"Always kind of expected something to be like a stop that made me have to reconsider or readjust or pivot, but I just have never hit a roadblock. And so now here I am starting year 3, keep growing, so I'm happy with it," Hottinger said.

Growing up, Hottinger looked up to his parents. His mom was a teacher and principal for years. Hottinger said she was always the last to leave the building. His dad was an entrepreneur himself, owning two successful startups. He attributes a lot of his success to them.

"Watching them have that work ethic and then my dad succeed in the entrepreneurial world has definitely made this adventure easier to pursue," Hotringer said.

Smokey Drew's was one of the first local Muncie food trucks. However, Hottinger says the competition is growing all the time. While some may see this as a negative, Hottinger sees it as a good thing. He even helps those who are trying to start if they ask, offering tours of his truck so they can get an idea of the layout and the way things operate. Hottinger doesn't regret leaving behind his old professions, even though he experienced cool things there as well.

"I just finally found something I love," Hottinger said.

Smokey Drew's has a variety of menu items. If you're interested in learning more, you can find them on Facebook.

Contact Addison Hampshire with comments at addison.hampshire@bsu.edu

Mason and Ian discuss the recently released Mario Galaxy movie and the characters that have been revealed.

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: Mason Mundy and Ian Case
Executive Producer: Ian Fraser
Script: Mason Mundy
Video Editing: Ian Fraser
Audio Editing: Ian Fraser
Intro Graphics: Ryan Minter
Graphics: Ryan Minter
Thumbnail: Ian Fraser
Original Thumbnail Images From: Nintendo, Illumination
Music: Jack McGinnis
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Ian and Mason discuss the the recent layoffs at Epic Games and those affected.

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: Ian Case and Mason Mundy
Executive Producer: Ian Fraser
Script: Ian Case
Video Editing: Ian Fraser
Audio Editing: Ian Fraser
Intro Graphics: Ryan Minter
Graphics: Ryan Minter
Thumbnail: Ian Fraser
Original Thumbnail Images From: Epic Games
Music: Jack McGinnis
Sources:
Tribune Content Agency
https://www.epicgames.com/site...

During the previous week, SGA introduced three new pieces of legislation centered around campus infrastructure. Two of the three pieces of legislation were authored by Sen. Quinn Davis and off-campus caucus chair Addy Morey, the next SGA president and vice president.

SGA had planned to review the pieces of legislation one more time before going into a vote to remind the senate of what each resolution plans to do.

Related: Student Government Association introduces extended parking meter time legislation

Before SGA began reviewing the pieces of legislation, President Chelsea Murdock spoke on sexual assault awareness month in April and upcoming events.

"Today is April 1, so not only is it One Ball State Day, but it's also the first day of sexual assault awareness month, which is a very important thing across the nation, but also a really important thing on our campus," Murdock said.

Murdock also mentioned that SGA and the Center for Engagement and Civic Learning will host a voter registration drive April 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the University Green to help students get registered for upcoming elections.

Then April 6, from 7 to 9 p.m., SGA will host SGA Late Nite to explain and introduce students to Student Organizational Funding and to help students register to vote before the deadline is over. The event will also be catered by Hot Box Pizza.

The first piece of legislation, Senate Resolution (S.R.) 06, was reviewed again and written by Sen. Lisette Ariza. The legislation aimed to extend time limits for parking meters at Ball State due to many students running into conflicts with class time and the number of tickets being produced.

Vice President Shaina Miller read the beginning of S.R. 06 before the senate motioned to skip the second reading and proceed to voting. The senate had gone through the motion and began the voting process.

After the voting ended, the results were 27 yays, zero nays and one abstention, passing the legislation on to the university senate.

The next legislation SGA reviewed was S.R. 07, written by Davis and Morey, which focused on implementing a comprehensive automated external defibrillator (AED) mapping system. The AED mapping system, if implemented, would help make AED locations easier to access in a timely manner.

Miller began to read off the beginning of S.R. 07 before being motioned to skip the second reading and go straight into voting. The senate had gone through the motion and began the voting process once again.

After the voting ended, the results were 28 yays, zero nays and zero abstentions, passing the legislation on to the university senate as well.

The final piece of legislation reviewed was S.R. 08, authored by Davis and Morey as well, which aimed to enhance campus safety by expanding the network of blue light emergency phones and improving visibility through updated signage and location maps.

In the reading of the resolution, Morey motioned to amend it, saying that there were a few grammatical errors, such as "visibility and visibly," and repetition in separate sections.

SGA then voted to either add the amendment to the legislation or to deny it and keep the legislation the same. The senate passed the amendment unanimously.

After the changes passed, SGA voted to pass the legislation or deny it. After the voting ended, the results were 28 yays, zero nays and zero abstentions.

SGA will meet again April 8 for its last meeting before the inauguration of the next ticket for the 2025-26 academic year at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center in Cardinal Hall B at 3:15 p.m.

Contact Landon Jones via email landon.jones2@bsu.edu.

Yap Sesh with the Libraries: Free Pizza & Giveaways!

Calling all Ball State students! Ready to share your thoughts and get rewarded for it? University Libraries Ambassadors want your feedback on how they can make your experience with the libraries even better.

Join the University Libraries Ambassadors (ULA) for a fun, informal "Yap Sesh with the Libraries"! Come hang out, share your ideas, and enjoy FREE Pizza, Swag and Giveaways!

Event Details:

Who: All Ball State Students
Date: Wednesday, April 8
Time: 6 PM
Location: BL 104

For more information, visit:

https://commcenter.bsu.edu/message/yap-sesh-with-the-libraries-free-pizza-giveaways

Breaking the Silence: Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2026

Did you know April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month? Join the Center for Survivor Support, Counseling Center, and Fraternity and Sorority Life in raising awareness of sexual violence on college campuses. From visual art installations to powerful community marches, there are many ways for you to get involved, show your support, and help us build a safer Ball State.

Day of Action
April 7 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Scramble Light
A nationally acknowledged day, the Day of Action takes place the first Tuesday of every April to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by the Scramble Light to learn about SAAM, pick up teal ribbons to show your support, and learn more about the events happening in April!

Student Organization Yard Sign Competition
April 6 - April 10
Find yard signs created by student organizations at various locations on campus throughout the week! Check out all the ways to raise awareness and vote for your favorite!

Take Back the Night
April 15 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Brown Family Amphitheater
Join the Center for Survivor Support, the Counseling Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and Alpha Chi Omega in honoring survivors at this annual event. Hear from survivors of sexual violence, learn about campus and community resources, and honor survivors with a silent candlelit march.

The Clothesline Project
April 20 - April 24 at the University Green
The Clothesline Project is a visual display of t-shirts, created by university students, to increase awareness of the impact of sexual violence and to honor survivors.

What Were You Wearing
April 22 in the Rec Center Game Lounge and 23 in the Student Center Cardinal Hall C from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
This exhibit features narratives and re-creations of outfits based on survivors' experiences. This event occurs yearly during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Please join us to unlearn one of our culture's most prevalent sexual assault myths.

Denim Day
April 29
Join the millions of people across the world that will wear jeans with a purpose. This day honors survivors and educates about the impact of sexual violence. Learn more here: https://denimday.org/

For more information, visit:

https://commcenter.bsu.edu/message/breaking-the-silence-sexual-assault-awareness-month-2026

Join a storytelling event with Andy Davis on April 9

Quixotic! An engrossing and humorous one-man show which celebrates Don Quixote, and the capacity of art to impact the world. Through personal story, scenes from the novel, glimpses into the author's life, and a snapshot from recent history, the themes of Cervantes's masterwork blend with the enduring questions as to how humans should live.

Audience: Teens and adults

Date: Thursday, April 9

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Location: Bracken Library 104

No prior knowledge of the novel is necessary for enjoyment.

Presented by: Department of Modern Languages & Cultures

If you need an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact Dr. Stephen Hessel: swhessel@bsu.edu

For more information, visit:

https://commcenter.bsu.edu/message/join-us-for-a-storytelling-event-with-andy-davis-on-april-9-1

For more information, go toBall State's Communication Center.

The Cardinals welcomed in Northern Kentucky for a late season MIVA showdown on April 2. The Norses came into the matchup with a season record of 5-14 with the Cardinals holding the No. 7 spot in the Nation.

Ball State took control early and ended up winning 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-17) and continued to their sixth straight victory.

Head Coach Mike Iandolo said he feels good about the team's recent momentum knowing that the MIVA tournament is approaching.

"I feel good, feel confident," Iandolo said. "We took care of business, which is all that matters right now is winning games."

Iandolo knows that the road ahead is going to be challenging but necessary to prepare the Cardinals for their best volleyball.

"Going into next week are some big games," Iandolo said. "We are going to be pretty motivated, so I feel pretty confident."

Sophomore Outside Hitter Wil Basilio has seen the team not waver despite some tough moments in sets that has ultimately made the Cardinals successful.

"It is all about just point by point," said Basilio. "Each rotation, each point we have a gameplan that we just stick to and that helps us stay locked in".

Basilio knows that the sense of urgency has changed throughout the season. It has only heightened with the MIVA tournament approaching.

"Definitely a sense of urgency," Basilio says. "This is the time that we have been waiting for and we are definitely ready and locked in and just excited to get things going".

Senior Outside Hitter Patrick Rogers has been a standout player for the Cardinals all season. He has totaled 26 kills in the previous two games, and he added another 14 against Northern Kentucky.

"Not taking any team lightly," Rogers said. "Working as hard as you can versus whoever it might be".

Rogers has a strong belief in this team, and he said he sees great things ahead. Rogers knows how dangerous the Cardinals can be if they're playing at their best.

"We are really confident in how we are playing right now," Rogers says. "I think we can be a contender for the national title which is the goal. That is the main goal at the end of the year for us but not just us but our support from the fans too."

This game was the start of a three game homestand to end the year for the Cardinals. The next game for Ball State will be a matchup against Lewis April 9.

Contact Zachary Kendall with questions via email at zacharykendall@bsu.edu or on X @ZacharyKendall_

The investigators of the case have released the identity of the individual that was shot on-scene. That individual, 76 year-old Charles David Zearbaugh was shot after Muncie police were dispatched to a welfare check on the 300 block of South Ivy Drive.

Upon arrival, Zearbaugh pointed a handgun at officers before retreating inside to barricade himself, police said.

Officers stayed on scene to de-escalate the situation, attempting to negotiate with Zearbaugh to surrender peacefully.

After attempting to deploy a chemical agent into the back of the residence, shots were fired, harming Zearbaugh who was later pronounced deceased at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.

For more information on this investigation, visit the Indiana State Police Pendleton District's Facebook.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Contact NewsLink Indiana staff with comments at newslink@bsu.edu.

Tonight: A line of showers and thunderstorms will push through our area shortly after dark. High wind gusts and potential hail will be the biggest threat. This is a fast moving storm, so it will be out of our area in an hour or so. There will be some widespread scattered showers and thunderstorms following the first system.

Tomorrow: Chance of short-lived showers on and off throughout the day. The temperature will reach 70 degrees. Overcast skies all day.

Seven-Day Forecast: Cold front coming through Saturday afternoon, causing temperatures to drop and a chance for heavy downpours in the afternoon. Easter Sunday will be a little chilly, but dry for now. Starting the work week with below to right at average temperatures. Temperatures will be back in the 60s towards the end of the work week.

-Weather Forecaster Elia Stowers

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

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

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

Senate Bill 1 was signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun April 15, 2025, to provide $1.3 billion in property tax relief for homeowners over the next three years, according to an April 15 Indiana Senate Republicans news release.

The bill was written by Indiana Sen. Travis Holdman (R-District 19), Sen. Chris Garten (R-District 45) and Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-District 20).

Holdman expressed in the news release his gratitude toward the governor and to "partners" in the House of Representatives for their collaboration and determination, as the bill provides a "fair balance between the needs of local governments and Hoosier homeowners."

"I believe we have landed on a policy that provides immediate relief and long-term reforms that will promote more transparency for our taxpayers," Holdman said, in a provided quote from the news release.

The legislation will give every homestead an extra annual property tax credit to reduce their bill by 10 percent, with a maximum of $300, according to the news release, with two-thirds of homeowners expected to see a lower property tax bill in 2026 than in 2025.

Farmers will also see a change because of the bill, saving $116 million by adjusting the agricultural land assessment formula for two years, which will reduce the assessed value of farmland and cutting property taxes, according to the news release.

For businesses, the bill will increase "business personal property tax," according to the news release. Any business with less than one million in personal property will be exempt from the tax for 2026 property taxes. For 2027 and after, any business with less than two million in personal property will be exempt from the tax, according to the news release.

Unfortunately, the tax benefits for these taxpayers will affect the amount of funding for local units of governments.

According to the news release, the state government receives zero property tax dollars, so local units of government will "be held responsible and accountable by their taxpayers for those continued increases."

Director of public education and CEO for Muncie Community Schools (MCS), Chuck Reynolds, said the school's property taxes currently fund everything to operate the school district, such as transportation, maintenance for the building, custodians and MCS's liability and casualty insurance.

Reynolds explained that there are two buckets of funds: the educational bucket and the operations bucket.

While the educational bucket is not necessarily related to the legislation, he said, the education fund comes from the state budget. The operations bucket is driven by the collection of property taxes, Reynolds said, with the bill putting a "cap" on the increase in appraisal value for personal property.

The operations budget being directly impacted by the bill, he said.

He explained that over the next six years, those funds toward the school will be reduced "pretty dramatically," after beginning in the 2028 school year.

While for the 2026-27 school years, Reynolds said there will be minimal changes regarding funding. For the year 2026, losses of 300 to 500,000 could be made, and 500 to 700,000 losses made for 2027. But looking toward the year 2028, the district is at risk of losing an additional $1.7 million, and then in 2029 a risk of losing $3.5 million.

Reynolds said that Gov. Braun has sent a "pretty clear message" that he wants government units and school districts to "tighten their belts," and said Braun has been "pretty adamant" about saving taxpayers money through their property taxes.

"We can't tighten it that much, right?" Reynolds said. "We'll have to continue to find other ways of not only reducing expenses, but also raising revenue."

Reducing the number of school safety officers or reducing bus routes might have to be looked at, Reynolds said, along with the possibility of reducing the number of custodial and maintenance staff in the coming years.

"We would have to look at reductions on all those folks," he said.

In a March 31 statement from State Rep. Sue Errington (D-District 34), she said vital services such as schools, fire departments and emergency services will "suffer" as a result of this bill.

Errington said that the long-term impacts of the bill will force schools to make "even more cuts," including staff reductions, delaying needed maintenance and could lead to raising operating referendums.

"Senate Enrolled Act 1, which was passed by Indiana Republicans in 2025, was sold to us as a 'tax plan.' In reality, it's a scam," Errington said in a statement.

MCS is not the only school corporation having to consider making cuts due to SEA1.

Superintendent of Schools for Yorktown Community Schools Greg Hinshaw said the school will have to evaluate what the school is spending its operations fund money on due to that fund being impacted by the bill.

Hinshaw said that the approved budget for 2026 was $35,031,000. $23 million will go to the education fund, $3.5 million will be in the debt service fund and 7.8 million in the operations fund.

For Yorktown Community Schools, it is transportation, such as bus purchases, maintenance and custodial utilities.

Hinshaw said that the school has already started looking at consolidating up to seven bus routes for the next school year, while possibly eliminating 40 percent of the school's separate bus drivers, possibly doing that through retirement.

"So we want to be in a position where we can consolidate maybe up to 15 or more bus routes, and then we'll go a couple [of] years where we won't buy any new school buses," Hinshaw said.

Reynolds said MCS is looking at cost savings measures across the school board, recognizing to "tighten our belts" as they prepare for this legislation.

Reynolds encourages members of the community to keep a "close eye" on communications from the school district as the district continues to look at cost savings measures, while also recommending that individuals talk to local legislators and political officials.

"We will communicate that and be transparent with it," he said.

Contact Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea.sundquist@bsu.edu.

In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 15 of 9-1-1.

Music track: Talk by Chill Pulse

Source:https://freetouse.com/music

Copyright Free Music for Videos

Hosted by: Sam Jasionowski and Willow Emig

Edited by: Sam Jasionowski

Graphic by: Willow Emig

Since 2019, The Ball State Daily News has devoted one of its editions every year in late spring to commemorate the partnership and highlight various MCS initiatives and happenings in what we call "The Partnership Paper Edition." This 2026 edition marks the seventh MCS Partnership Paper Edition produced by our publication.

A number of MCS teachers are Ball State graduates, and many MCS students go on to pursue higher education there. Thus, the stories in this edition underscore the interconnectedness of the Muncie community and the circulatory nature of the education systems.

Beyond just documenting what is happening at the schools, the Partnership Paper also serves as a bridge between the campus and the community. It gives readers a better understanding of the partnership's real impact through the lived experiences of the MCS community.

This year's Partnership Paper reflects that mission through a wide range of coverage. Stories in this edition include a look at the Montessori program serving young learners, a profile of a head coach shaping student athletics and updates on the ongoing renovations to Muncie Fieldhouse.

The edition also features a letter from the MCS board president, along with reporting on how property taxes are affecting school funding. In addition, coverage of a master's program for MCS teachers highlights efforts to invest in educator development and long-term classroom success.

Together, these stories show the many layers of the MCS experience, as well as the understanding that the people, policies and places shape it every day.

For us at The Ball State Daily News, this edition also represents a responsibility. Covering MCS every year in this capacity means reporting on a community that many of our readers are directly connected to. That is why the Partnership Paper is more than just a tradition for us. It is an ongoing commitment that we work our hardest to execute every year, and we will continue to do so for years to come.

As Ball State continues to work with MCS, it's important to us that what forms out of this relationship be shared with the public. This means recognizing all of the progress that has been made, as well as the ongoing challenges that come with it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this year's Partnership Paper and for engaging with the stories that reflect the ongoing connection between Ball State and Muncie Community Schools.

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

"The composting operation was initially started in 1991 to reduce the volume of waste being transferred to landfills. Since then, the operation has become a source of soil amendments for campus landscape projects," said Brandon Workman, a supervisor for landscape services.

Ball State composts a variety of different materials, such as leaves, brush, coffee grounds, wood waste and grass clippings. All of this material gets gathered up and taken to Heath Farm, where it will sit and turn into compost over a period of several months to a couple of years.

The wood waste mentioned in that list includes items such as old pallets from buildings such as dining halls and athletic venues, wooden furniture from apartments and dorms.

When it comes to the trees the university cuts down, Workman said that they try to plant a new tree for every tree they have to cut down. He also stated that they have planted over 8,500 trees on campus with 625 different species.

Back to the compost, once it's been finished, it will be used in the lawns, flowerbeds, and other landscaping projects around campus. Workman said that somewhere around 9,000 cubic yards of material gets composted each year. Which ultimately ends up being roughly 3,000 cubic yards of usable compost.

Contact Dylan Chesnut with comments at dylan.chesnut@bsu.edu

Ball State University's annual One Ball State Day is a university-wide fundraiser that encourages the public to give back to programs that matter.

If you've read stories or watched videos from Cardinal Media or any of our student media outlets , including NewsLink Indiana, The Ball State Daily News, Byte, Ball Bearings Magazine, or worked with The Agency, you've seen the impact of student media firsthand.

The fundraiser is a chance for you to help provide journalism experiences that many students need to be ready for the career. It is also a way for you to help us keep providing community news.

Why it matters for student media

Student media at Ball State operates as real-world training ground for students.We offer the public a free information source about Ball State and the surrounding community. We have never had a paywall, we never will.

But creating the news isn't free and we need your support.

Funding raised today directly helps student media travel to where the news is, and offset other production costs that aren't always covered by other means.

When Ball State women's basketball earned a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament in Waco, Texas, it was student journalists that told the story as it unfolded. Students from the Daily News and NewsLink provide that same level of on-the-ground coverage year after year.

They didn't watch history happen on TV.

They documented it live, for all of us to see the action first-hand.

Year after year, donations have helped student journalists pursue bigger, more impactful stories.

Even small gifts can make a difference. The minimum donation for One Ball State Day is $5. So, if you've ever consumed our content or interacted with our students please consider donating.

One Ball State Day also includes challenges and matching opportunities, meaning donations can go even further. Some competitions today reward the groups with the most donors, not just the most money, which makes even small donations especially important. A $5 donation from a you can carry just as much weight as a larger gift when it comes to unlocking additional funding.

Three funds supporting student opportunity and how to donate

This year, donors can contribute directly to student media and The Agency through three different funds.

To donate to the two student media funds, start by visiting the Ball State Student Media giving page. From there, you'll see both the Student Media and the Daily News Travel Fund listed as options when you click the "give now" button. Select the fund you'd like to support or split your gift between both. It's an easy checkout system from there.

To donate to the Student Agency Fund for One Ball State Day, visit the giving page for the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication. From there, choose the Student Agency Fund from the list of available options. Enter your donation amount and follow the prompts to complete your payment.

Donors can also choose to share their gift on social media or make it in honor of someone.

Thank you for your support.

After the first semester, Snider assigned students to research local issues and then develop a proposal to present at a council meeting. Snider's students decided to create a proposal on pedestrian safety, specifically on the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Walnut Street.

"A couple of students in the class brought up the idea because we've had students hurt out there, and ever since the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) came in, I don't think they've realized how congested the area has become," Snider said.

The students worked together throughout the semester to find statistics that show the community's concern for pedestrian safety.

"They created a poll to send out to people, including teachers, students and members of the community, to see if they were open to having a scramble light there at the intersection, and there was very strong approval for it," Snider said.

According to the students' survey, 90% of the community felt unsafe crossing that specific intersection. Then, the students addressed the council with their findings which many community members agreed with.

"After we finished proposing our resolution, a couple of members of the community stood up and actively supported this with no hesitation," student Clayton Dick said.

For Dick, this project means more than just a regular class assignment.

"They believe it as I do. Children's safety should be valued as one of the most important things in our community." Dick said.

The support doesn't stop at the meeting. Councilwoman Sarah Gullion supported the proposal and invited the class to meet with her in April to learn how ordinances are created.

While this proposal is still a resolution, students say that it's a step towards safer streets and making their voices heard.

Contact Amelia Winter with comments at amelia.winter@bsu.edu.

Bright, vibrant decorations cover the ceilings and walls, beads hang from people's necks and the smell of food lingers in the air as lines of students fill the dining halls every day, bringing life to traditional spaces and bonding students with something everyone needs: food.

Ball State University Dining Services provides students, faculty and staff with accessible and diverse food options that are inclusive of all students, regardless of whether they live on or off campus.

From North Dining to the Tally Food Court, and from the Atrium to Studebaker West Micro Café, Ball State students and staff have a variety of locations to eat and maintain nutritional wellness, with 12 options on campus.

However, Ball State Dining Services not only provides food options for students, faculty and staff, but also celebrates cultures through a variety of events held throughout the year that reflect cultural traditions and connect students to their heritage.

For example, in the first few months of 2026, dining services hosted events for students, faculty, and staff to go out and connect with others, order themed meals and celebrate the culture and traditions of several holidays, such as serving Cajun food for Mardi Gras and Irish food for St. Patrick's Day.

"I love seeing the students excited, seeing the staff excited, and having fun interactions and making it something more for everybody. Seeing everybody come together, connect, have fun and show off our creativity is so special. It really is, and I love all of that," University Dining Food Services Supervisor Katelyn Howard said.

The Mardi Gras Meal, an all-day event on Feb. 17 in the Atrium, featured dishes and food items not traditionally available, catering to the typical Mardi Gras fare. Students were able to find information online on the Ball State Dining Instagram about the featured foods, as well as on and around campus.

"Whether you're craving jambalaya, a fried shrimp po boy, or vegan red beans and rice, we've got your Fat Tuesday lunch and dinner covered. Don't forget to grab a slice of king cake for dessert," according to a Feb. 10 Ball State Dining Instagram post.

Ball State first-year Moss Saavedra said the St. Patrick's Day meal reminded them of events that their high school would do. They said the foods featured at Ball State for the holiday were "legit and pretty cool," such as tater tot Irish nachos.

Howard said events like the St. Patrick's Day Meal have been fun to experience from the faculty side because she feels like it "bridge[s] a gap" between students and faculty.

"[The events have] definitely given students something to look forward to, and something for our employees to look forward to," Howard said.

For Ball State exchange student Charlotte Hiebler, dining services also helps aid with college homesickness, especially when it comes to the cultural differences between the United States and France, her country of origin.

According to a study by World Metrics, college students experience homesickness from a variety of causes, such as distance from family, new locations and cultural changes.

"61% of college students experience homesickness symptoms during their first semester, 51% of students who move from a rural area to an urban college report homesickness due to cultural adjustment and 38% of first-year college students report moving more than 100 miles from home," according to the study.

Hiebler came to Ball State University to improve her preparation for her English studies. Despite the cultural differences, the dining options helped her feel comfortable during her transition, thousands of miles from home.

"Since I'm not used to living on campus [because] in France no one lives on campus, the fact that everything is in the same location, the buildings in which I have classes, the different dining halls helped me get more comfortable in my everyday life and also in my studies in English," Hiebler said.

Hiebler discussed how it is really easy for her to understand how the meal plans work and to keep track of how many she has left for the week.

"We don't have meal plans in France, so it was a totally new experience, but I love how easy it is," Hiebler said.

For Hiebler, the student-staff relationship also helps.

"I feel like people in the dining halls are all really welcoming, they often ask, 'How are you?' or 'How was your day?' which is really nice," Hiebler said.

For students, faculty, and staff with dietary restrictions, the Top-9 Allergen-Free area offers accessible meal customization to suit students and their dietary needs, from pizza to stir-fry to sandwiches.

"I'm someone who needs to have a routine, to know what is planned each hour of the day, otherwise I can easily get overwhelmed; and the dining halls are the one place I know I need to get to every day, obviously to eat, so I am comfortable going there and eating there," Hiebler said.

According to the Ball State Dining Services website, under "Menus, Nutrition and Dietary Assistance," it prides itself on the work done to provide for Ball State students on campus.

"Ball State's chefs are the heart of our student-focused menus. From colorful fresh fruit and veggie bars to house-smoked meats to sustainable seafood, you're never more than a few steps away from incredible variety at Ball State," according to its website.

Students may not be able to find a real leprechaun on campus, but they are given opportunities to celebrate various students' culture at Ball State. Still, they build lasting connections with students, faculty and staff who promote inclusion, discovery and accessibility for all.

Contact Kadin Bright via email at kadin.bright@bsu.edu.

Ball State University's campus is full of over achieving students, working hard to reach their aspirations. Catch a glimpse into the world of one such student with the next Cardinal Spotlight!

Our newest Cardinal to shine in the spotlight is third-year, Gem Sambugaro, from Riverside, Illinois! She is a pre-veterinary biology major, with a concentration in zoology, with a minor in Spanish.

Sambugaro credits her choice of career to a natural aptitude for and interest in animals and the support of her parents, especially her mother. She expressed her deep gratitude for her mother, who had faced external pressure in selecting her career.

"She never got to find something she was really passionate about," Sambugaro said. "I feel lucky that she broke the cycle and allowed me to choose."

Her passion, combined with the support from her parents, led her to Ball State, where her interest has only grown, reinforced by the opportunities she has had to advance her education, both inside and outside the classroom.

In the classroom, her favorite aspect of her education is working with animals and learning from industry professionals firsthand.

"I've loved going on the wildlife field trips and catching frogs and setting mammal traps, or going in to shadow at the vet office," Sambugaro said. "I've had the privilege of meeting really amazing people who do incredible work."

Her favorite opportunity outside her lectures and labs, was her participation in Ball State's first study abroad trip to Mexico, through the BSU-In Program. While in Mexico, Sambugaro was able to immerse herself into the culture while she practiced speaking Spanish.

During her time abroad, she discovered she has a passion for philosophy and learning about new languages and cultures, something that she says surprises people because of her background in STEM.

Her many passions and vast aspirations keep Sambugaro busy and focused, but she is also dedicated to practicing self-love. She credits her self-care practice to her cat, who she describes as a mirror of herself.

"Self-love is something I've struggled with for a while, but I've started to understand that I can only take care of the people I love and give my all to projects when I put myself first," Sambugaro said. "And so, I think that allowing myself to love and cherish her [cat], I've been able to appreciate parts of myself that I may have overlooked before."

While Sambugaro works to finish her pre-veterinary degree, she is sure to continue to sharpen her passions as she strives to achieve her many aspirations.

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.

Ball State kept their momentum from their final game as Toledo, as they beat the Jaguars 13-4 to rack up their second win in a row.

Ball State Head Coach Helen Peña credits the team's efficiency at the plate as one of the key reasons they came home with the win.

"[The] offense was very productive today at the plate and on the bases. They were disciplined with what they wanted to do, and I'm proud how confident we looked in the box. The dugout is always a fun place as our team rallies around each other every inning, and in that third inning there was a lot to celebrate about," Peña said.

The third inning was the key to the Cardinals victory today, as the team scored five total runs and five hits to extend their lead to 9-3.

The energy the team displayed is exactly what Peña wanted to see after they found momentum in the back half of their series against Toledo.

"Before the game, I made it a point to all be on the same page about how we viewed this game. This game wasn't just a road non-conference midweek game. It was an opportunity for us to compete in our processes and compete versus the game. I wanted us to realize how this game could serve us not just today but going forward. We weren't going into this wanting to start slow," Peña said.

This two game win streak could be the start of a winning streak for Ball State, as they head back home to host Ohio in a weekend series starting on April 3, and Peña has the right message for her squad.

"The message is how can we make the most of these two practice days and continue to level up our standard and improve our consistency within our systems and approaches. It's important to physically execute but the larger component is the mental piece and keeping things really simple: to remain steady and present-minded focused, to be confident in our ability to compete and win with our process, and play one pitch at a time," Peña said.

Contact Rylan Crum with any questions at rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum

Tonight: We will see a low of 50 degrees tonight along with a line of thunderstorms brought on by a cold front. No severe risk for the thunderstorms but gusty winds can be expected.

Tomorrow: Temperatures are going to stay around the low-to-mid 50s with widespread rainfall around the area. Showers should be lasting through most of the day ending during the evening hours the the cold front makes its way south. Variable winds can still be expected at 10 to 15 mph.

Seven-Day Forecast: Starting Wednesday we will see a quick cool down with temperatures as a cold front makes its way through the area. Thursday will warm back to the high-70s but gusty winds will be blowing around the area. The warm temperatures will continue to linger around the area during the weekend with partly cloudy conditions. We will take another dip in temperature to 50 degrees on Sunday, but then slowly warm back up going to the next week.

-Weather Forecaster Jonas Hinderer

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