out of fear they would be perceived as a turnoff.

"Women, more than men, often hope that a hookup will evolve into a traditional relationship," George Gaither, a professor who studies gender and sexual behavior at Ball State University, said. I chose to interview him due to his expertise in the area, all without making it seem awkward for any of his students.

That trend was echoed by women whom I interviewed for this story. All of them said they experienced some form of regret or sadness after a hookup, particularly when they knew the encounter would not lead to a relationship.

An April 2024 article written by the Institute for Family Studies explains that hookup culture is more likely to be followed by emotional consequences, particularly for women. This demonstrates how unfettered sex can lead to emptiness, regret and emotional disconnection that resonates with firsthand student testimonies of feeling sadness, confusion or regret following hookups.

Both campus interviews and the article suggest a gender imbalance in experience and expectations: while many men see hookups as empowering or validating, many women go into these interactions anticipating emotional connection, but are disappointed.

Ashley Shaw, a roommate of mine and a third-year at Ball State, stated, "I feel like I was definitely more of a relationship person during high school, but now in college specifically, I feel like most things seem to be casual."

Gaither spoke about how hookup culture reveals significant gender role differences in attitude amongst experiences, specifically in college students. He indicated that men are generally more likely to embrace casual sexual encounters. In contrast, women may face societal pressures and stigma, leading to a more complex relationship with hookups.

While some women participate willingly, seeking empowerment and sexual freedom, others report feelings of remorse or anxiety associated with these encounters. This highlights the influence of social norms and expectations, illustrating how gender shapes not only the experience of hooking up but also the broader narrative around sexuality on college campuses.

As a woman who is immersed in the college lifestyle, hookup culture truly does have a difference in social dynamics. It gives in to the power play of men and the natural submission they believe women have.

Consent is a crucial element of hookup culture, yet more often than not, it is somehow misunderstood.

Consent may seem like such a broad level of understanding, but if consent is not an enthusiastic and immediate "yes," then it is not consent. If someone says yes and then later decides that they do not want to participate, they have no longer consented and all acts should be stopped immediately. Consent is not something up for interpretation.

However, the nature of hookups can lead to miscommunication and assumptions about consent, which may result in poor outcomes.

The Institute for Family Studies describes the psychological and emotional consequences of casual sex, especially about how common undesired sex is within hookup culture. It quotes a survey in which 77.8 percent of sexual experiences occurred during hookups, and argues for clear and avid consent in hookup interactions.

Hookups bring about different emotions for everyone, especially when discussing different attachment styles. Individuals with avoidant attachment styles are likely to hook up with a mix of intimacy, desire and fear of vulnerability. They may enjoy the body but struggle with emotional connection. On the other hand, individuals with anxious attachment styles often experience hookups to heighten emotions and a deep desire for connection.

As someone who has healed and grown from an anxious attachment style, during a hookup, it can make you feel unwanted, unloved and also cause a significant amount of trauma when it comes to entering other romantic relationships. After being involved for a little over six months, I had found myself emotionally depleted and uninterested in all further sexual advances for well over a year post-hookup culture society.

Even now, I still implement anxious attachment style tendencies in my current relationship. I have learned now that you cannot heal extremity attachment by being alone; you have to do it through other people.

In addition, issues of stigma, discrimination and the quest for acceptance can complicate emotional relationships to the point that individuals find it difficult to manage casual relationships with their desire for meaningful relationships. In my personal experience, I have found myself questioning my self-worth afterwards. Interacting in hookup culture created insecurities that I had never had and prevented me from realizing my true self-worth

The author of the Institute for Family Studies article, Erica Komisar, states that she identifies the adverse effects of hookup culture among young adults, specifically on mental health, emotional health and the erosion of trust in traditional relationships. Komisar observes an upward trend among younger generations who increasingly question the possibility of true love, a departure from traditional courtship and romance norms.

This cultural shift aligns with the popularity of casual sex with the assistance of dating apps. The increase in popularity of dating apps has fueled hookup culture, especially on university campuses and even in high schools. According to a November 2024 article by Frontiers, the use of dating apps has surged in young adults since 2010, mostly being used for immediate sexual encounters that the user selects based on certain preferred characteristics.

Hookup culture represents a deep shift in how young people manage relationships, intimacy and emotional closeness. As much as it may offer immediate gratification and a sense of freedom, its long-term outcome usually entails a disillusioned belief in lasting love. As a society, we need to be more active in teaching people how much their actions can affect another human being, even if they feel like they are the ones being hurt. What people do matters. Who they do matters. And no matter what they do, they need to stay safe.

Contact Macey Kessler via email at macey.kessler@bsu.edu

Fall Short Plays

The Fall Short Plays Series features multiple short plays directed by junior-level students. Performed in repertory, the series offers audiences the chance to see several shows in one evening, showcasing a variety of stories and styles. The featured plays include Terminating by Tony Kushner, Action by Sam Shepard, and In Shakespeare and the Bible by Thornton Wilder.

• Price: $6 in advance | $8 at the door
• Location: Fine Arts Building's Recital Hall (AR 217)
• Date and Time: Monday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Addams Family

Get ready for a delightfully macabre musical comedy starring Wednesday, Goez, Morticia, and the rest of the kooky Addams clan. A perfectly spooky night of laughs and love awaits!

• Price: BSU students: Free in advance or $10 at the door | Adults: $45 | Youth: $23 | See website for more pricing details

• Location: Emens Auditorium

• Date and Time: Tuesday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Cardinal Media Housing Fair

Finding your new home can be overwhelming. Luckily, the Cardinal Media Housing Fair, sponsored by The Haven, is here to help! This is your go-to destination to explore housing options for next year, enter contest, get free merch, and more. Three amazing baskets will be given away, including a cleaning basket, fall break basket, and a tailgate basket, each worth about $100.

• Price: Free
• Location: The Atrium
• Date and Time: Wednesday, September 24 at 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Fused Glass Workshop: Haunted House

Using a 4" x 6" glass panel as your spooky canvas, you'll design a haunting abode perfect for the Halloween season! Learn basic glass cutting techniques and explore the art of glass fusing as you craft your eerie masterpiece. Add cobwebs, ghosts, glowing, windows, or whatever spooky details your imagination conjures. No prior experience needed - just bring your creativity (and maybe a little courage!) Pre-registration is strongly preferred; limited walk-in tickets may be available.

• Price: $60 | Member discounts apply
• Location: Minnetrista Museum & Gardens Center Building
• Date and Time: Thursday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Ball State Field Hockey vs Central Michigan University

Cheer on the Cardinals as they take on Central Michigan in an exciting MAC matchup at Briner Sports Complex! Fast-paced action, team spirit, and Cardinal pride! You don't want to miss it!

• Price: Free
• Location: Briner Sports Complex
• Date and Time: Friday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Updates for the event will be posted under Ball State's TPUSA Instagram, tpsusa_ballstate.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Local Muncie elementary and middle school kids got the opportunity to cheer on the Cardinals. Students roared in the arena this afternoon, showing their support for the Ball State women's volleyball team.

Head Coach Kelli Miller Phillips originally introduced the idea of hosting local school field trips to her board. This idea came with the purpose of introducing younger students to the thrill of gamedays. The opportunity has grown tremendously since its debut a couple of years prior.

"I love so much about field day, about the energy, the environment, the way the kids are, they're super super excited about everything that's going on," Phillips said.

Along with Philips, the team shared how they love the opportunity just as much as the students do.

"Field trip day is just one of the best days that we get to play at home. The crowd means a lot to us and being able to break the attendance record here at Ball State for the women's volleyball program is something that will always stay in my heart and was an incredible atmosphere to be a part of today." Sophomore Elizabeth Tabeling explained.

Tabeling shared how they warm these kids' hearts anytime they get to not only score but to interact with each other. Sophomore Carson Tyler shares the same experience as Tabeling surrounding the event.

"Field trip day was absolutely incredible as a player, I would say, it was such a cool atmosphere to be part of and something so unique where the second you walk out onto the court for warm-ups and you hear all these kids screaming and just so excited to be here," Tabeling said.

The Cardinals take on the Purdue Boilermakers tomorrow night at six p.m. in Worthen Arena. For more information, visit https://ballstatesports.com/sports/womens-volleyball

Contact Emma Bergman with comments at emma.bergman@bsu.edu.

Last semester, Beebe took online classes exclusively. With that extra time at home, he found an interest that would soon become a big deal.

"I was pretty bored after practice, after watching film," Beebe said. "I was on YouTube scrolling and I saw [rug making]. I started doing it for fun, and then it kind of grew into something a little bigger."

After finding this newfound passion, Beebe learned the ways of making rugs himself. Since the beginning, he has been self-taught, with the only help coming from tutorial videos.

To try and jumpstart his business, Beebe sent in a custom-made rug to Jon Gruden, most known from his tenure as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach from 2018 to 2021, in February 2025, which had Gruden's self-founded Fired Football Coaches Association (FFCA) imprinted on it.

Gruden then took to social media under the name "barstoolgruden" and posted a video of the rug Beebe sent him to Instagram, which collected 2,699 likes.

"This is one of the coolest things I've ever received and it comes from a linebacker on the Ball State Football Team!," the Instagram post reads.

Beebe said that his goal was not only to bring attention to his rugs.

"I sent Gruden his initial rug back in February, [and] I thought that would blow up a little bit, but that didn't get posted until July," Beebe said. "There were some ones before that helped me, like Kiael [Kelly]."

Back in January of this year, Beebe crafted a rug for his teammate, redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly. The rug was an outline of Kelly in a white Ball State football jersey, and Beebe said that after he crafted the rug for his teammate, he knew that he could have success with it.

"As soon as I started seeing more views on Instagram, I felt like maybe people might actually be interested in this," Beebe said.

After growing his Instagram page, which has now reached over 700 followers, Beebe has had the opportunity to connect with more prominent athletes to get his brand more well-known. Recently, he had the opportunity to connect with former Notre Dame and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard.

Ball State junior receiver Eric Weatherly started his career at Duke University, where Leonard started his collegiate playing days. Now that Weatherly and Beebe are teammates, Weatherly was able to help get Beebe connected with Leonard to get him a rug.

"Super cool opportunity that Eric helped hook me up with," Beebe said. "Eric came down there to the North Side [with Beebe] to meet him."

The rug was a mashup of Leonard's playing days at Duke and Notre Dame, and Beebe said it was cool to connect with athletes in a different way than competition.

On Beebe's Instagram page, "footstompers," he posts various types of rugs that he is working on and different types of collaborations that he has had. One thing that Beebe does uniquely is include a cross emoji in the bio of every post that he makes. Beebe said that he does that because he wants to use his platform as an avenue to share his faith.

"Whatever rug it is, if that's the only Christ they see all day, I want it to be from my post," he said.

Stemming from wanting to integrate his faith into his Instagram, Beebe mentioned that the next rug he is working on is faith-based.

With his brand growing significantly this past year, Beebe has thought through whether he wants to make it a full-time gig after college.

"I thought about that a lot recently, especially with my time almost being up and what that would look like in the future," Beebe said. "I don't think right now it's going to work full time. It's kind of hard to scale because it's kind of a one-man show."

Beebe is close with another senior leader on the Ball State football team, linebacker Joey Stemler. Stemler and Beebe have been roommates for multiple years throughout both of their storied Ball State careers, and Stemler has had the opportunity to see Beebe find his hobby behind the scenes.

"I remember when he first told me the idea and I kind of laughed because I was like, 'What are you talking about?' Stemler said. "But after watching him do a couple of trial and errors on rugs, I'm like, these actually look pretty good. Each one's gotten better and better."

Beyond the business side of things, Beebe's rug-making has served as a way to bring the Ball State football team closer. Beebe talked about how he has seen it bring the team together.

"Sometimes when I make rugs for certain people, the team will rally behind that," Beebe said. "It's definitely a talking point that we can sometimes joke about, make fun of me for, or just chop it up about how I did."

Stemler also talked about how it can help grow the team and how it is good for the team overall to know what things different teammates like to do.

"Seeing what your teammates kind of do outside of football as well can be a huge opportunity," Stemler said. "To learn and grow and then understand them on a personal level too."

Beebe will continue making rugs this season, along with playing in his last season for the Ball State Cardinals. Beebe has never been on a Ball State team that went to a bowl game, and now, with a record of (1-2), Beebe will look to leave an impact on Ball State in his final season.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email @kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn

Friday

The 11th-ranked Boilermakers rolled into Worthen for the first time in three years on Friday night. These two teams are anything but strangers with each other, as their first match-up goes all the way back to 1978, with their most recent matchup being in 2022.

Before Friday's match, the two teams played each other a total of 15 times, with Purdue coming out on top in all of those and leading the series 15-0. Ball State headed into the match looking to erase its zero from the head-to-head record.

The two teams have not matched up in Worthen Arena since 2008.

"The gym atmosphere was awesome. Volleyball in Indiana is a huge deal, so it was really cool to see all the fans here and the community, just loving volleyball," said junior Middle Hitter Camryn Wise.

The Cardinals came out slow in set one, down 11-5 out of the gate. It was not all bad in the first set, as halfway through the set they only had three fewer attacks than Purdue. This let them sneak back into it in the late stages of the game, bringing the score to 15-19.

The Cardinals were only able to add on two more points before the end of the set with Purdue winning set one 25-17. Attack-wise, the Cardinals hung with Purdue during the first set, recording 34 sets to the Boilermakers' 35.

Set two started better for Ball State as they showed urgency and put points up on the board quickly. They led 8-6 early in the second set.

Ball State still struggled in keeping up with Purdue in the category of kills. Nearing the end of the second set, they only recorded 23 compared to Purdue's 34. At that point in the set, the Cardinals were only down one. Ball State dropped the second set and found themselves in an 0-2 hole.

"Purdue's super physical and had just one or two things that I feel like we just didn't have answers for," said head coach Kelli Miller Phillips.

Set three started out similar to the other sets as Purdue led early, 10-5. The Cardinals were able to close the five-point gap nearing the halfway point, as they trailed by only two after a 3-0 scoring run.

The eleventh-ranked Purdue then stretched the lead back out to five, 20-15. Purdue was able to finish it off 25-19 and beat the Cardinals in three straight sets.

Saturday

The Cardinals ended their three-game stretch today, as they went head-to-head with Eastern Kentucky University. Heading into the game, the Cardinals were on a three-game losing streak, something they looked to snap against Eastern Kentucky.

The Cardinals were on point with their kills early on in the set as they had nine kills to their ten points. Ball State led early, 10-9. At this point, sophomore Outside Hitter, Carson Tyler, had already recorded four kills of her own.

Ball State came out of the first media timeout with an ace from sophomore defensive specialist/libero Elizabeth Tabeling to put them up 16-14. The Cardinals then went on a 3-0 scoring run to extend the lead to 19-14 before Eastern Kentucky took its first timeout.

The Cardinals closed out set one, winning 25-18 after going on another late 3-0 scoring run to reel closer to the set win.

Early in set two, Eastern Kentucky had a scoring run of their own as they shot out to a 7-3 lead while on a 4-0 scoring run. The Cardinals then went on a 3-0 scoring run of their own to bring the game within one, 7-6.

Ball State kept their runs going as they hopped back in front after another 3-0 run, leading 9-8.

At that point in the second set, Eastern Kentucky had outperformed Ball State in every stat category but total attempts. The Cardinals still hung in with the score being 16-14.

Ball State could not handle the pressure that Eastern Kentucky was bringing.

"We did not play that well defensively all night. They hit at an incredibly high rate, pretty much the entire set, the entire match," said Phillips.

Nearing the end of the second set, Ball State still trailed. This time the score was 21-19 before the Cardinals scored two straight to level it at 21.

Ball State showed fight but dropped the second set 27-25.

The third set did not start as planned for Ball State, as they got the first point of the set before Eastern Kentucky went on a 7-0 run.

As the third set unwound, Ball State had nothing going for them. They were beating themselves as they still kept up in the stat categories. At this point, Eastern Kentucky led 19-6.

Eastern Kentucky was able to hold on and close out set two with a score of 25-10.

Set four started off with a long rally before junior middle hitter Camryn Wise got a kill to set the tone early for the Cardinals.

Ball State was able to rally momentum after their lack of it in the previous set and they led early 10-4 after going on a 6-0 scoring run. They were then able to capitalize on Eastern Kentucky's mistakes and grow the lead to 17-11.

Ball State held onto the lead and took the fourth set 25-19. Both teams were at two sets apiece, heading into the fifth and final set.

Wise was able to get two points on the board early for Ball State but they trailed 9-2 over halfway through the set.

The Cardinals were unable to reel in Eastern Kentucky in the final set, as Ball State dropped the match and will look forward to Mid-American conference (MAC)play.

"It's an opportunity to reset. The records are 0-0 come conference play," said Phillips.

The Cardinals head to Buffalo for their MAC season opener against the Buffalo Bulls on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.

Contact Rylan Crum @rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum.

Academic peer mentor, Aaron Hicks, dove into describing what the festival is.

"The Equinox festival is an event that the CCIM LLC holds in April where we get a bunch of local bands from the general area to come perform for an all-day music festival," Hicks explained, "It's put together by students for students."

This festival can give media students hands-on experience with livestreaming, camera work, and social media work. Hicks is most excited about allowing students to expand on their skills, but he's even more excited to be the one to put this event on.

"Getting to throw my name in the bin and say, 'I got to add this to it' is just super exciting."

The festival will take place in mid-April on a Saturday. To give students a day off from studying or homework, Hicks believes this is the "perfect" event to take the stress off of their shoulders. While last year the event had 150 attendees, the young talent that packed the stage made it fulfilling.

The committee will continue to have meetings once a week in Botsford/Swinford's media room to design and pull together this music festival.

Contact Arlene Thompson with comments at arlene.thompson@bsu.edu.

At the start of every set, the Warriors would come out strong and match their opponents' scores for the first eight points. Then they started to fall behind. Head Coach Kayla Stanley attributes this loss of momentum to the Warriors' lack of confidence.

"We had a really bummer start [against Peru]. I understand that teams have bad days, but their confidence just fell," Stanley said.

Against Peru, the Warriors were only down seven points in each set. What held them back was 16 dig errors. This trend continued against Eastbrook, with worse set scores and 16 more dig errors.

Their performance improved against Taylor, which placed fifth overall, with only six dig errors. What put them on top was 14 aces, padded out by Junior Valerie Clark, 5, and Senior Ansley Draper, 4.

Stanley had Clark, who's normally a passer, play as a setter in many of the sets because they were short a player.

"Valerie Clark didn't miss a beat. She did everything that she was supposed to, even though she was in a position that doesn't play in and probably never will again," Stanley said.

The Warriors will play Frankton in a non-conference match on Sept. 24 and Indianapolis Metropolitan on Sept. 25.

This story was produced by students in Ball State University's School of Journalism and Strategic Communication, in collaboration with Unified Media and the Muncie Sports Commission.

In a Sept. 15 press conference, Ball State senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis described the matchup with UConn to be a "dog fight". Voorhis' words proved true, as Ball State fell 31-25.

Here are three takeaways from the mid-afternoon action in Connecticut.

The offense looked comfortable

In the Cardinals first two games, the offense was very stagnant and struggled to get anything going. But Ball State rode the momentum that their rushing offense gained last game against New Hampshire.

In week three, Ball State recorded 308 rushing yards, which was the opposite of their early-season woes. Against UConn, the offense kept revolutionizing, as they integrated the pass game more as the game went on.

Early in the first half, redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly threw a 53-yard screen pass to senior receiver Qian Magwood. The play was the Cardinals' longest throw of the season, and a career long in passing and receiving plays for Kelly and Magwood.

That play led to a touchdown on the opening drive for the Cardinals and a creative play call made that happen. Head coach Mike Uremovich utilized Kelly's skills in the receiving area, as a reverse pitch to Magwood led Kelly to be wide open for a receiving touchdown.

While the Cardinals elected to keep the ball on the ground for the majority of the game, they did decide to air it out more.

This was the second consecutive game in which Kiael Kelly surpassed 100 passing yards. Kelly almost achieved that feat in the first half alone, throwing for 79 yards in two quarters of play. The senior quarterback ended the day with 17 completions for 209 yards.

The Cardinals got more receivers involved across the board, with six different receivers all catching balls. The spotlight receiver of the game for Ball State was redshirt freshman Donovan Hamilton.

Before the week four matchup, Hamilton had only brought in one ball for 21 yards. But in the contest against UConn, he led the team in receptions with 7 totaling 61 yards.

On the day, the Cardinals tallied more pass yards than they did rush yards. The only turnover on the day was an interception in the fourth quarter, but Ball State rallied back to score after it.

The defense had its ups and downs

The Cardinals' defense in the Sept. 20 matchup included two former UConn players, with senior edge rusher Nathan Voorhis and graduate linebacker Alfred Chea.

Chea was a big highlight for the defense, as he led the Cardinals with 8 tackles and Voorhis tacked on three tackles of his own. In a Sept. 15 press conference, Chea talked about how he could help his teammates with certain defensive schemes against his former team.

That proved true for Ball State, as the Cardinals only allowed 31 points. Defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles' group had a strong performance for most of the game against UConn, and the group overall has improved in every game.

A negative for the defense was their inability to stop UConn on fourth down. The Cardinals defense did a good job holding UConn on third down, as they only allowed them to convert five times on 15 attempts.

UConn elected to go for it on five occasions, and they converted each time. The last fourth down that the Huskies went for ended up breaking out for a 32-yard rushing touchdown.

The run defense is what ultimately made the Cardinals pay, as they allowed 217 rushing yards. Only trailing 17-24 late, Ball State had UConn at 3rd and 9, needing a stop to be able to get the ball back and try to tie or win. But a Huskies 67-yard rushing touchdown proved to be the dagger of the game and shades of what Ball State was allowing all second half.

Special teams was a major improvement

A lot of struggles that Ball State had early on in the season was oftentimes due to the special teams. It was a point of frustration for Uremovich in a Sept. 13 press conference, after a game where a blocked punt touchdown was costly for the Cardinals.

In week one against Purdue, redshirt junior kicker Carson Holmer missed two kicks. But since then, Holmer has capitalized

The special team's unit was much improved in every phase of the game, as they were not responsible for any missed points on the board, or any allowed points.

Uremovich said that the special team's unit has had multiple good practices, and he was impressed with their performance against UConn.

"UConn has one of the best special teams' coaches in the country, and they're one of the best units in the country year in and year out," Uremovich said. "I thought we did a nice job on special teams today."

Contact Kyle Stout via email @kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn

MUNCIE, Ind. - Located on Ebright Street in Muncie, The Daily Deal Thrift Shop provides low prices for all customers.

To support Bryce and her team you can donate to The Daily Deal during open hours or follow them on The Daily Deal Thrift Shop on Facebook and Instagram.

Natalie Bennett, a third-year art education student at Ball State, said she has gone to the store regularly since her first year on campus. Though she used to visit the shop exclusively for school projects, Bennett said she now frequents the shop for fun, captivated by its "homey atmosphere."

"It's got a lived-in feel, [with] very dimmed lights. It's a very comfortable space to be able to go get your art materials, [and] maybe hang out for a minute, because the [owners and staff members] are always willing to have a chat with you," Bennett said.

The local Muncie business has been around since the 1940s, but would not be what it is today if owner Karen Fisher hadn't talked her husband into the business in 2003.

"It started out as a paint and wallpaper store [in the 40s] and just kind of morphed into an art store with a gallery," Fisher said. By the early 2000s, the business, then known as "Gordy Fine Art and Framing," sought to establish a distinct division between art supplies and artwork by creating two separate business entities.

Fisher, who had already worked for owners Brian and Jenny Gordy for nearly a decade, told them she and her husband would happily take on the art supply half of the business.

Since moving to their current location on N. Martin St. in 2009, Art Mart has become a cornerstone in the community for skilled artists and hobby crafters alike.

"We have students [who] are going into art at Ball State, and they'll come in here and say they have never been in a shop that's dedicated just to the things that they're looking for…There's nowhere else, at this time, to get what you need in Muncie," Fisher said.

While the shop couldn't evade negative financial impacts during COVID-19, Fisher said she's seen an "explosive" surge in customers post-pandemic who have mitigated any potential financial concerns posed by the pandemic.

"There's a small number of people that do fine art, painting, drawing, that type of thing, but just about everybody does some sort of crafting, making something," she said.

The wide spectrum of artistic interests in the community prompted her to expand the business by adding a classroom space, offering classes to the public that teach various crafting skills and art techniques.

"The whole store will be at the front of the building, and the classroom will be at the back of the space," she said. "We're only going to give ourselves just enough room for a classroom that is going to add to the retail size of the shop at all."

Even though the next-door expansion delayed her retirement plans, Fisher said the added space is something she's been looking forward to for a long time.

The addition, she said, is expected to be done by the first of the year in 2026, and she hopes the classroom space will be open to the public that fall, just in time for the new school year.

Her daughter, Elizabeth "Beth" McCollum, agreed that now is the ideal time for the business to expand.

"The face of retail has changed a lot over the last few years…because of online shopping. So, that means, retail really has to up [its] game. I feel like experiences really have taken the place of in-person shopping," she said.

While the mother-daughter team worries their shop is presently too small and lacking adaptability, customers like Bennett enjoy the intimate setting.

"[Art Mart's] just really nice to go into because of how small the space is. It's not overwhelming like a Michael's or a Joann's," she said.

When Fisher eventually retires, the business will go to McCollum, who currently works as the store's general manager. McCollum said she's excited to make the place her own; the fiber artist has big plans to install a yarn wall in the store's classroom space, calling it her "first order of business."

McCollum has helped out around the shop since her parents first bought it when she was a first-year student in college. Though she's "not much of an artist," she studied business in college and knows what drives entrepreneurial success-and in an effort to expand her knowledge of art - she chooses to "surround [her]self with artists."

The artists she surrounds herself with include none other than her mother. Fisher, an art education alumna of Ball State, said she's had "a passion for art for most of [her] life."

In retirement, Fisher plans to still nourish her passion for the subject by periodically teaching drawing and painting classes in the shop's classroom.

In addition to Fisher and McCullom, the shop employs Barcode "Cody" the Cat. His 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. workday consists of walking across the front counter, sleeping in the aisles and eating plastic. Bennett said Cody's nonchalant customer service is a big incentive for her to visit the shop-but not the only one.

"[Art Mart] is very reliable and convenient to go to and experience if you haven't been before, and to keep going to frequently if you have," Bennett said.

Artists and crafters looking to inspire creativity can visit Art Mart seven days a week, open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Fencing Club provides just that, holding three practices a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., as well as Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. President of the club, Sam Vance, invites all to attend and try it out.

"Our goal is to provide defensive training for any and all people who want to fence, Vance said. "We start instructing class this semester, teaching one of our three blade types. We offer foil, épée, and sabre, which are all Olympic types of fencing that are available. We start with foil and then people can move onto sabre or épée afterwards".

Newcomers are already taking advantage of this opportunity.

Freshman and first-year member Drake Evans has a vision for what he hopes his first year will look like.

"This being my first year, I really hope to just be able to come here, have fun, like a good way to relax after class, but also feel like I'm improving myself in some way… It's a good way for me to go out and be able to test my skills and get better at something while also doing it kind of casually," Evans explained.

The sport of fencing is one of a kind; chances are, students have never been able to give it a try, but Vance emphasizes that experience is no worry when trying to participate in the club.

"We have people that have never fenced at all, but are part of our club and pay their dues. We have people who fence and do two or three tournaments a month, so we have a wide range for everyone, and we offer a variety of blade types."

Vance also emphasized, "It's just fun! It's silly! It's a little stupid, but it's a great time!" A unique sport is given the opportunity to grow at Ball State, and club members are striving just for that.

Contact Aiden McNally with comments at aiden.mcnally@bsu.edu.

The vigil is being hosted by Ball State's Turning Point USA (TPUSA), and the organization is asking attendees to spread messages of "faith, unity and remembrance."

Updates for the event will be posted under the TPUSA Instagram, tspuas_ballstate.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.]

Club President Tori Schenk believes that the club is a welcoming place for anyone who joins.

"It's just a community, and it's a friendship," said Schenk," Despite like who comes in, no matter how long we've known you, it's like always just a good time, and everyone is so incredibly great and awesome."

Working out as a team has been proven to yield better results. Shenck explained why her club is different from others.

"It's a vibe, but also we are still doing things to keep our bodies and our minds healthy and active, which is something you don't see all of those things together in a club very often," Schenk said.

The club participates in many Ball State events to showcase its skills, as well as a major undertaking that they undertake towards the end of the school year.

"We participate in just a bunch of different performances and little things around her," said Schenk, " Then at the end of the year we do a big competition with other collegiate teams from around the U.S., and so like last year we went to North Carolina and jumped with a bunch of teams and competed with other collegiate jump rope teams."

Leading a club can lead to numerous great benefits, Shenck believes it has helped her become a better leader both on and off the hardwood.

"It's helped me be able to lead something not just in this space but outside of this space," said Schenk," Teammates come to me for certain things and like talk to me outside of practices and kinda being a leader not just in jump rope but also as like a friend."

You can check out the Jump Rope Club in action at the dance marathon, as well as various other Ball State Sporting events during intermissions.

Contact Jalen Mckissic with comments at jalen.mckissic@bsu.edu.

Andie and Ian talk about the K-pop group Stray Kids, their new album, and their mainstream success

Checkpoint is Byte's video news series, reporting on recent events in the world of entertainment, tech, and pop culture. Whether it's video games, film, television, or music, we've got you covered!

Anchors: Andie Zelaya and Ian Fraser
Executive Producer: Willow Emig
Script: Andie Zelaya
Video Editing: Ian Fraser and Ashton Weir
Audio Editing: Ian Fraser and Ashton Weir
Intro Graphics: Ryan Minter
Graphics: Ryan Minter
Thumbnail: Ian Fraser
Original Thumbnail Images From: JYP Entertainment
Music: Jack McGinnis

According to the IndyStar, ABC explained that Kimmel's talk show has been "pre-empted indefinitely" after the FCC chairman, Brendan Carr, heard the comments made by Kimmel regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, pressuring the network to take action.

"This is a misery," former "Late Show" host Letterman said during a Sept. 18 appearance at The Atlantic Festival. "In the world of somebody who is an authoritarian, maybe a dictatorship, sooner or later, everyone is going to be touched," according to the IndyStar.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com