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Byte Reviews




Tyler Varnau, a senior journalism graphics major and Kyle Little pour 5.5 gallons of water into a pot to heat. This is the first step for their home-brewing process. DN PHOTO LAUREN CHAPMAN

Hop on board homebrewing

Tyler Varnau doesn’t buy beer, he brews it. The senior journalism graphics major, is the president of the fledgling student organization Ball State Homebrew Club. The club achieved official approval last spring, but has not been active until this year, said Varnau.


Ball State alumnus looks to bring free shotgun program to Indianapolis area

A Ball State alumnus plans to bring free guns and a safety program to Indianapolis in February, in an attempt to prove an armed and trained community reduces crime. The Armed Citizen Project chooses neighborhoods in cities with average to high crime rates and then offers a free pump-action shotgun to any willing citizen in the neighborhood who also passes a background check and takes part in a gun safety program.


STEM sector jobs thrive in Indianapolis, state lags behind

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s efforts to add high-tech jobs have paid off in Indianapolis and surrounding counties — at the expense of the rest of the state, a newspaper analysis has found. The Indianapolis Business Journal analyzed U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and found Indianapolis had 39 percent more jobs in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math — in 2012 than in 2001. That’s more than double the national growth rate of 17 percent.



Today's bulletin board

Monday, Jan. 13 Take Back College Ryan Penneau, award winning public speaker and founder of Take Back College, will present a guide for first-year students at 6:30 p.m.


Ball State sophomore Nathalie Fontaine draws a foul against Kent State Jan. 12 at Worthern Arena. The Cardinal

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Free throws help seal game for Cardinals

Free throws have been the key to Ball State’s latest victories. After not shooting well from the free-throw line and only hitting 18 out of 33 shots when playing against Eastern Michigan last week, the women’s basketball team had a stronger showing from the line in this week’s game against Kent State. Free throws were a large part of the game, having contributed 25 points to the 31-55 win over Kent State.




Trustee president announces retirement plans

Hollis Hughes has stepped down as president of the Board of Trustees for Ball State after three years in the position, but will remain a trustee for two more years to fulfill is term. Hughes called his last three years the “opportunity of a lifetime.” He has served on the board for 25 years- as a member in 1989, as secretary in 2006 and as president in 2011.


Cold weather leads to pipe problems

Sections of two residence halls faced repairs after freezing temperatures caused pipes to burst Thursday. Studebaker West Complex and Kinghorn Hall are still in need of some repairs after the winter storm.


Trustees vote to increase room and board annual increase rate

Ball State’s Board of Trustees voted today to increase the cost of room and board for students not on the Premium Plan. Room and board rates have increased about 3 percent annually for the past five years, according to a university press release. The board voted for those rates to rise to 3.9 percent annually.


Temperatures and rain could lead to minor flooding

As the temperature starts to warm up and snow melts this weekend, Ball State may experience minor flooding. Dave Call, an assistant meteorology professor, said low-lying places that normally experience excess water due to heavy rainstorms may flood this weekend. The National Weather Service predicted a high of about 44 degrees Saturday. Call said this is warmer than the temperatures Muncie has been experiencing, but it isn’t high enough above the freezing point to anticipate widespread flooding.


Wind turbines spin near a home on Feb. 17, 2010, in Shabbona, Ill. The turbines are required to be at least 1,400 feet from the foundation of nearby homes. MCT PHOTO

Wind turbines divide Indiana communities

Indiana’s wind resources could provide more than 400 percent of the state’s current electricity needs, but the turbines have caused unrest in several towns. Indiana is currently ranked 15th in the U.S. for wind resources, according to the National Renewable Energy Lab. Its 930 wind turbines account for more than 2.7 percent of the state’s energy production, according to the Indiana Office of Energy Development.