The freshman forward has started in all 31 games for the team this season.

Here is an exclusive Q&A with Tagayi ahead of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament.

Q: Now that the year's almost over, what has it been like in your first year here, especially coming from overseas?

Tagayi: "It's one of the best experiences that I have ever had. Coming here, I'm so happy [for] all the new things I was able to learn here, all the different types of basketball that I've been able to learn here. So far I'm just really enjoying it, and I can't wait to see how the MAC Tournament is and all that because I've never been through something like that."

Q: What's the biggest adjustment basketball wise from overseas to here?

Tagayi: "I'll say maybe how fast the game is going. Here in the United States, you're playing very fast [and] the decisions are very, very fast. I think it was being able to adapt myself to the speed of the game."

Q: In your first year being a freshman, you were kind of thrown into the starting role immediately. How fast did you have to adjust?

Tagayi: "Since the first two games. I was tired after the first two games and then I realized I have to improve on that. If I want to be starting, if I want to play, I really needed to improve on that."

Q: It seems like a very close-knit group. How much easier did that make the adjustment coming in and [realizing] it's not just a team, but it's a family?

Tagayi: "Very easy, especially before the season in August when I came, everybody was so friendly, we were going to eat with each other and all that made it very easy to feel comfortable in this team, especially when you move from another continent. I love the family vibe."

Q: You've never played in the MAC tournament, but you've played in the Euro League Cups, the French Cups and national championships overseas. How do you feel like being in those environments are preparing you for something like this?

Tagayi: "I think it helps especially when there is the final stage, like the MAC tournament. Being able to play the national team, the final, and all that helps [me] a lot. Being able to stay calm on the court really helps and also just having a lot of experience and being able to play against many countries and many types of basketball helps."

Q: There's obviously a lot of freshmen and a lot of transfers in. How have you guys leaned on players like Tessa [Towers] and Grace [Kingery] who have been here before, or even [Brady] Sallee, who's coached here before?

Tagayi: "It was just talking with them, for example like Grace and Tessa, we can just go to them and ask [for] advice, and they will really be there for us. Even Brady, you can just go in his office. And with Zhen [Verburgt] and Alba [Caballero] and all of them we also have national teams, so it's just like to help each other as Europeans coming here."

Catch Tagayi and the rest of the Cardinals in Cleveland at Rocket Arena for their first round MAC tournament matchup with Bowling Green.

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

The Price Hall Warming Center is a newly established service for Muncie residents who lack shelter during the colder months.

The center, owned by the Muncie Housing Authority (MHA), sat vacant for two years due to a lack of staff needed for operation. In January, it opened its doors for the first time.

Brionna Richardson came to the Price Hall Warming Center after hearing about its services from a volunteer. Since then, she and her husband, Dion, became clients and official volunteers for the MHA and the warming center.

Richardson was recently hired as a property manager for one of the complexes owned by MHA. Brionna said that despite her years of experience in health care, some employers focused on appearance rather than ability.

Once Brionna is hired as a property manager, she and Dion will be able to move into the complimentary managers' unit with their two dogs, Bella and Princess. From there, Brionna intends to return to school, and Dion wants to learn a skill or trade.

"Life is getting better for us ever since we stepped foot into this place," Richardson said.

At the center, clients have access to supplies provided by donations from the community, such as cots, winter clothing and hygienic supplies. Clients are also treated to hot meals.

MHA also assists clients in applying for the Lifeline Support for Affordable Communities program, the federal program that provides heavily-discounted phones and cellular services to eligible low-income citizens.

Clients of the warming center also have access to a desktop computer with internet access. With this, they can use the internet, apply for jobs or request government documents needed to apply for federal programs.

Quinton Johnson, a Price Hall Warming Center client, is pursuing a degree in psychology at Ivy Tech Community College while staying at the shelter. With his degree, Johnson said he wants to help people with mental illness after battling his own.

"It's not a nice spot to be in, but what keeps me motivated is that there's nowhere to go from here but up," Johnson said.

Johnson is also pursuing a music career in the rap genre under the artist name "QDizzle."

Curtisa Goodwin, the CEO of the Muncie Housing Authority said, "I've noticed a lot of our participants are people like me and you who have simply just fallen on hard times,"

According to Goodwin, unstable housing can affect anyone, regardless of circumstances or background.

The MHA offers unhoused individuals in the community with criminal backgrounds a second chance at employment, including as property managers for one of the many complexes the authority rents to low-income families.

Many individuals who benefit from resources such as the Price Hall Warming Center often directly contribute to the center to help others in similar situations, as well.

As of 2025, 15.6 percent of individuals in Delaware County were living in "severe housing" conditions, according to the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps Program. That number is 4 percentage points higher than the Indiana average.

The same study also shows that 21 percent of children in Delaware County were living in poverty, 6 percent higher than the standard in Indiana.

According to MHA's website, the authority provides services to help combat these statistics, such as low-income housing opportunities, access to jobs and financial planning education for its residents.

Goodwin said the attitude of those with resources toward those without also contributes to a lack of opportunities. She said that a "major factor" preventing people from accessing resources are criminal background checks.

"Give these people a chance with these background checks, because I'm telling you, you're going to get some of the best people, the most hard-working people," Goodwin said.

Peter McDermott came to the Price Hall Warming Center after his release from prison. McDermott was sentenced to prison four years ago for a drug-related conviction and was released as recently on parole. McDermott helps clean the warming center when needed.

"They offer a service here, and I can't just [get it] for free. I have to pay it forward somehow," McDermott said. "This is more like a family that takes care of each other and wants us to do good."

Along with his dedication to contributing to the warming center, McDermott is determined to stay clean from drug use after years of addiction. Currently, he is four years clean from narcotics and 36 years clean from alcohol.

Before his conviction, McDermott had struggled to maintain jobs, despite being a recipient of two college degrees.

He said his ability to access resources had been hindered, as some shelters will not permit overnight residence to those with felon status.

Despite the barriers he had encountered since his release from prison, McDermott was given access to the Price Hall Warming Center and expects to find sustainable housing "within the next two weeks."

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, drug addiction, like that which McDermott experienced, is only a single reason that might keep someone from a stable housing solution.

"People should stop defining people for their mistakes and look at what they can provide to others," McDermott said. "Don't judge a book. Read it first."

Members of the community can come to Price Hall along with many other shelters to find respite from the cold. The Muncie Housing Authority also provides opportunities for citizens in Muncie to find permanent housing solutions, as well as volunteer opportunities to serve the community.

Contact Ryan Fleek via email at ryan.fleek@bsu.edu.

Towers has completely revitalized her role for a hopeful Cardinals team looking to repeat as MAC champions, averaging 15.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game on nearly 57 percent shooting from the field.

The center has been a leader for a Cardinals team who just wrapped up a 25-6 regular season, and will enter Cleveland as a number two seed in the MACtournament.

Here is an exclusive Q&A with Towers ahead of the MAC tournament.

Q:Obviously, the season's not over with the MAC tournament coming up but reflecting on this year as a whole, what have been your favorite moments about playing with this group?

Towers: "I think my favorite moments playing [with] this group is those tight games, especially the Troy game where Zhen [Verburgt] hit the buzzer beater and I felt like the environment was just electric in those moments, [and] as a team, it just felt like we were all together. We've had close games like that before, and it's just seeing the team, such a new team, just come together like that, it's just amazing. "

Q:Having those moments, how are those preparing you for an environment in Cleveland?

Towers: "I think it's preparing us to know that we can play in those types of games, we can come out on top in those types of games, and especially having Zhen [Verburgt], a freshman, make those shots, anyone can do it. It's just about who's gonna step up, and I think that definitely shows a lot, especially in Cleveland."

Q: This is your second MAC tournament. What's your mindset going into this, especially in a bigger role?

Towers: "My mindset goinginto it is to just give it my all. 
I mean, honestly, like put my body on the line, just do whatever it takes to win. I want to win so bad, especially now that I'm in a bigger role contributing basketball wise on the court.
I want to win."

Q: How do you feel like you've directed your teammates, knowing that you've been here? 
Grace [Kingery] has been before too, but especially being a new team, how do you feel you've kind of prepared your teammates for the MAC tournament?

Towers: "A lot of them don't really know what the MAC tournament is, we had to explain a lot about the conference and about everything. Us, the returners, are just like, well these games are important, these games are super important. I think we've kind of guided them that way and helping them understand how important these games are, [and] how much we all want to win. I think that guidance is going to help us win."

Q: How much do the fans mean? When you're in Cleveland, and you look to see all the fans that traveled to come watch you guys play, how much do the fans mean to you that are there?

Towers: "The fans mean a lot to me, especially [to] me personally. I feel like the environment around me, the fans around me, I feel really loved by them. So having that fan base, especially if they come out to Cleveland, means a lot. We definitely need the support, and I know all of us appreciate all the fans. I love the fanbase [and] I love the Muncie family."

Q: Obviously the MAC tournament is never easy. But how much easier does it make it when the group is so close knit?

Towers: "This is half the team's first time in the MAC tournament, so I think having them experience it [with] us [being] so close, I think it's gonna be great. It's gonna be such a good experience, I know that we all want to win, and I think the number one thing I want us to have is just fun. Just have fun and enjoy it and just go out there and play basketball."

Catch Towers and the rest of the Cardinals squad Mar. 11 when they square off with Bowling Green at Rocket Arena in Cleveland in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

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

The Cardinals (25-6, 16-2) did just that, knocking off Toledo (15-14,9-9) 78-71, and getting their 25th win of the season.

Ball State was down two points after one quarter of play, but the team rallied in the second and third quarters by outscoring Toledo 40-21 to put themselves in the driver's seat. Head Coach Brady Sallee said he saw the bench be most effective during the Cardinals' biggest stretch.

"That's good to see that we're capable with those kids playing as well as they did," Sallee said.

Ball State fell to top-seeded Miami (OH) in a close game Feb. 21, but since then have done nothing but win. The Cardinals ended the regular season with three straight wins, which Sallee said has given the team a positive mindset moving forward.

Sallee has said after past games that the team has been taking everything game by game and not looking forward to the MAC tournament in Cleveland. But now that the regular season has come to an end, Cleveland will be the team's main focus in the next coming days.

"We'll pour everything into whoever Wednesday's opponent is," Sallee said. "For all these new kids, going into Quicken Loans up there in Cleveland is a new experience for them, so that will be stuff we'll talk about a little bit and have to handle."

Sallee said that the team needs to eliminate distractions in the next few days in preparation for the upcoming tournament. Soon, the all-tournament teams will come out, but aside from all the emotions that are attached to awards, the head coach said that does not matter, and that the team's focus has to be on Wednesday's game.

"That's gotta be our mindset, nothing can get in the way," Sallee said. "I think our kids are in a good place right now with it."

Coming into this season for Ball State, there were a lot of question marks. The loss of multiple star players from last season and the abundance of new faces in the program left fans wondering if they would see the same product on the court.

But the 2025-26 Cardinals shattered expectations, achieving a 25-6 regular season record, and securing their place as one of the MAC teams that could make some noise in March.

Sallee said that if someone would have told him at the start of the season that this team would go 25-6, he would have said two words: "You're crazy".

"It just defies all logic," Sallee said. "I'm awfully proud of this group for understanding the assignment."

Ball State will look forward to Cleveland, as the Cardinals will take on the seven seed in the MAC Mar. 11, which will be announced by the conference later today.

"We've had an incredible year," Sallee said. "Now we gotta go put the cherry on top."

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

The decision came after the Cardinals wrapped up a 12-19 season in Lewis' fourth year at the helm. This season marked the third straight losing season for Ball State.

Lewis earned 20 wins in his first season as head coach of the Cardinals but ultimately ended his Ball State career with a losing record of 61-64.

In a press conference after the Cardinals win over Central Michigan Mar. 6, Lewis said that he was disappointed with where the program currently sits, and that he knew a 12-19 season like this could happen.

"I knew last spring [that] a year like this could be on the horizon," Lewis said.

Ball State Athletics released a statement on the matter earlier this morning.

"We are grateful to Coach Lewis for the passion and commitment he brought to our program the past four years," Athletic Director Jeff Mitchell said. "We appreciate the time and effort he invested in our student-athletes."

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

Senior guards Elmore James IV, Juwan Maxey, Devon Barnes and senior forward Cam Denson were all honored before the game for the Cardinals' senior night.

The Cardinals (12-19, 7-11) were able to come out on top over the Chippewas (10-21, 6-12) 85-69, to end the season on a four-game win streak.

"I was really happy for our group, particularly our four seniors, to be able to go out like that," Head Coach Michael Lewis said. "That wasn't easy knowing that this is your last game."

Senior guard Elmore James IV said it sucks the team cannot compete in the MAC tournament next week, but the guard said ending the year on a four-game win streak "feels a lot better than just giving up."

Ball State played like they had a chip on their shoulder early, as the Cardinals came out hot. Central Michigan could only watch as Ball State exploded in the first half and took a 42-26 lead into halftime. The Cardinals shot 73 percent from the field and 67 percent from behind the arc in the first half.

Lewis said the game was not the Cardinals' best 40 minutes, but the first 20 minutes was "really good." The head coach said the ball movement the team had sparked a lot of offensive success.

"I thought we had good space and I thought we were able to put them [Central Michigan] in some positions where we had some matchups that we could attack," Lewis said.

The Cardinals seemed to come out with a different type of energy in the game, which electrified their early lead. James said the team came out with high energy because they knew it was going to be their last game at Worthen Arena.

"We just wanted to go out with a bang," James said. "We had a great home crowd all season, so it was only right for us to just stay together and stay composed and get another win in front of them."

James said that all season, the most enjoyable part about playing for Ball State was how close the team was. He said that it did not matter if the team was in the locker room before practice or on a road trip together, what mattered was that the team was together.

"Our team deserved it," sophomore guard Davion Hill said about the win. "I think we're starting to play our best basketball, so it's unfortunate [it is ending], but it was great to go out with four [straight] wins."

Hill added the cherry on top to a stellar season, as the guard scored 25 points on 10-15 shooting from the field.

Lewis said what this team did is something that only "one percent of the world can do." Just a couple weeks ago, the Cardinals had a 3-11 conference record, but the head coach said the team continued to show up every day and fight.

"[I'm} really proud of them," Lewis said.

At the end of the game as time was running out on the clock, fans in Worthen Arena rose up from their chairs to give Ball State one last standing ovation. James, who played in his last collegiate game, said emotion fully hit him once he saw the clock turn to zeros.

"I kind of just got a little feeling in my stomach, I'm already missing everybody," James. "What we built since June, [this team] was definitely fun to be a part of."

Hill said as he was walking to the locker room, a "sad wave" went across his body, but the guard described it as a "happy sad" emotion.

"We've been through our ups and downs, but we're all close," Hill said.

Lewis said that even though the season had its fair share of ups and downs, he always saw the team show up every single day. The head coach said that kind of resolve is something that they will "carry on for them to be successful in their life."

The head coach said that he is disappointed about how Ball State as a program currently sits, but he said he is not disappointed in what this group of players accomplished.

"These guys gave us what they had, they competed every day," Lewis said. "They continued to grow throughout the season, [and] I think it speaks a lot about the guys in that locker room."

This game marked the end of Ball State's season, as they ended the year with an overall record of 12-19, and a 7-11 record in the MAC.

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

Leavitt led her Wednesday press briefing by dubbing the Iranian government led by AyatollahAli Khamenei, killed in Saturday strikes, the "rogue Iranian terrorist regime." Trump and other top administration officials had pointed to Tehran's nuclear and missile programs as the main reasons for President Donald Trump's surprise and ongoing war.

She again listed the nuclear and missile programs as part of the administration's war justification, but added a desire to sink the Islamic Republic's navy. Leavitt also added a fourth reason to the ever-growing list of reasons why Trump defied his decades-old anti-war views.

"Operation Epic Fury will ensure the regime's terrorist proxies in the region can no longer destabilize the region or the free world and attack our armed forces," she contended. "And, thus far, Iran's proxies are hardly putting up a fight."

Leavitt became the second senior Trump administration official in as many days to argue that theU.S.businessman-turned-president wanted - as he has with a long list of countries, individuals and entities since returning to office last January - to cut a few lucrative deals with Iranian leadership.

"Additionally, (Iran) had the opportunity to accept our support as an investor in potential projects to develop peaceful nuclear energy together," she said. "Yet, in response,Iranwould have to forfeit their enrichment capacity once and for all. ButIran… accepted none of these generous and unprecedented offers by the United States."

Nearly half (45 percent) ofU.S.adults opposed usingU.S.military force to overthrow the Iranian government, with 32% in support, according to aYouGov-Economist surveyconductedFeb. 27-March 2.

Asked Wednesday in theWhite Housebriefing room if Trump believes most Americans support the decision to go to war, Leavitt replied: "I think he does, and I think the president knows the country is smart enough to (ignore) many of the fake news headlines produced by people in this room."

"This is a rogue terrorist regime that has been threateningthe United Statesand our allies and our people for 47 years," she added. "And the American people are smart enough to know that, and they've also been smart enough to listen to the president himself."

She described the list of reasons used so far by multiple officials as "a cumulative effect of various direct threats thatIranposed tothe United Statesof America."

Leavitt's comments came a day afterTrump contradictedSecretary of StateMarco Rubio'saccount of what drewthe United Statesinto the conflict that Israeli and American forces began on Saturday.

Seated alongside GermanChancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said he likely forced Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuinto the conflict.

"No, I might have forced their hand. You see, we were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first. They were going to attack," Trump told reporters in theOval Office. "I felt strongly about that.

"And based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen," he added. "So, if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand. ButIsraelwas ready, and we were ready, and we've had a very, very powerful impact, because virtually everything they have has been knocked out."

But on Monday afternoon, before briefing lawmakers onCapitol Hill, Rubio said an imminent threat toIsraelled toU.S.involvement.

"We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an (Iranian) attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn't preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties," said Rubio, also Trump's national security adviser.

Back onCapitol Hilllater Tuesday, Rubio told reporters "there's nothing to clarify." But then he offered an account more in line with Trump'sOval Officecomments.

"The bottom line is this: The president determined we were not going to get hit first. It's that simple, guys. We are not going to put American troops in harm's way," the former GOP senator and Trump 2016 campaign rival said. "(Iranian leaders) wanted to reach a point where you couldn't touch them, and then they could do whatever the hell they wanted with their nuclear program."

Trump administration officials appear to be trying to settle on the Iranian government's missile and drone programs as a safeguard for its masked nuclear ambitions as the chief justification for going to war.

But each time, a senior official has offered another reason, further clouding the Trump team's thinking.

It was Defense SecretaryPete Hegseth'sturn on Wednesday morning.

"Yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinatePresident Trumphas been hunted down and killed," Hegseth said during a briefing at the Pentagon. "Iran tried to killPresident TrumpandPresident Trumpgot the last laugh."

What's more,White Houseofficials this week have been unable to square why a new attack was necessary after Trump had said in June thatU.S.strikes had "totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear program.

Two senior administration officials who briefed reporters under condition of anonymity to be candid described a robust and mature nuclear program, contending Iranian negotiators wanted to ramp up enrichment to weapons-grade levels.

The varying explanations led House Minority LeaderHakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Tuesday to declare of administration officials: "They're all over the place in terms of their justification," adding of Trump's June assessment: "So, was he lying to the American people then - or is he lying now?"

Senate Minority LeaderCharles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a Wednesday X post that he "sat yesterday with mySenatecolleagues for an all-senators briefing, and here's how much clarity we got out of that briefing:Zero."

SomeDemocratshave warned about a prolonged American military mission inIran.

Leavitt on Wednesday would not rule out Trump eventually deploying ground forces, though she said "they're not part of the plan for this operation at this time."

"I know there (have been) many leaders in the past who liked to take options off the table without having a full understanding of how things are developing," she said. "So, again, it's not part of the current plan, but I'm not going to remove an option for the president."

Indiana'snew school accountability systemis officially on the books, pending a few final signatures.

The State Board of Education on Wednesday voted unanimously to formally adopt the new statewide model, locking in aredesigned A-F grading systemthat state officials said better reflects student progress, literacy and post-graduation readiness.

"This has been something that has been a long time coming," said Katie Jenner, Indiana's secretary of education. "Many, many stakeholders around Indiana weighed in."

The multiyear effort was ordered by lawmakersafter Indiana dismantled its previous accountability framework and rewrote high school graduation requirements. Schools have been without a grading system in the interim while the replacement model was in development.

The rule now heads to state Attorney General Todd Rokita, who has 45 days to sign off, and then to Gov. Mike Braun for final approval.

"This model values academic outcomes as well as skills and experiences. It's so much more than just creating a robot who can memorize things," said Paul Ketcham, assistant secretary of education. "It is a very granular model. Every student will have the opportunity to grow, and it's our responsibility to grow them."

"In 49 other states, it's an accountability rule," Ketcham said. "In Indiana, it's a roadmap for schools and students and families to be successful."

A familiar framework - with a rebuild

Indiana schools will continue to receive single-letter grades - A, B, C, D or F - under the new system, but those grades will now be calculated in a fundamentally different way.

Rather than relying primarily on schoolwide averages and standardized test scores, the new framework assigns points student by student. Jenner and other education officials have described it as a model in which schools earn credit for each individual student based on a combination of academic proficiency, growth and additional "success indicators" that vary by grade span.

Those student-level scores are averaged within separate grade bands - elementary, middle and high school - and combined into one overall A-F grade for each school.

The model was intentionally designed to move beyond an "all-or-nothing" approach and incorporate multiple measures while keeping academic mastery central, particularly reading and math in the early grades, according to astate regulatory analysis.

"No longer does an indicator encourage schools to dismiss certain students that might be way behind," said Ron Sandlin, senior director of school performance and transformation for the Indiana Department of Education. "We fundamentally flipped the paradigm. Every student in a school generates points."

At the high school level, the model more directly ties accountability to Indiana's newly redesigned diplomas and diploma seals.

Full ICC story with powerpoint embed

Graduation rate and SAT performance each make up 10% of a school's grade-12 score, alongside measures tied to coursework, credentials, work-based learning and student engagement.

"What we've tried to do is understand the student in their entirety," Jenner said. "So that they don't get washed in simple numerator-denominator math that we've been doing for so long."

Multiple education groups and other board members additionally voiced support during Wednesday's meeting.

"This framework gives teachers the tools to celebrate and support success beyond a single test score," said Rachel Hathaway, Indiana executive director at Teach Plus, a national nonprofit focused on education policy. "Accountability should not be about labeling schools. It should be about improving them."

Todd Bess with the Indiana Association of School Principals emphasized that the new model "prioritizes student growth alongside proficiency."

"It recognizes the progress schools make every day with students at all starting points. Moving up those that are below (proficiency). Those that are just about there -and then obviously, those that are still wildly proficient - keep moving them, too, and finding those success indicators," Bess said. "Families and communities can better understand school performance … and what I like is we can say we're going to add these things up. Every kid matters, and here's the greatest outcome."

A transition year before grades 'count'

The new accountability system will roll out through a transition period Sandlin tagged "Year Zero," which applies to the 2025-26 school year.

Letter grades for the current academic year will be calculated and publicly released under the new model, but they will be informational only and will not trigger any timelines or consequences tied to Indiana's accountability laws.

Sandlin said that the goal is to give schools and communities time to understand the new calculations and respond before the grades formally carry weight. Year Zero, he said, is intended to "set a clear baseline" and provide families and schools with transparent information about where performance stands under the new system.

IDOE plans to begin sharing detailed performance data with schools later this year, followed by the public release of Year Zero grades.

"This is different than any past A-F years," Sandlin said.

As part of the transition, the grading scale will also be temporarily adjusted. For Year Zero, an A grade will span 85 to 100, rather than the traditional 90 to 100 range.

Starting with the 2026-27 school year, letter grades will once again count for accountability purposes. At that point, the cutoff for an A will gradually increase over time, rising by 2.5 points in any year when at least 25% of schools earn an A, until it reaches a final target of 90 to 100.

State officials said the approach is intended to allow an initial transition period while steadily increasing rigor as schools improve under the new model.

Wednesday's vote followed months of revisions and public feedback led by IDOE, as well as parallel negotiations with federal education officials over Indiana's accountability obligations.

Jenner said thestate hit pause on its pending federal waiver- which would give Indiana added flexibility in how it aligns accountability and funding - to avoid locking in a model that was still being revised.

RELATED: ICC: Indiana seeks federal waiver to streamline education funding, 'align' accountability

Thewaiverseeks permission from the federal government to overhaul how Indiana spends and tracks billions of dollars in education aid - a request that Hoosier officials said would align the state's accountability system with federal law and allow more freedom in how schools use their funds.

Hoosiers officials specifically requested exemptions from multiple provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA, the federal law governing K-12 education, plus permission to combine funding from more than 15 federal education programs into a single "strategic block grant."

The U.S. Department of Education has 120 days to review and respond to waiver applications once they're received. Indiana's was submitted in October, but the pause extends that timeline.

"We intentionally paused our federal waiver process as we were working through the final touches in our accountability model …. in order to get this at the best place," Jenner said. "We will unpause our waiver timeline shortly."

"The fact that we're doing this accountability work simultaneously as we're working on our waiver has been a huge advantage to Indiana," she said. "In addition to stakeholders in Indiana pushing us on some things, (federal officials) have also pushed us on some things. … A lot of people think policy work is threading the needle. We've had, like, multiple pieces of yarn."

Hougland credits her career path to the continual encouragement of her first-grade teacher, who encouraged her to follow her blooming passion for wildlife, and continues to keep in touch to support her.

That encouragement, along with the support from her parents, helped her to find the path her passions were guiding her to follow.

"My parents always supported me in everything," said Hougland, "even when my interests weren't normal for a girl my age to want to explore."

On her journey to a career in wildlife biology, Hougland found her home, and her people, at Ball State. Her interests and passions had always set her apart from her peers, but she found a wonderful friend group with similar passions on campus.

"Growing up, fitting in with people in my classes was hard, because I've always been interested in things most people aren't," Hougland said, "but it helps when you find your own people."

Hougland noted that getting to build close relationships with her professors is one way she did not expect to find her people. Despite the unexpected nature of the friendships she has built, bonding with her professors is one of her favorite aspects of her studies at Ball State.

Her favorite aspect of her time at Ball State is the hands-on opportunities, field trips, and animal handling experiences that are available through her major.

Her passion for wildlife and conservation is not limited to her studies as a biology student. She is extremely passionate about the national parks, and protecting the wildlife and the environments within the parks.

Her passion for the parks is something she credits as the most "her" aspect of her personality, citing her first trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at only 4 years-old. Now, Hougland has been to 19 parks and spends her summers working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge.

After graduation, Hougland is sure to make waves in the world of conservation with her passion, drive and her experience with conservation.

At Cardinal Media, we believe everyone at Ball State has a story worth telling. Cardinal Spotlight is our way of getting to know students beyond the surface - what they're up to, what matters to them, and what makes them who they are. Ordinary college life is more interesting than it gets credit for, and we want to hear about it.

With 19 seconds to go in regulation, Ball State Men's Basketball was down 60-56 to Western Michigan. The Cardinals' season was at risk, with a loss eliminating them from Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament contention.

With 13 seconds to go, junior guard Armoni Zeigler sunk a three. The Broncos then went one-for-two on free throw attempts, giving the Cardinals a chance to tie or win the game down just two points with just over seven seconds to go.

The ball was inbounded to none other than Zeigler. The guard drove all the way to the basket, made a layup, and forced overtime in Kalamazoo. Ball State went on to win in overtime 74-71, keeping their chance of going dancing alive.

"We're gonna take this win and get out," Head Coach Michael Lewis said.

The Cardinals have been no stranger to close games recently, as two of their last three wins have come in overtime. Lewis said the mindset in these close games is something he's "talked about all year" with this group.

"We got our backs against the wall tonight, [but we] delivered," Lewis said.

Zeigler has been a player the Cardinals have continued to go to down the stretch of games. Against the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Zeigler made the go-ahead bucket to seal the victory.

Against Western Michigan, the guard's final five points of regulation added to a 28-point performance. Lewis said it was a "gut play" to give Zeigler the chance to get downhill on his right side and try to make a play to force overtime.

"I thought he played with poise and played strong," Lewis said. "He has delivered here in the last couple games."

Freshman center Preston Copeland is another player that made huge contributions to the Cardinals' eleventh win of the season. The center had 12 points and six rebounds, which is his fifth double figure game of the season.

Lewis said he has seen Copeland continue to improve, especially on the defensive side. The head coach said Copeland did a good job in screen coverage against the Broncos.

"He can be a real problem on that end of the floor," Lewis said. "And [it] continues as he's starting to understand the system and scheme, [he] continues to improve."

With the win, the Cardinals moved to ninth in the MAC. But unfortunately for the Cardinals, the road is likely coming to an end, as the Cardinals are eliminated in any possible remaining scenario in tiebreakers with Buffalo and UMass.

Next up for the Cardinals, the team will take onCentral Michigan at home for senior day Mar. 6.

"I'm really happy for those guys to be able to pull this one out," Lewis said. "[We] get an opportunity to compete [again] on Friday."

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

Condolences poured in following the death of U.S. Rep. Jim Baird's wife nearly two months after they were injured in a car crash.

Danise Baird died following complications from injuries she suffered in theJan. 5 accident, the congressman's office announced Sunday.

"Congressman Baird and Danise were married for 59 years, building a life centered on faith, family, and service," Baird's office said. "A devoted wife and loving mother of three, she was the foundation of their family and will be deeply missed. We ask that you keep the Congressman and his family in your prayers during this difficult time."

Gov. Mike Braun was among numerous state leaders who expressed sympathies to the Baird family.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Baird and his family as they grieve this devastating loss," the governor said on social media.

Jim Baird, who is 80, and Danise Baird were both initially hospitalized with injuries from the crash that happened as they were returning to Washington. The congressman was released the next day but wore a neck brace for a time afterward.

Danise Baird was out of the hospital by Jan. 12 and was continuing to recover, a social media post from her husband said.

Their son, state Rep. Beau Baird, posted on Feb. 1 that his mother had taken her first assisted steps and that while the family was hopeful "we know there's still a road ahead."

Danise was Jim Baird's "high school sweetheart," according to the biography on his congressional office website. The couple had three children.

Baird, a Republican, was a Putnam County commissioner and a member of the Indiana House of Representatives before first being elected to western Indiana's 4th Congressional District in 2018.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who preceded Baird in the congressional seat, called Danise Baird's death "Absolutely horrible news."

"So sorry for your loss," Rokita said on social media. "Thoughts and prayers with you, Congressman, and all who loved Danise."

Democratic U.S. Rep. Andre Carson posted "I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Danise Baird. I'm praying for Rep. Baird and the entire family as they navigate this incredibly difficult time."

The lawsuits come in response to "a policy that bans protesters and demonstrations within 50 feet of most campus buildings and the university's use of campus policy to punish students for protected political expression," according to the post.

RELATED: Ball State protest sanctions draw criticism from FIRE, AAUP

"Ball State cannot use broad, unconstitutional policies to restrict protest and punish students for protected expression," Gavin Rose, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Indiana said in a March 2 press release. "The First Amendment protects students' right to engage in peaceful political expression, whether that means demonstrating on campus or delivering written concerns to university leadership."

This brief will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

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

Ball State University Women's Tennis vs Cleveland State University

Cheer on the Cardinals as they face off against Cleveland State University! Show your Cardinal pride as you witness these exciting sets played by dedicated athletes!

• Price: Free for Students
• Location: Ball State Tennis Courts
• Date and Time: Sunday, March 1, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

IDEA Conference 2026

IDEA brings together more than 130 residents from over 30 active neighborhoods for a full day of inspiration, learning, action, and celebration. For 10 years, the conference has united neighbors, volunteers, local leaders, nonprofits, foundations, and experts passionate about strengthening Muncie's communities. This year's theme, Brought to You by the Number Eleven, is all about giving neighborhood leaders the tools they need to succeed. Sessions will focus on community conversations, counting success, taking action, healthcare and more!

• Price: Free
• Location: L.A. Pittenger Student Center, Second Floor Ballroom
• Date and Time: Saturday, March 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Wine Pairing with Girl Scout Cookies

Join Belgian Horse Winery for an exclusive afternoon featuring a unique wine pairing experience guided by their talented winemaker, Kris. He will pair 6 of their delicious wines with 6 iconic Girl Scout cookie varieties, thoughtfully selected to enhance each wine's flavors.

• Price: $28.52
• Location: Belgian Horse Winery
• Date and Time: Sunday, March 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ball State University Men's Basketball v. Central Michigan - Senior Night

Cheer on the Cardinals as they face off against Central Michigan! Don't miss the opportunity to celebrate the team's dedicated seniors!

• Price: Free for Students
• Location: Worthen Arena
• Date and Time: Friday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m.

State of our Community, Muncie and Delaware County 2026

Please join Mayor Dan Ridenour and the County Commissioners, Stephen Brand, Shannon Henry and Sherry Riggin for an exciting presentation that will talk about the highlights of 2025 and the future of the City of Muncie and Delaware County in 2026! This in-person event will feature Breakfast, a combined presentation, and networking opportunities.

• Price: Free, reserve a spot

• Location: Horizon Convention Center, Muncie

• Date and Time: Thursday, March 5, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

RELATED: Muncie Central High School students hold a walkout over ICE

RELATED: Burris Laboratory School and Indiana Academy students walk out in protest of ICE

While many students were given the opportunity to freely perform the protest, it drew a considerable amount of attention from legislative officials.

On Feb. 2, Republican Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith posted on social media, saying it was "unacceptable" for publicly funded schools to allow students to distract from class time to protest ICE.

The walkouts were met with both resistance and cooperation from the school districts they happened in, according to a Feb. 11 article from Chalkbeat Indiana. In the article, students that participated in the protests were interviewed and spoke about their schools' reactions to the demonstration, which ranged from coordination with parents and students to suspensions for students who participated.

These protests happened as the Indiana House of Education Committee voted on Senate Bills 78 and 199.

SB 78 outlines rules, regulations and exceptions for students to possess and use cellular devices in public schools during instruction hours, while SB 199, which advanced to the Senate, regulates social media monitoring of some underaged children in Indiana, according to the Indiana General Assembly website.

According to a 2025 study by Pew Research Center, just over half of adults in the U.S. say they receive news from social media sites. Another AP-NORC poll reports that at least 74 percent of Generation Z get their daily news from social media platforms.

RELATED: OPINION: From feeds to feuds: The impact of online politics on offline relationships

The same AP-NORC study found that 46 percent of Gen Z citizens still receive local news through newspapers, websites or apps, which is around the same rate they receive national news. This news diet is reflected in older generations, such as millennials, who are reported to show more of an appetite for local news.

Despite this, the recent legislative budget delivered public broadcast cuts to outlets that have provided coverage across Indiana for years.

In April 2025, the Indiana General Assembly voted on a $44 billion, two-year budget that cut $3.68 million of funding to Indiana Public Broadcasting Services (IPBS), according to an Indiana Capital Chronicle article. IPBS is a non-profit consortium responsible for 17 public radio and television stations, among other public news organizations. To support the whole of the non-profit organization, IBPS decided to cut its statewide team of news reporters and editors.

These cuts to IBPS and the cuts that, according to the White House Website, President Donald Trump signed revoking funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the channel through which media organizations such as NPR and PBS receive federal funding, signal that public news media is changing and the ability for local coverage has been reduced.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) talked about the effect of local journalism on the community Feb. 10 during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing.

"What's most at stake is our democracy," he said, during a discussion about the loss of local coverage in smaller communities. "If I don't know what's happening in the school board meeting… It's hard for me to cast informed votes at the ballot box."

Despite the recent support Sen. Young has voiced for local journalistic efforts, the senator from Indiana voted last July, to rescind $1.1 billion funding for CPB.

Sen. Young was contacted for comment about his current position on local journalism but did not respond within the given deadline.

In the face of state and federal cuts to journalism and its effect on a citizen's ability to stay informed, there are organizations, such as Free Press Indiana, that are finding ways to provide local journalism in the midst of gaps of federal funding.

Free Press Indiana is a nonprofit organization that organizes funding for local newsrooms and journalism projects. They recently, as of 2023, launched a nonprofit newsroom, Mirror Indy, which provides coverage of news in the area of Marion County and Indianapolis.

Along with local coverage, Mirror Indy is responsible for the Indy Documenters, a program where citizens are trained and paid to record local government meetings to report to the public.

"Free Press Indiana has a fantastic mission to make sure every Hoosier has the local news and information they need," Lisa Renze, the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Free Press Indiana, said in a statement to the Daily News. "We're fortunate to get to do this work."

Contact Ryan Fleek via email at ryan.fleek@bsu.edu.

In a Jan. 29 letter to university President Geoffrey Mearns, FIRE said Ball State disciplined students for protected expressive activity and urged administrators to rescind sanctions and revise university policies.

The disciplinary cases stem from a series of demonstrations organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) this school year.

In November 2025, the group held a protest at the Scramble Light on campus, marking the first week of a hunger strike in which several members of the organization participated to protest the university's investments in companies with ties to Israel.

The group of students said they were demanding the university "divest" from those companies and meet with them to discuss their concerns.

After speeches at the Scramble Light, protesters walked inside the Frank A. Bracken Administration Building, where Mearns' office is located. According to prior Daily News reporting, protesters gathered outside the president's office, chanted and attempted to enter, only to find the room locked.

Vice President for Student Affairs Ro-Anne Royer Engle asked students to leave. Video posted on SJP's social media later showed protesters outside the building as the University Police Department escorted Mearns to his car. The video showed that Mearns did not engage with the protesters before leaving.

RELATED: Students target President Mearns during hunger strike rally

However, FIRE's letter focused on a similar but separate incident that occurred just days later in November 2025.

12 students returned to the administration building around 4:45 p.m. to speak with Mearns about university investments again, and some were holding signs in protest.

According to FIRE's letter, the president's office doors were locked. Engle and Assistant Vice President Tiffany Peters met the students in the hallways and directed them to leave. Students argued they had a right to be in the building and to be there during business hours. At 5 p.m., administrators asked them again to leave, and a YouTube video posted by FIRE showed the students complying.

They continued protesting outside the building, more than 50 feet away, until about 5:30 p.m., according to the letter.

In December 2025, Director of Student Conduct Kaleigh Richardosn notified seven students - Cooper Archer, Sam Allen, Scarlet Overfelt, Micah Pech, Alex Bordenkecher, Lilly Bass and Paige Otto - that they were being charged with failure to comply, disorderly conduct and violations of the Non-Commercial Expressive Activity policy.

The University Review Board found Archer responsible for all three violations. Because Archer was already on conduct probation for disrupting a Board of Trustees meeting in February 2025, he was suspended and barred from campus through May 8.

RELATED: Ball State student acquitted on two charges of disorderly conduct

RELATED: Indiana Attorney General requests appeal over Ball State student protester case

His appeal for his suspension was denied Jan. 5 by Vice President for People and Culture Mark Liebling.

In late January, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs T.J. Brecciaroli found the remaining six students responsible for the same violations. They were placed on conduct probation and ordered to complete 10 hours of community service and write a 1,500-word reflection paper.

Two students' probation extends through January 2027.

According to SJP's social media posts, all 12 students involved have now been sanctioned.

Jessie Appleby, program counsel for campus rights advocacy at FIRE, said via email that the students' group affiliations are irrelevant to the matter at hand.

"The students' actions are protected regardless of whether they are or are not affiliated with any other group," she said. "Students do not lose First Amendment rights simply because of their affiliation with any particular group.

Appleby said the administration building is open to students during business hours and argued the students did not engage in disruptive behavior while inside.

"There is nothing in Ball State's policies that would warn students that they cannot enter a building otherwise open to students during business hours simply because they are with other students," she said.

The university charged the students with disorderly conduct under Ball State's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, which prohibits "disruptive" behavior, and its Non-Commercial Expressive Activity and Assembly on University Property policy, which prohibits protests, demonstrations and assemblies within 50 feet of certain campus buildings, such as administrative offices and classrooms.

"These two policies fail to define 'disruption' and 'protest,' which leaves students without clear guidance as to exactly what conduct is prohibited and incentivizes arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement by administrators," Appleby said.

Greg Fallon, associate vice president of university communications and digital strategy, said via email that they would not comment on the student charges as they fall under student conduct.

"Student conduct proceedings are FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protected and, as a result, not something the university will comment on," they said.

According to The Student Press Law Center, FERPA was created to "protect the privacy of personally identifiable information in a student's education record."

As a result, when a university handles student misconduct cases, the records created during that process - complaints, investigation notes, findings, sanctions and related correspondence - are generally considered education records under FERPA.

Because of this, Ball State can not publicly discuss the identity of the students charged, specific allegations tied to a named student or the details of the investigation or disciplinary outcome.

Still, FIRE is urging Ball State to revise its disorderly conduct policy to define misconduct as "material and substantial disruption to university functions and activities," a legal standard the organization said is commonly used in First Amendment cases and is already referenced in other university policies.

The organization also recommends that the university apply the same standard to activities restricted within 50 feet of certain buildings.

Appleby said FIRE has seen similar disciplinary actions nationwide and increased pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses following the October 2023 escalation of violence in the Middle East.

"As we saw a huge rise in pro-Palestinian activism on campus after Oct. 7, we also saw many universities investigating and/or disciplining students for various expressive activities, including protests and social media posts," she said.

Ball State's Freedom of Expression statement affirms that "freedom of expression is enshrined in the First Amendment" and guarantees members of the university community "the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn." The statement says debate may not be suppressed just because ideas are considered offensive or wrong.

However, the policy also states that the university may restrict expression that breaks the law or disrupts campus operations and "may reasonably regulate the time, place and manner ofexpression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of [the] university."

In a series of Instagram posts, the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine criticized the university's actions.

"... All 12 students who engaged in the action from November 19th have been sanctioned and thus had their rights as students and citizens violated," a post Jan. 31 states.

In another post from Jan. 2, the group wrote that the university had suspended a student "who refused to be a silent accomplice," and demanded the university "give these 12 students amnesty and divest from all companies profiting from the genocide being committed against the Palestinian people."

Ball State's chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) also raised concerns about how the university handled recent freedom of expression cases.

"In a number of recent cases, including that involving the 12 students who tried to schedule a meeting with President Mearns, Ball State does not seem to be 'guarantee[ing]...the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn' as promised in the university's Freedom of Expression Statement," the organization said via email.

Ball State's AAUP chapter said policies like the university's Freedom of Expression Statement are intended to guide decision-making during difficult situations. But applying those principles inconsistently, the group argued, leaves faculty, students and staff uncertain about what behavior is allowed and creates an atmosphere of fear.

"It also harms Ball State's reputation, since we have repeatedly garnered negative national attention from places like The New York Times, The Chronicle of Higher Education, the ACLU, and now FIRE," the organization said. "This could make it harder to recruit and retain students, faculty and staff in the future and undercuts the pride some people feel in being publicly affiliated with BSU."

FIRE had asked the university to respond by Feb. 12, confirming it will drop the charges, lift sanctions and revise its policies, but the university has not. Appleby said the organization hopes to resolve the matter collaboratively but is prepared to consider additional steps if necessary.

"We're hopeful that the university will be willing to engage with FIRE on this matter," she said, "but we'll certainly consider other options to press the university to lift the sanctions if that turns out not to be the case."

Contact Meghan Braddy with comments via email at meghan.braddy@bsu.edu.

The team outscored the Huskies 43-14 in the second half of play, leading to a 79-43 win, and propelling Ball State's chances at making the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament.

Head Coach Michael Lewis said that "there's not much to be upset with in a game like this."

"I thought we came out with a real purpose," Lewis said. "The ball went in the hole and some things snowballed."

The Cardinals looked like a completely different team all around. A team that has struggled all year shooting the ball made it look easy against the Huskies, as they shot 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from behind the arc.

The Cardinals recorded 20 assists, and what was most noticeable about the team's ball movement was their lack of turnovers. Ball State only turned the ball over seven times.

Lewis said that in both of Ball State's wins against NIU, taking care of the ball was a big priority to face a Huskies team that averages 87 points in wins and 62 in losses.

"We wanted to make sure we controlled tempo and pace," Lewis said. "The number one key in doing that is taking care of the basketball."

Things were looking bleak for the Cardinals Feb. 20 after a home loss to Akron. The team's conference record fell to 3-11, putting them at last in the MAC. At that point, the Cardinals would likely have to win out to even have a chance at making the eight-seed cutoff to make the conference tournament in Cleveland.

But after back-to-back wins, the chances at a bid in Cleveland look much better.

"[As] the calendar slips to March and you got an opportunity to play meaningful games in that month, it can be a lot of fun," Lewis said.

There are still some moving pieces that can happen for the Cardinals to make the MAC tournament. But the most likely path for Ball State to play in Cleveland starts with the team winning their last two remaining games.

The path to Cleveland continues Mar. 3 as Ball State will go on the road to face a team right below them in the conference standings, the Western Michigan Broncos.

"[To] come out here and do this today, it's really good, and you get a chance to do it again on Tuesday and play a really good opponent in Western Michigan," Lewis said.

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

Senior forward Bree Salenbien, who has led the Cardinals in points per game through the majority of the season, played her final game in Worthen Arena.

"I'm thankful [to] the coaches for giving me an opportunity," Salenbien said. "It's not every day you go pick a kid up that doesn't have the great stats that I did coming out [of Gonzaga]. I'm thankful and I'm grateful to be here."

Head Coach Brady Sallee said he could go on and on about Salenbien's importance to Ball State's program. He said the team "hit the lottery" in the offseason with the acquisition of the forward.

"When we saw her name pop up, that she was going into the portal we got excited instantly," Sallee said.

Sallee said Salenbien is a player that is willing to do whatever it takes to reach her goals. He said that coming into Ball State, she could have just been a one dimensional three-point shooter, but the head coach said she was open to whatever the team needed.

"She did what we needed her to do in order for us to be successful," Sallee said. "She found her way in this to be the player that she is."

Salenbien showed out in front of the senior day home crowd, as she had a near triple-double with 12 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. The forward saved her best playmaking performance for last, as her 11 assists is a season and career high.

Salenbien said that in preparation for the game, the team knew the Bobcats were prone to overhelping defensively and allowing Ball State to have open shooters. The forward credited a lot of her success to the gameplan and her teammates for knocking down shots.

"Staying balanced, being able to kick out, and of course [when] you have the teammates that are hitting the shots like Grace [Kingery]," Salenbien said.

Sophomore guard Grace Kingery splashed in seven threes in the victory and recorded a career high of 24 points. The guard said other threats on the court for the Cardinals made it easy for her to get open and knock down shots.

"Just being able to step into a shot just made it really easy," Kingery said.

It was a game of threes, as there were a combined 74 three pointers attempted between the two teams.

Ohio accounted for 47 of those.

Sallee said that is "the way they play." The head coach said he has not slept well the nights leading up to the game, because he knew what type of game Ohio would play.

He also said the team has not been completely healthy. Sallee said multiple players on the roster have been on and off battling sickness, and leading up to the game, he was a little nervous for this game in specific.

Sallee said playing Ohio is like walking in a haunted house knowing going around a corner will be scary but going in anyways because there is no going backwards.

"There were so many corners that we went around and got the hell scared out of us, but we just kept going and going and going, and we came out one point ahead today," Sallee said.

All of the factors in the game pointed to it almost being the postseason. A narrow one-point victory is right in character for the calendar nearly flipping to March. Sallee said it is fun to still be competing for a Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season title with two remaining games and having the looming MAC tournament in Cleveland right around the corner.

Sallee said he knows the team can go up to Cleveland and win, and he said it is a pretty awesome feeling to know his team has a good chance to win the conference.

"I've coached some teams where you hope you go up and [have] a chance, [but] my last few years I've known that we're as good as anybody going up there," Sallee said. "And I think we feel that way again this year."

The Cardinals will have a week of rest before heading to Toledo Mar. 7 for their last regular season game of the year.

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

Each year, the Notable Women of Muncie and Delaware County Project hosts an event dedicated to Black History Month. This year's event is even more special as it is also in collaboration with Bracken Library's 50th anniversary and Muncie Public Library's America 250 initiative. Melissa Gentry, supervisor of the Paul W. Stout Map Collection and panelist, explains the importance of educating the public on topics like these.

"Muncie is just such a unique city. We have such a rich history that's connected to so many big events in history, and I think it instills a sense of pride in you," Gentry said.

Gentry believes Muncie plays a significant role in Black History, and other community members agree with her point. "Women of Whitely" is held at the historical mark of Shaffer Chapel Museum. The museum holds a world of Black History from Whitely community members and Muncie residents. Akilah Nosakhere recognizes how remarkable it is to have history to reflect on and build upon.

"Yes, it does move me. The women have always been the movers and the shakers in the community and in the family. And the women of Whitely showed that in their activities," Nosakhere said.

Nosakhere is a Muncie native, and she makes it her duty to learn about the path that these women paved.

"It's the strength and the spirit that goes through generations, it keeps moving forward, and that's why I'm here tonight, to push it and to keep it moving forward," Nosakhere explains.

The Notable Women of Muncie and Delaware County project will continue to host events that tell the stories of inspiring women. The Shaffer Chapel Historic Museum is open and available to the public for any interest.

Contact Kahmara Munn with comments at kahmara.munn@bsu.edu.

She explained that when something appeared in the news, her professor seemed to pivot away from the topic rather than have an open discussion about it, as the class normally would.

"I think he was holding back," Recker said.

Recker said she saw this discomfort after the death of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated Sept. 10. at an event at Utah Valley University. Kirk was active in Republican politics and often spoke on college campuses, and his death drew mixed reactions from faculty and students at Ball State.

RELATED: Charlie Kirk's assassination evokes mixed reactions from Ball State students

RELATED: OPINION: Prove me wrong: Charlie Kirk's assassination won't be the last

RELATED: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Proved wrong: Charlie Kirk's story should not be re-written

After his death, Suzanne Swierc, who at the time served as director of health promotion and advocacy at Ball State, posted a message on her private Facebook account describing the situation as a "tragedy" while also saying his death is "a reflection of the violence, fear and hatred he sowed."

The post was widely shared beyond its intended audience and sparked significant public backlash, leading the university to terminate Swierc Feb. 17 for "disrupting campus operations," according to its initial statement announcing the termination.

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

When Recker and her classmates asked a professor how to approach the topic of Kirk's death with high schoolers in their practicums, that discomfort remained. Recker said she believes Swierc's firing caused this uneasiness because professors "don't want to be next."

Though Kirk's death might have been a determinant for some, educators have indicated unease with potential controversy in the content they cover subsequent to the passing of Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 202.

Madilyn Sams, a third-year social work major and honors student, said she noticed a difference in the manner her professors approached their usual curriculum. When referencing a specific professor, Sams said she could tell he was nervous to bring anything up that was politically charged.

She said she realized this shift "especially" after SEA 202 passed in March 2024. It is intended to ensure "the protection of free inquiry, free expression and intellectual diversity" in higher education. The legislation also requires universities to create formal processes for students or others to submit complaints if they believe an instructor has failed to promote those values.

Despite this, Sams said she prefers that, no matter what, professors are able to share their opinions even if students disagree.

Sams acknowledged that while unilateral conversations "are never going to get you anywhere progress-wise," she said, "It just feels like any sort of legislation that is geared toward what you can and cannot say in a classroom is never going to lead to anything good."

Barry Ramage, a fourth-year social studies education major, said he has had some professors "straight up" tell the class they were scared of being targeted by the university and that, to avoid it, they would change their curriculum.

He said that, though he experienced this a few times, it was primarily a gradual approach that professors took, as they emphasized that they would speak on subjects in a specific way or not delve into certain topics as deeply.

As some of his professors changed their teaching practices, Ramage said he felt he "missed out" on subjects that could have been discussed.

"To put it bluntly, we're not getting our money's worth," Ramage said, referencing how restricting educators' speech, specifically in higher education, affects students.

Recker said that in her freshman year, they had more "nitty-gritty conversations" in which deeper concepts could be discussed. Contrasted with now, she said she feels that "everyone's always scared to speak out in the class discussion," due to the current political climate.

Ramage said that though SEA 202 attempts to support intellectual diversity, it "in reality, is just hurting intellectual diversity."

"We were already having those tough conversations," Ramage said. "We were already having those 'intellectually diverse' conversations."

As someone entering the education field, Ramage said he is "very worried" because he feels that presenting both sides can "hurt" what students take away from their classes, particularly social studies, because certain topics and incidents are "excused."

"It's like by watering down these past issues and, you know, not correctly talking about these past events, we're allowing them to happen again and even worse, possibly right now," said Ramage.

Also, as an individual who wants to be an educator, Recker said that the classroom must be a place where students "build their intellect" and can "work with others."

Ramage, Recker and Sams all said they feel for their professors - a feeling of worry.

Sams said it is "scary" that "one small slipup" can be reported and cause a professor to lose their "entire living."

She believes fear motivates professors to alter their curriculum and the way they conduct themselves in the classroom, "especially" after SEA 202 passed. Additionally, she said she thinks Swierc's firing was the "turning point" for professors' modification of classroom methods and their verbal and written approaches.

Several Ball State educators declined to be interviewed about this topic, with some citing concerns about the future of their careers at the university.

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

"I don't feel comfortable being interviewed," said a source, via email, from the College of Sciences and Humanities, who wished to remain anonymous. "Professors are being surveilled and policed regarding their teaching."

Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science Johanna Maple said via text message, in-full, "In response to your request for an interview re: freedom of expression at the University, I want to give you a response, in my personal capacity and not as a representative of the university, nor any constituent component of Ball State University, nor any other person or entity.

"I want to respond because as a citizen and as an attorney, I believe in the fundamental importance of the First Amendment to our democracy. I value deeply student journalism. I agree with the sentiments expressed in the university's Freedom of Expression Statement, and with [the] President's quote on the university webpage that 'Freedom of expression is at the core of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.'

"I also agree with the Faculty Council resolution on free expression passed Oct. 23. But because of the chilling effect of the University's recent actions, and my concern regarding the impact that an action against me could have on my students' course sequence and graduation timelines, and the corresponding impact an action against me could have on my colleagues, I decline to be interviewed."

An anonymous source from the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication said they are usually a "free-speaking person" both in and out of the classroom, and that they are "fearless" about the topics discussed in class, encouraging everyone to "speak freely."

While the source said they are not "personally afraid," they are "concerned" on behalf of other university faculty, particularly with possible "short-term repercussions."

Sarah Vitale, an associate professor of philosophy in the psychological sciences department at Ball State, said she tries to create a space in class where students feel comfortable taking risks and saying things that may not be fully developed.

Vitale said that over the course of her teaching career, she has learned "how to facilitate" what she believes are "respectful, engaged conversations with students."

However, Vitale said that after the passing of SEA 202, she "became nervous" that she could get reported, even though she is not breaking the law.

She said that she has to remind herself that she will not allow the state legislature to "bully" her into "avoiding what are considered controversial topics," as these topics "are important to how we live together in the world."

Vitale said she tries not to express her own views in the classroom because it is not her role. For her, it is a place for her to get those views out of others and to aid her students in understanding the perspectives of the authors they study, she said.

The associate professor said these topics are "the most important things," and she wants her students to be able to read long-form articles, to discuss them with peers, to figure out their societal roles, because "otherwise, things are just happening to us."

But she said she tells herself "that it's not bravery if you're not afraid."

Ultimately, Vitale said that she is "most afraid of" what could happen to students, that they could be denied certain things in their college experience.

Associate Professor of Architecture Matthew Wilson said via email that within their curriculum, they do their best to inform students "that history is full of heavy and difficult subject matter." In pairing, Wilson said that they implore students to approach historical subjects with "an open mind," as a couple of their courses are focused on "the human side of architecture and are taught as a form of recognition [of] justice."

They said people may feel "less inclined, more uncomfortable and even increasingly unwelcome to speak their mind" due to the "onslaught on the humanities, critical thinking, contemplative inquiry, and intellectual diversity proper beyond a western canon."

Wilson said that because students, faculty and others can report a professor, it can put these careers "on trial," but despite this, they said they will continue to teach their area of knowledge the way it must be taught.

"To do otherwise would be a disservice to students, an offence to the past and present, and a betrayal of my beliefs and values," Wilson said.

An anonymous source from the English department said they try to keep classroom conversations student-driven, because they do not think talking about difficult or important subjects should be avoided.

They said what is mainly challenging at the university is that students are "just so polite" and often do not want to disagree with one another. Because of this, they said, they do not have problems with students getting angry or fighting.

"But I think it's really important, and I think it's important now not to avoid topics because we're afraid we'll get in trouble if we talk about certain things," they said, even though they are sometimes hesitant to share an example relevant to class material.

While they said they are "not yet" afraid, they are aware that "there are things that could cause trouble," so they are "worried" that something perceived as such could become public.

"I think day to day, I am not afraid. I am trying not to anticipate bad things that might happen and act as if they will happen," they said.

They said they do not teach classes that they feel could be considered "controversial" or "woke." Because of this, they do not feel that they would be "the first target," so they are "not afraid" but acknowledges that "probably other people have more rational reason[s] to be."

Jess Hoffman, an assistant clinical lecturer of social work at Ball State, said that she has found herself feeling "more nervous" about heavy topics. Hoffman said she feels this way "especially" as she saw the public's reaction to occurrences, "and then how that influences everybody else's, like even Ball State's response to things we've been doing in the classroom for a long time."

She said she opens the floor to her students to share different views, and if she does not discuss something a student is curious about, she encourages them to bring those ideas into her classroom to "explore that together."

Hoffman said that during the fall semester, students told her they were "more scared" or "more nervous" about bringing up specific things in the classroom.

She said that since she is cognizant of the words she uses, she does not believe that anything she said outside the classroom could get her in trouble. At the same time, Hoffman said that while she understands being cautious with what she posts online, it is "not the time for self-preservation in terms of being a social worker."

As she adheres to her textbook, Hoffman said that she holds back on recommending external material. She said that about two or three years ago, when she worked part time for the university, she did not feel conflicted about it.

"I feel restricted by the political environment, by my fears about how the university might respond if something I said was disruptive," Hoffman said.

She shared a story in which she said someone made a fake Facebook profile impersonating her and posted that "she" was going to wait outside a school for a woman's children. The woman in question had previously posted about Charlie Kirk on Facebook.

Hoffman herself had also posted about the death of Kirk, but said that her own statement was a "moral neutral" since she did not "celebrate" his death and would not for anyone. She said her own post was on her private account, so only her friends could have viewed it.

Hoffman received calls from the Yorktown Police Department shortly after, and she stated it was not she who made the post targeting the woman and children. But because that post was eventually deleted by the fake account, the police said it was over.

However, Hoffman said she contacted the woman who was harassed to explain the situation, but the woman did not believe her.

"I didn't threaten someone's kids. That's wild behavior," Hoffman said. "And then it just kind of highlighted how quickly something that I could do in the community could come back here."

Assistant Teaching Professor of Economics Nathanael Snow said he believes everyone should think before speaking, and he tries to practice this to be "considerate" to those around him. He said that thinking twice should pertain to "every context."

When issues emerge at the university, such as a professor saying something in a classroom that "seems inappropriate," Snow said the proper way to respond is in a slow, deliberate manner with room for community participation.

Snow said that this era has "many factions," and when people are in one, they typically act and speak for the sake of their faction's approval. He said that this is done "without any motivation" to engage those outside of one's faction. Because of this, he said, responses are swift. It is occurrences like this that Snow said he believes people could respond to more efficiently.

"It takes courage to be willing to face the roars of the crowds that want immediate action, retribution [and] revenge, to allow tempers and the heat to cool," Snow said.

Snow said that though others are "very skeptical" about using discussion as a means to attain "peace, reconciliation and agreement," he is not. He said he understands it is difficult, but he "honestly and completely" believes everyone should be permitted to express their viewpoints and be heard.

"I don't have to agree with anybody. Nobody has to agree with me," he said. "But I think that that's how we discover the world that we live in, the range of the world that we live in, and it can often encourage us to be more humble about our own perspectives."

He said he is not scared, but he is "careful." He said this is not done out of worry for himself, but for his students, his community and for society.

In an email, Snow said that, as an expert, he should not express his perspectives, and he makes a constant effort to heed when someone believes he is speaking as an expert. As a citizen, Snow said he expresses his opinions "as one voice among all the other[s]" and that his beliefs should not have a greater influence than others since he is in a teaching position.

"Because I hold an academic position, people sometimes attribute greater weight to my opinions than others. They should not," he said.

The Ball State Daily News reached out to university spokespersons for comment Feb. 3, but received no response.

Ball State has stated on its website that freedom of expression is central to its mission and that it complies with state law. As SEA 202 remains in effect, its implementation and its impact on classroom experiences continue to unfold across Indiana's public universities.

Contact Channing Matha at channing.matha@bsu.edu.