Gaither: Ball State University is an open campus, and many of our problems typically come from people [who] are outside of our student body. They come here, maybe they live in Muncie. They live in other areas of the state; they may be high school friends of people [who] now go here. They come here, and they visit here. Sometimes those people who do that aren't law-abiding people. Sometimes they come here, and when they're here, they're here to visit, and they're also here to do other things that are criminal in nature.

I think one of the biggest risks for students who live off campus is that they are living in [a] part of a municipality. They're living in [a] part of town, and they have to treat that the same way they would if they lived in a town where there was not a college campus. So things like locking up their items. Especially off campus, if you're having parties or social gatherings, whether it be in a fraternity, a house or an apartment, when you get people coming to those things, [and] you don't know who they are, you don't know anything about them. You don't know why they're there or what they're there to do.

They may be there for legitimate reasons, to interact, to party, to hang out, to drink or do whatever, but they may also be there checking out what's inside your apartment, just seeing what kind of stuff you've got in your apartment, how your doors are locked. They may be interacting with people [who] live in that house, and know when you're at work, when you're at class, when you're not there, when you leave for break, and those types of things … I think living off of campus, we sometimes have a false sense of security because of how safe campus actually is. I think people sometimes let their guards down. They maybe don't lock their doors; they don't treat things like they would normally treat [them] if they weren't in a college environment.

Q: What do you want students to know regarding safety if they think about going to a party or find themselves at a party?

Gaither: We always advocate that if you're going to go out and go to a party, do so responsibly [and] do so safely. If you're in a place where there [is] a large amount of people … consuming alcohol, and you don't know who is at that party, you just get that feeling like it's getting out of hand…[and] the people hosting the party don't have it under control, if you are planning on doing something like that, you have to understand there are risk factors that go along with that.

If you feel like you're becoming engaged in that type of environment, know when you need to disengage. You need to leave that environment. If you get an opportunity to disengage early on, that's always better than waiting. Because if you wait, people become more intoxicated. They become less able to make good decisions. Typically, if something bad happens, it's when those [parties] get large and out of control. People's alcohol consumption becomes unregulated, and bad things start to happen at that point.

Our message has always been: If you're going to go out, if you're going to socialize, if you're going to go to those types of things, do so responsibly and have a plan in place. Have friends you're with who say, 'Hey, if we get here and there are people we don't know, we're going to leave. Everybody's going to leave. We're going to come together, so we're going to leave together.' We want that messaging to be the first priority.

Q: When an incident happens, either involving a student on or off campus, and it poses a threat to the general university body, what kinds of conversations go on in the department?

Gaither: There are different alerts we can send out. If we send out an emergency alert, that means something's happening right then, and we need people to take immediate action for their own safety. If that's happening, that decision is made on the spot by the on-duty supervisor, then the officers working during that time, the dispatchers working during that time, get that messaging out right away.

Follow-up messaging is where we can take a step back and say, 'Okay, the emergency is still ongoing, but we can relay communications through Marketing and Communications at the university beyond our initial message,' because it would be unfeasible for us to send a message through Marketing and Communications at 3 o'clock in the morning … We want it to be that when people get a message, they think, 'Oh, wow, there's something going on' …

If we're dealing with something where we just want the public to be aware of it, let's say we're dealing with a rash of car break-ins or a rash of house burglaries. Maybe it's on campus, and we're dealing with a sexual assault incident in one of our dorms. There's different messaging we could send out with a timely warning message, which means that we're just letting [students] know that this is occurring and to take proactive steps, because this may help prevent [future] incidents from occurring.

Q: If anyone takes anything away from this, in terms of campus safety, what do you want students to know?

Gaither: First, a lot of people don't even know our police department's location or our phone number. They don't know the area that we serve. They don't know what resources we provide that are available to them. Our department's messaging is that if you need us, call us. We will do everything in our ability to investigate something that has happened to you.

We want our officers to be approachable, we want our officers to make those feel [they] need us, they can talk to us and get a problem resolved. On the other side of that, we want our officers with our students, giving them education to [the point] where it teaches them good decision making. It gets them thinking. Because-of the experience our officers have dealing with these types of incidents and situations, we can share that back with students so they can make better decisions.

If it's one thing we do that helps someone make a decision that prevents something from happening to them, their friends or others, I think that's great. We have a unique experience in our department, especially at a college where people come from different cities, states, countries and parts of the world. They may not have had interactions like what our department can provide. They may have had bad interactions with police. We want to make sure those interactions are positive and professional. If they're not professional, we want to know so we can make sure the next time they are.

One thing we want people to know is, if [students] need us, call us. If they have questions, if they need something handled, call us. We would much rather take care of it early on than we would to wait because somebody either was afraid to call, didn't know they could call [or] didn't know we work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even during breaks.

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

Most people have heard of or seen "Roommate Horror Story" videos online. Some people might even watch them before moving in with someone for the first time, as the videos typically feature stories about bad roommate experiences for others to watch and relate to.

Although these videos highlight a bad time in someone else's life, for others, they can help guide them through their current situation.

While no two experiences are the exact same, there is always something to be learned from these videos. Whether you realize that you are the bad roommate or you are currently in a similar situation as someone else, there can always be something beneficial that you can take away from listening to someone else's experiences.

Bad roommates can cause many issues for college students and negatively influence their experience on campus. Stress, anxiety and a negative impact on mental health are all things a poor roommate could cause to someone they are supposed to share a space with.

In my first year at Ball State University, I was assigned a roommate at random. I had met her through Ball State's roommate search, and we had gotten to know each other over the summer, just before moving in. During the months of texting and getting to know her, I had grown to like her personality and attitude. In that short time frame, I somehow came to the conclusion that she would be the perfect roommate for my first time ever living away from home.

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

Even though problems with my roommate did not happen for a while, I could see that she was not the nicest person to others. The people around me were constantly telling me about the unkind things she had said or the cruel things she had done in the past.

Sabaat Mumtaz, a student blogger for Medium, wrote in a 2023 article about his experience with bad roommates and how it affected him as a first-year, out-of-state university student. His story starts with him meeting his two roommates and quickly discovering their "true toxic colors" - their place was always a mess, with moldy dishes, clothes everywhere and the loud noise levels constantly distracted him from his studies.

I related deeply to Mumtaz and how he felt with his roommates. He talked about how he dreaded going "home" to his roommates and how talking to his parents about his situation gave him more worry and guilt than guidance and support. Due to the severity of the situation, staff rehoused Mumtaz in a single dorm.

Eventually, my situation grew into a much bigger problem and I inevitably did not feel comfortable in my own dorm room. We had to schedule a resident assistant (RA) meeting, and I thought everything would be better after going over our roommate agreement again.

However, things did not improve. I knew it was time to start talking with my RA when I dreaded going back to the dorm, and would instead stay at the library until late at night before coming home to get little to no sleep.

Amanda Cohen, a blogger for Roomsurf, said, "A really terrible roommate will cause you to feel anxious, sad, angry, frustrated, scared, and generally just uncomfortable."

Rumors floated around that my roommate was not the kind roommate I had originally thought her to be. She would make crude remarks to and about others that I tried to play off as jokes too. Others would tell me the things she would say and I did not want to believe them. People would tell me they heard rumors of her making fun of them in general, from the way they talk to the way they dress. I refused to believe most of these things were true, until I heard the same things being said about me from her.

I had found out the hard way that Cohen was, unfortunately, correct.

I did everything I could to separate myself from her. Whether it was hiding in the library or sitting in the Unified Media Lab, I hated not feeling safe enough to go to my dorm or even spend time there in between classes. I hated not feeling safe in a space that was supposed to be just as much mine as it was hers, but I did what I absolutely had to do to protect my mental health and keep academic performance from crumbling.

Conflict with her went from bad to worse when I found out she had vandalized my car, which led to me filing a police report on her. This deeply ruined my mood for the rest of the semester and affected me mentally by always making me look over my shoulder, having anxiety for my car and a hatred towards her.

With all of these things happening at once, I fell into a depressive and anxious state. I had to consult my doctor about being put on prescribed medications just to try to feel better enough to continue with my last few months as a first-year college student.

However, when dealing with an unideal roommate, I learned that it is always important to remember resolution tactics to remove any burdens or stress another person can put on you. Bottling up emotions can create even more stress on yourself, so it is better to let the words out to your roommate, an RA or a friend. That way, it will be easier to get guidance or clear up any misunderstandings to ensure a healthy mental well-being.

Ball State offers roommate agreements that outline ground rules for both parties to follow throughout the school year. These agreements are filled out and signed after move-in and are used to help you and your roommate understand each other's preferred schedules, such as sleeping, studying, cleaning and visitation.

This form can always be revisited and reworked in order to ensure a smooth, conflict-free year.

Having a schedule of class times, work times, study times and sleep times also helped me a lot, especially when it came to knowing when I should be quiet in the dorm or when and how long she would be out of the dorm so I could be alone there.

Abigail Clark, a negotiation and conflict management apprentice and blogger for The Texas Conflict Coach, previously gave examples of different ways to manage conflict in a 2015 article.

Clark had mentioned talking to your roommate about any conflicts. She explained how it is important to be confrontational and raw, as talking about good and bad things is important in being open with your feelings.

A 2025 article published by Going Merry stated that if moving out immediately is not an option, spending more time on self-care is important. Spending more time around campus and making new friends is a reminder that a dorm room is just a small part of the overall college experience.

If no resolutions can come out of the conflict, it might be time to move out. However, Cohen said that moving out should be a last resort, so it is important to make sure that there is no other way to resolve the conflict first. She also stated to always trust your gut.

"Just remember, you deserve to feel happy and comfortable in your living situation," she said. "Even if you live in a tiny dorm room, it should still feel like a home and not like a place where you're a guest. If you need to move out, do it."

Moving out can be scary, especially if you have never lived away from home, but trusting your instincts and doing what you think is best will benefit you in the long run.

If you are in an unideal roommate situation, it is always better to talk it out with them, even if it seems like the hardest thing to do. In the end, if you both cannot agree on certain terms, then it might be time to move out of that toxic environment and save yourself the mental and emotional burden.

Surviving a bad roommate might seem hard, but if I can do it, so can you.

Contact Kalie Phillips-Shaw via email at kjphillips2006@gmail.com.

On Jan. 17, the game that decided who would bear that trophy came down to two teams: the Delta Eagles and Wapahani Raiders.

With about 18 seconds to go in the game, Delta had just stopped Wapahani senior guard Camden Bell from scoring, and the game was knotted up 39-39 with Delta inbound.

The ball went to sophomore point guard Ryan Lynch, who took a few dribbles and scanned the court, before attacking the right baseline, collecting his feet and going up with the basketball with two seconds to go.

The ball bounced off the side of the backboard and fell into the hoop.

The Delta faithful that surrounded the gymnasium let out a roar, as the win was in their grip.

Wapahani senior guard Camden Bell hoisted up a halfcourt shot attempt, which missed, and pandemonium began at Delta High School as the Eagles had won their first Delaware County Championship since 2022.

Lynch led the way for the Eagles in the second half on the night. The sophomore guard scored all nine of his points in the second half and consistently made winning plays down the stretch.

The Delta guard was not having his best game in the first half, with a handful of missed threes. But Lynch said he was able to stay composed despite the slow start.

"It's a long game and I got a great team around me to keep me in the game and [in] big moments," Lynch said. "They come out and they help me through it."

Points did not come easy in the contest for either team, as the first quarter only featured 14 total points between the two squads. But despite neither team being able to pull away for most of the game, Wapahani was in the driver's seat up until the very end.

The Raiders led at halftime by a point, led by a point after three quarters, and jumped out to as big as a six-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.

But that did not stop Delta from punching back.

When the Raiders jumped out to a 34-28 lead in the fourth quarter, senior shooting guard Lucas Bragg hit a three, and then Lynch followed that with and and-one to knot the game up at 34.

Eagles' Head Coach Mark Detweiler recognizes the youth of the team, and he said it "means a great deal" that a young Delta team was able to keep rolling with Wapahani's punches.

One of the Eagles' young players that matched the team high in scoring on the night was freshman center Walker Johnson. The center for the Eagles credited the team's ability to fight back down the stretch to good playcalling.

"We had everything for what they had, and I think we just matched their intensity really well," Walker said.

With the county championship being in the middle of the season, it gives teams an opportunity to compete for a real championship while still being in the regular season. Detweiler said the championship win for his team will ultimately help grow them by the time playoff basketball starts.

"You're always looking for opportunities to grow, put yourself in a situation where you play for a championship and then close it out," Detweiler said. "Those things can serve you well in March."

The Delaware County Championship trophy now resides in Delta High School, and the head coach and both players said it means a lot to have the trophy back.

Moving forward for the Raiders, they will have a small break until they host Randolph Southern on Jan. 24. For the Eagles, they will have a slightly shorter break before going on the road to face off against Pendleton Heights on Jan. 23.

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

The Cardinals did just that, as they dominated the Broncos 78-57.

Ball State started off a little slow in the game, as they watched as Western Michigan stormed out to an early 15-9 lead. But the Cardinals quickly regathered as they have been doing all season, outscoring the Broncos 19-7 in the second quarter and claiming a double-digit lead that they would never let go of.

Head Coach Brady Sallee said the Broncos came out and "punched them in the mouth". The head coach said that after the slow start, he went into his bench, and the play of the Cardinals off the bench lifted the team up.

"I thought Zhen [Vergburgt] gave us a huge lift coming in, I thought GG [Giorgia Gorini] gave us a huge lift coming in, and then we got some shots to drop," Sallee said.

The bench depth of the Cardinals has been very evident in recent games, as many of the team's freshmen have been stepping up in big ways. Freshman guard Zhen Verburgt headlined the group against Western Michigan, as she scored 14 points on a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc.

Sallee said in practice, Vergburgt is playing like she did today every day. The head coach has seen her become more comfortable on the court while rapidly improving, and it showed in a big way against the Broncos.

"We won by 21 [points], and her plus-minus was plus 34," Sallee said. "That's how impactful she was, when she was on the court, we were dominant."

With the play of Vergburgt and Gorini against Western Michigan and freshman center Alba Caballero's play against Buffalo on Jan. 14, it has given a look into how much depth this Cardinals' team offers.

Sallee said at this point in the season, he is seeing the freshman not play as much like freshman anymore. The head coach said his confidence in the freshmen right now stem from how well they are practicing every day.

"All of our freshmen right now are making giant leaps and bounds," Sallee said.

In past games, senior forward Bree Salenbien and junior guard Karsyn Norman have been primary shot takers for the Cardinals, but in today's win, sophomore guard Grace Kingery took control, leading the team in scoring with 18 points on 7-12 from the field.

Sallee said the sophomore guard is moving really well without the ball, which is making her really hard for other teams to guard.

"When she's playing like that, she's a really, really talented offensive player, and it's just almost impossible to guard somebody in our system that plays that well without the ball in her hands."

The Cardinals have their biggest test coming up. The team will go back to Worthen Arena for the week, and they will be met by the University of Massachusetts (UMass) on Jan. 21.

UMass yields the best overall defense in the MAC, as they only allow 58.5 points per game.

Sallee has been happy with the team's recent preparation for the last few games, and he said he does not want to see anything different in the team's preparation for the game against UMass.

"If we'll just keep coming to work and working as hard as we are, then you just go out there and trust your players on gameday, and that's when it gets fun," Sallee said.

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

Gov. Mike Braun delivered a State of the State speech Wednesday night that was heavy on achievements, light on new goals and with a few football callouts.

"With our strong business environment, it's not surprising that another organization has noticed that Indiana is open for business: the Chicago Bears," he said. "We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State."

But most of the address focused on affordability for Hoosiers - from electric bills and rent to property taxes and child care.

"Affordability is our highest priority," Braun told General Assembly members gathered in the Indiana House chamber.

"Together," he continued, "we can make Indiana the state where your dollar goes further, where opportunity abounds for all who are willing to work hard, and where every Hoosier worker can build the life they deserve."

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray called it a good speech.

"He talked about some of the highlights and the really good story that Indiana has to tell," he said.

Braun didn't mention the bitter December redistricting battle that has strained some relationships in the Statehouse. Braun specifically said Bray and other Senate Republicans who opposed redistricting should lose their seats.

"There's lots of hard things that happen in this place," Bray said after Braun's speech. "We are going to continue to come to work and do good work for Hoosiers, and look forward to working with the governor for that and with the House as well."

Democrats pointed to numerous ways that Republicans are now hopping on the affordability bandwagon, giving examples of bills that the Democratic caucuses have offered in recent years but that Republicans rejected.

"If Statehouse Republicans wanted to lower costs, they would have already done that by now," said House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta. "They've been in charge for the past 20 years, and Gov. Braun is catching up to the fact that Hoosiers are struggling."

Backing these bills

Braun didn't unveil a typical legislative agenda for his office, instead simply announcing support forseveral bills already moving through the legislative process.

For instance, he said he supports Republican Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler'sbill to protect Hoosiers from unnecessary utility rate hikes.

While on the topic of energy, Braun issued a full-throated declaration of support for data centers. The behemoth centers have roiled numerous Indiana communities with Hoosiers concerned about electricity and water usage.

"AI is going to be key to the jobs and wages of the future, but data centers can't stick Hoosiers with the power bill," Braun said. "Companies that want big power in Indiana should pay their own way."

That goal isn't fully codified but rather an informal policy in negotiations for state support.

He specifically hailed Amazon building a $1.5 billion data center in northwest Indiana, saying "they're going to pay for every cent of their power needs, and then some."

Moving to homeownership, Braun said he supports a bill from GOP Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, toremove government hurdlesand make it easier for Hoosiers to chase the American dream of owning a home.

"Home prices have surged because we aren't building enough, and unnecessary regulations are driving up costs," he said.

He also announced support for bills tolimit cellphone use in schools; ensure that parents haveveto power over their kids' creating social media accounts; curb homelessness in public spaces and a constitutional change to make it easier to hold accused criminals in jail pre-trial.

Braun said affordable child care is needed to grow the Indiana economy and help Hoosiers get better jobs. But that specific priority item will have to wait a year.

"I look forward to digging in during the budget session (in 2027) on what we can do to invest in lowering child care costs," he said. "I would like to see a program where businesses have skin in the game to help grow child care programs."

But under his watch, the administration hascut reimbursement rates and capped child care vouchersfor low-income parents. That has led to waitlists and day care centers closing around the state.

Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder, of Bloomington, said child care deserts are spreading and parents are on waitlists for years.

"Costs are higher. Workers are leaving jobs they want because care does not exist. That did not happen by accident. It happened because child care was treated as an afterthought," she said. "Child care is not an option, it's an economic infrastructure."

But GOP House Speaker Todd Huston pushed back, saying Republicans have passed measures to improve child are options, such as deregulation and tax credits for businesses to get involved.

"The best thing we can do is help support more supply and the government's not going to be the best avenue to do that," Huston said. "The best avenue to do that is reduce the regulations and let a lot of these folks that used to provide child care provide child care without having the burden of of all these government regulations that just do nothing but drive up costs."

Kudos to Indiana

Braun also took time to list key accomplishments for his administration during his first year in office.

He reminded Hoosiers that he pushed aproperty tax billthat will save taxpayers $1.5 billion over the next three years. He has no plans for more property tax changes this year.

Braun pointed to cuts in state government that are making state agencies leaner and more efficient. He specifically applauded Indiana's Medicaid program for finding $465 million in savings.

These savings have come throughincreased eligibility checks, tightened regulations and cuts to some programs.

"We're continuing to deliver high-quality essential services that Hoosiers rely on, while you keep more of your money - because it's not ours, it's yours," Braun said.

The education front also provided key highlights, withincreased reading scores, a record-high graduation rate andnew school accountability gradescoming soon.

Braun also noted that Indiana's real GDP is growing faster than the national rate and listed a string of big jobs announcements from recent months.

"Project after project, industry after industry, the story is the same: Indiana is the Midwest's growth engine for more jobs and bigger paychecks," he said.

Additionally, the governor listedpublic safety winsand efforts at retraining Hoosier workers.

Lawmakers gave two standing ovations for law enforcement and also included a "Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers" chant at one point.

Braun ended the speech with a nod to the Indiana Hoosiers playing for the national college football championship on Monday night.

"My administration has people from up and down the state. We have Butler fans, Notre Dame fans, Purdue fans … but on Monday I expect to see all of them wearing cream and crimson. Go Hoosiers!"

He also said a 9-year-old from Shoals, Jack Gibson, askedwhether the governor could delay the start of school on Tuesday morning so he could stay up late and watch the Hoosiers win on Monday.

"I like the sound of that," Braun said. "I'll leave it up to each school district to decide, but I think that sounds like a good idea."

Head Coach Brady Sallee said it is "hard to compare" the two groups. The head coach said last year's team was more experienced and a lot of the coaching he had to do geared more towards game management. With the current Cardinals, Sallee said he has had to "coach every dribble" because many players are playing together for the first time.

The head coach said he has had a lot of fun with it and, despite the differences in the two teams' layouts, sees a lot of common ground.

"I think the commonality with both teams is high character kids, really good kids," Sallee said. "[They take] a lot of pride in wearing the Ball State brand."

Last season's Cardinals were highlighted by talented guard play, headlined by star guard Ally Becki, who won multiple awards for Ball State. The team's leading scorer was forward Alex Richard, who averaged just north of 16 points per game.

The blueprint stayed the same from last season for the current Cardinals, as transfer junior guard Karsyn Norman and senior forward Bree Salenbien have made an immediate impact on the court, similar to Becki and Richard.

Norman leads the team in assists with nearly five a game, while Salenbien leads the team in points at just above 15 points per game.

The early success of a team composed of multiple freshmen and transfer players is traditionally unorthodox. But to Norman, the team's success is not entirely surprising by how fast they have meshed together.

"I feel like our chemistry in the locker room is outstanding, compared to what I'm coming from or [where] I've been in high school," Norman said.

Senior center Tessa Towers has spent time on both teams. Towers played a backup role last year and has stepped into a starting role this year, where she has excelled.

The senior center said she has noticed many differences between the two teams she has been on. But she also noted a major similarity between the two teams: they both want to win.

"We all have that drive to win, no matter what it takes to get there," Towers said. "I feel like that's a similar mentality as last year's team."

The 2025-26 Cardinals have started off conference play with five wins, with two coming on the road and three coming at Worthen Arena in front of the Cardinal faithful.

The team has won the five conference games by an average of 19.4 points, topping last year's team, which won its first five conference games by an average of 17.4 points.

Looking forward to the Cardinals, who will go on the road to play Western Michigan Jan. 17 and then return to Worthen Arena to take on the University of Massachusetts (UMass). The two teams sit right behind the Cardinals in the MAC standings.

Western Michigan is not in the top five in any major MAC statistic, but the Broncos do pose a threat with the depth of their roster. The Cardinals' biggest challenge over the next couple of games will be their clash with UMass.

The Cardinals lead the MAC in total offense, field goal percentage, rebounds per game and points differential. The threat to the Cardinals is that UMass leads the conference in total defense, allowing only 56.7 points per game.

An issue for the Cardinals in an otherwise successful early conference slate has been their turnover rate. Ball State has averaged 16.8 turnovers a game in conference play. Sallee said that a major focus in practices leading up to the next couple of games will be avoiding turnovers.

"We're turning it over way too much; we can't always rely on 50 percent shooting," he said. "Those games where we don't [shoot 50 percent], we're going to have to take care of the ball at a high level."

Another point of emphasis for Sallee in the upcoming practices will be end-of-game situations. In a close win against Toledo on Jan. 7, the Cardinals nearly watched a ten-point lead evaporate in the final couple of minutes.

"We've got some time here to work on what we want to look like in the end-of-game situations and be a little bit more sure of ourselves in those moments," Sallee said.

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

Although the second-floor workout room is no longer crowded with people fighting to maintain their 2026 New Year's resolutions, echoes of Phillips and Lopiccolo's friendly banter while catching up over the holidays and their gentle encouragement during various exercises bounce off the walls.

Phillips, a personal trainer at the YMCA, has always had a passion for health and fitness, working out frequently as a high school student. While he is "not sure why" the job called to him, he continues to be grateful for the opportunity to "pour into others" physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the workweek.

"I felt the Lord had placed upon my heart to pursue this," Phillips said.

Muncie YMCA's Wellness Program Director, Julia Murillo, said that during the hiring process, she looks for individuals who strive to build relationships with and listen to clients. Phillips' can-do attitude made him the ideal hire.

"He is always willing to learn, and I think that is crucial for a personal trainer to constantly be researching [a client's needs] … He has my full trust [because] I know that he keeps people on their feet, is creative and always has the client's best interest at heart," Murillo said.

As a non-profit, she acknowledged that the organization cannot offer its employees a very lucrative paycheck. However, money seems to be the last thing on Phillips' mind when working with clients.

"I like helping people…" he said. "[Personal training] is just a way that I can kind of serve others in a way that I really enjoy, and it doesn't feel like a job."

A large percentage of Phillips' clientele are older adults living with chronic pain.

"It kind of just happened to be that they were most of the people that I was getting as clients, but the more I [worked with them], the more I recognized, 'These people are the ones who do, honestly, need [physical strengthening] the most,'" Phillips recalled.

In April 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published research collected from 2013 through 2023, concluding that 93 percent of adults aged 65 and older live with chronic pain.

Research shows this can make it difficult to accomplish routine or mundane tasks, such as getting out of bed, off the toilet or up from a fall, without institutional care, in-home caregivers or other long-term services and supports.

Bearing that "really high percentage" in mind, he said, "My goal is to help keep [my clients] able to be independent. The sooner that they're unable to use the bathroom or get out of their bed without help, the sooner that they lose, basically, their life. And so, if I can help prevent that, or slow down that from happening, I can see the benefits a lot quicker, so I know I'm actually helping them," Phillips said.

Lopiccolo has been using her weekly sessions with Phillips over the past year to recover from knee surgery and has "absolutely" seen herself become more capable as a result of her workout regimen.

[Phillips] knows how to give you a workout that works your whole body, and I'm not destroyed with pain," she said.

While each client's workout routine is ultimately tailored to them, Phillips tends to focus on strength training with all his clients.

"Something like a circuit workout, where [clients] are just doing a whole bunch of different things that aren't very intense [and] it just makes them tired, I'm not a fan of that, even for my younger clients. I think the goal for anyone should be to get them stronger and have more flexibility and mobility," he said.

Lopiccolo said she enjoys the strength-training workouts as an opportunity to familiarize herself with the varied equipment throughout the YMCA, rather than feeling intimidated by the workout machinery.

"I feel like, when I'm with [Phillips] and all the equipment that we use, I feel like my whole body is being worked out, and not all the [trainers] are like that," she said, describing how her previous trainer had her stick to floor-based exercises, like planks or sit-ups, "but nothing with the equipment."

"As a member of the YMCA, I'm glad I can use the equipment as far as a workout," Lopiccolo said.

Phillips works with his clients an average of twice a week. During sessions, he said he strives to ensure clients understand the mechanics behind the movement to help prepare their bodies.

Once they understand, "I really try to push them as if they were as young and in their prime as I am… I try to treat them no differently, because I think they're just as capable. They just might not be as strong," Phillips said.

He does not have a "one size fits all" approach to coaching. While some clients prefer to be taught through tough love, others prefer words of affirmation to be mixed into their workout regimen. Phillips said that above all, empathy is at the heart of his work.

His empathetic leadership, in turn, has taught him the value of collaboration with his clients.

"The easiest thing for me is just being content with not being able to get [a client] to be at a certain level [of capability] by the time I want them to, but when their bodies can physically do it…It's usually right in the middle spot where we'll actually get them there," Phillips said, adding that small victories mean more to him long-term, because small successes keep clients motivated to obtain bigger fitness goals.

Outside of the gym, Phillips considers himself "a pretty basic person."

While he said he loves the gym and does not tire from it often, when he does, the devout Christian said he looks to spend time connecting spiritually with Jesus or in the community he considers himself "blessed to have."

"A good principle to live by," Phillips advised, "is, 'Yes, we should be serving others, but if your cup is empty, you can't pour out effectively to others.'''

However, the energy Phillips is able to pour into his clients is not unnoticed by them.

"He has pushed me a little bit. With my knee, I'm not strong enough sometimes to [climb] stairs - but [Phillips] makes me do a stairmaster exercise - so I think the machines here made me a little bit healthier and my knee a little bit more mobile," Lopiccolo said. "I would encourage people to give it a try, have a personal trainer take you through everything, see if it's feasible to you [and] what you can accomplish."

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

MLK Breakfast 2026

You are invited to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, co-sponsored by Ball State and the Collective Coalition of Concerned Clergy. The breakfast is open to everyone and will be held at Ball State's L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. The speaker will be Bishop Keith O'Neal. Registration is not required.

Work one-on-one with a professor or professional staff and earn a stipend

This program for undergraduates offers the opportunity to work with a professor or professional staff mentor on research or a creative project for five hours a week. Students can learn more about their field, gain research experience, make professional connections and receive one-on-one academic and career advice. Participants will earn a $750 stipend. Applicants must be in their first or second year with no prior research experience.

Your Culinary Adventure Awaits you in Allegre, Applied Technology Building AT 104- Espresso Bar, Breakfast, and Lunch

The Allegre is open for the Spring Semester! Enjoy meals prepared by Ball State students. Breakfast and the espresso bar are open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and lunch is available from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. While you're visiting make sure to pick up a gift card for friends and family, so they can enjoy the gift of flavor too!

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

There's no doubt that 2025 was a massive year of hits in the film industry. From Sinners to Marty Supreme, there was so much released in one year that cannot go undiscussed. Only getting to see about 20 of the hundreds of films released in 2025, here are my opinions on the best, the worst, and some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

It was hard picking just three films to top my 2025 list, as there were so many interesting contenders, but before getting to the top three, some honorable mentions are deserved.

While no superhero films topped my list this year, 2025 gave a resurgence of the genre with Thunderbolts* and Superman being clear standouts. In this post-infinity saga era, Marvel Studios has been struggling to find its voice, but Thunderbolts* brings back that feeling of watching a phase two movie with its digestible story and great cast chemistry. Superman also brought back hope through David Corenswet's charming performance of Clark Kent. James Gunn's influence on this film was perfect for this new adaptation of the iconic character, bringing bright coloring and fun to superhero movies.

The Bottom Three

The Minecraft Movie was the worst way to translate Minecraft into a film. It seems as though nothing in the project was taken seriously, and there were no intentions of making a good movie. It's no shock that they geared the film towards kids, as it has a huge player base of younger audiences; however, there was no intention to please the older audience that grew up on the original sandbox game. It was just an hour and a half of Jack Black being himself in a poorly CGI Minecraft world. I went into the film with low expectations, but nothing could have prepared me for the actual film.

For most of the year, the film I was most disappointed in was Materialists because of its subpar acting and horrible pacing. However, after finally getting the chance to watch Honey Don't!, it quickly dethronedMaterialistsfor me. Ironically, Chris Evans stars in both films, but his acting wasn't the issue; the plot of Honey Don't! was almost unfollowable. Every scene introduced something new to the story, but nothing was ever completely resolved by the end. I was really interested in this film when the previews first dropped, but was left extremely unsatisfied. With such a short runtime, all of the characters felt half-baked, never fully knowing anyone the entire film. Both films had interesting marketing, yet dropped the ball with their story.

The Top Three

There is simply no universe where Sinners does not take the top spot of my top three films. Starting the first half of the year watching pointless live-action remakes of animated movies, seeing such a beautiful original story like Sinners was breathtaking. From the minute the film started to the final scene of Sammy (Buddy Guy)in the bar, talking to Stack (Michael B. Jordan) and Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), I was completely lost in the screen. Not only is the music perfect, but the use of auditory storytelling adds another layer to the film. When Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) recounts a story of him and his friends getting arrested-and one even getting killed-instead of showing the scene to the audience, they only use audio to tell the story, including shouting and gunshots. Moreover, when Delta Slim cannot finish the story, he hums to calm himself down. It's so brilliant. Furthermore, "I Lied to You" combining multiple genres of music rooted in Black culture, as well as the stunning performance of "Rocky Road to Dublin," shows how much care and research was put into correctly portraying multiple cultures, making the film all the more special. Sinners no doubt stay in my top film list for a long time.

My second favorite film of the year was the third installment of the Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man. My previous review for the film goes into detail as to why I enjoyed it so much, but with every rewatch, it gets better. The beauty in the Knives Out series is the amount of details picked up after the initial watch, making it feel like a brand new film that you can pick apart. Although some of the acting is below average, the use of religion as a metaphor for power in the wrong hands makes up for the inconsistencies. Reviving the entire mystery genre as a whole, I can't wait to see where Rian Johnson takes the series.

The last film on my list is Eternity. This film had such an interesting concept that I felt as though I couldn't miss seeing it in theaters. I was absolutely blown away by how much I enjoyed the film. With such a heavy question as the film presents, most of the film was very light and funny. Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller give impressive performances, as both their characters are old people within a younger body. I would see the young actors on screen, but their mannerisms and tone mirrored the older generation perfectly; it was very fun to watch. The plot seems pretty straightforward for the most part, making me think I know exactly where it would go, but I was pretty surprised by how many times I was thrown for a loop within the end of the second and beginning of the third act. Eternity is very charming, and it was a great film for the holiday season.

Anticipated Films for 2026

After such success in the film industry in 2025, this upcoming year has a lot to live up to, but there are a few projects set to release in 2026 that give me hope. Massive superhero films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday are exciting to look forward to. Other big-name films like Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, Project Hail Mary, and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are high up on my anticipated film list, but even smaller projects like The Drama and How to Make a Killing make 2026 seem like a pretty stacked year for promising films. I expect to visit the movie theaters quite a few times this year.

Sources: IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, Minecraft, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb,IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, Spotify, Spotify, IMDb, IMDb, Byte, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb

Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or on Instagram @s.jasionowski.

This season, the now-senior center has appeared in all 16 games for the number one seed in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and is averaging 13.8 points per game on 56.2 percent from the field, along with 8.6 rebounds per game.

Towers is third in the MAC in rebounds per game and is one of the big reasons for the Cardinals' prolific start to the season. Head Coach Brady Sallee said that seeing Towers grow in the past two years has been "therapeutic" to him.

The head coach said that sometimes he can get caught up in wins and lose sight of what truly satisfies him as a coach: seeing players develop.

"As she's gone through this, and you've seen the player she is right now, it just reminds me of the importance of what we do and keeping perspective in what we do," Sallee said.

Towers is from Batavia, Illinois, where she played high school basketball at Batavia High School. She committed to the University of Wisconsin out of high school, where she spent the first two years of her collegiate career.

According to a January 2025 Associated Press article, Towers allegedly endured mistreatment from former Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley and her staff that "completely ruined" her freshman season.

Sallee said he recognized what Towers went through at Wisconsin, and he saw Towers work really hard as soon as she arrived at Ball State to get to where she is today.

"When she came to us, she had a really, really tough experience at Wisconsin," Sallee said. "Sometimes when that love of the game's taken away a little bit, it's hard to find the motivation."

Towers said that from last season to this season, she has experienced significant growth in her mental confidence. The senior said she realized her role on the team.

"Being able to push through and also realizing that I am kind of needed on the team," Towers said. "And then having that confidence to be able to go and show out and help the team in multiple ways."

The newfound confidence that Towers has found over the past season has been evident in the Cardinals' early-season success. Sallee said there is a direct correlation between the team's offensive uptick and Towers' production.

"We're playing through her," Sallee said. "We're taking advantage of the other team's effort they have to put into stopping her, and then that's allowing us to play off of her."

Towers said that her ability to draw the defense in and kick the ball out to shooters has made her very comfortable on the team. The senior said that her play, along with her confidence in her teammates, will make the Cardinals very hard to beat.

"Once we are able to fully get to our potential, I think we're going to be unstoppable," Towers said.

Senior forward Bree Salenbien said Towers' play is a product of the Cardinals' unselfish play as a whole.

"Tessa [Towers] is drawing so many people right now, it's kind of making it easier on us to get her the ball and she can kick it out," Salenbien said.

Although Towers' 2025-26 season has had a major uptick in production and time on the court, the senior center's efforts to get on the court stretch back to last season, when she played behind Cardinals' star forward Alex Richard.

Richard averaged just over 16 points per game for the 2024-25 Cardinals, and played a very similar role in last year's team to the role Towers plays this year. Towers said that Richards was someone she looked up to last season and has learned a lot from.

"I looked up to her a lot, trying to learn how she played and playing to her system," Towers said. "I wanted to be where she was."

With Richards' departure from the program, that left a void to fill at the center position for the Cardinals. Towers said the things she learned from Richards set her up well to fill that positional need.

The senior center also said she realized the impact she could have on the Cardinals "right after last season." Towers said she knew there would be players who had to step up after so many players on last year's team transferred or graduated.

"I just kind of felt like right from the beginning, right when preseason started in the summer, that I could be that person, and that's all I wanted was to be that person," Towers said. "Who could bring a big impact to the team while also being a leader?"

With Towers' bigger role on the team this season, she has jumped up to just over 21 minutes per game, which is 17 minutes per game more than in her junior campaign. Towers credits her offseason physicality work to where she is now, being second on the team in minutes played.

The senior said she feels "much more mobile" now than she did last season, and that it has shown in how much longer she is able to play at a time.

"Just being able to get up and down, just having that endurance to be able to go for longer periods of time," Towers said. "Before, I could only play about two minutes, and now I can go for like five before needing a break."

Not only does Towers play a big role on the court, but she is also one of two seniors on the team, which set her up for a newfound leadership role. Towers said she realized many younger players on the team now look up to her for guidance.

"I feel like that [leadership] role has kind of helped me, and is also helping the team as well," Towers said. "We definitely are so much closer this year."

Towers has been through a lot in her collegiate basketball career. The center went through uncertainty and tough times at Wisconsin, to not exactly knowing her role at Ball State her junior year, to now becoming one of the best players on a Ball State team hungry to repeat as MAC champions.

As Towers continues her senior season for the Cardinals, her legacy will be left behind for many future Cardinals to look to. Towers wants to look back on her time and remember one thing: that she did not give up.

"No matter what, just trust the process," Towers said. "Just kind of trusting and being able to push through anything. Don't stop fighting for what you want."

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

"It has been my honor and joy to represent the people of Indiana House District 34 for the past thirteen years," Errington said via Facebook.

2026 will be Errington's last year in the Indiana General Assembly, and she will not be filing to run for re-election in 2026. In her Facebook post, she explains that it is "time to pass the torch," referring to her endorsement of Gullion.

In a Jan. 12 press statement, Errington said her experience working in the statehouse has been "anything but ordinary," from her time as a state senator to her time as a state representative.

"I've had the privilege of meeting incredible people, working on meaningful initiatives and, most importantly, being a strong voice for Muncie and our community at the statehouse," Errington said.

A lifetime of service

Errington began her career in 1970 as a Spanish instructor at Ball State University, alongside her husband, Paul, who was a physics professor. During that time, Errington said many issues were brought to her attention from the Muncie community that she wanted to help change, such as reproductive rights and equal rights for women.

She got involved with Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides sexual health care in the United States, according to its website, and was a part of its staff for 17 years. Errington's involvement with Planned Parenthood, she said, is what sparked her interest in politics.

Errington served on the Delaware County Council and in the Indiana State Senate for four years before being elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2012. She explained how passionate she was about several "issues that the state addresses," such as gun violence and voting rights, which pushed her to run for state representative.

Over the course of her career, Errington proposed bills focused on issues raised by her constituents. One bill in particular is House Bill 1297, which created a voluntary Yellow Dot Motor Vehicle Medical Information Program aimed at "providing first responders with crucial medical information during automobile accidents," according to the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.

The bill was authored by Errington and co-authored by Rep. Jim Pressel (R-District 20), Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-District 2) and Rep. Michael Karickhoff (R-District 30) and passed unanimously out of the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committee.

Errington filed the bill after a constituent with Parkinson's disease approached her about the Yellow Dot Program, which was already law in Arizona, where the constituent resided during the winter.

"He and his wife asked me if I would try to get it to become a law in Indiana. So I did," Errington said.

Along with House Bill 1297, Errington also initiated legislative action for House Bill 1079, which states, "A person commits rape if the person engages in sexual activity with another person and the person disregards the other person's attempts to refuse the person's acts."

House Bill 1079 was authored by former Rep. Sharon Negele (R-District 13), with Errington as a co-author, along with former Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-District 24) and Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-District 98). The bill was signed into law March 11, 2022.

Looking for the next representative

Errington looked for "quite a long time" to find someone to take her place to run in the midterm elections before she found Gullion, who Errington said stood out to her because of her experience on the Muncie City Council. Along with her experience, Errington said Gullion and she share similar values regarding equality and reproductive rights, which convinced Errington to endorse her.

"I think those are all things that I felt would be good for the district in the state," Errington said.

Running to be Indiana's state representative has been a "big interest" for Gullion, but she had not thought of it prior to running for Muncie City Council. She explained that multiple people approached her about possibly running for state representative, which prompted Gullion to notice the differences between what policymakers can do at the "city level" and at the "state level."

"I complain about a lot of things," Gullion said. "So maybe it's time for me to step up and try to do something."

Gullion recalled getting endorsed by Errington as an "honor," both personally and professionally.

The two women have known each other for a while, having first met when Gullion volunteered for Errington's 2020 campaign.

Gullion said she has "always" supported Errington, and both of them have respect for the other. Personally, she explained that she appreciates being endorsed as Errington's friend, but professionally, she thinks it will be "very positive" for her upcoming campaign.

"[Errington is] beloved in District 34 and has been for a while. I think that helps me in my campaign," Gullion said.

Gullion filed for Indiana state representative Jan. 7, the first day a candidate can file for the general election. So far, she has begun developing her committee, with Errington as the group's chair. Gullion also has a treasurer "lined up," with the team officially being set in motion.

During her campaign, Gullion wants to focus on affordability in Indiana, as Errington explained that both she and Gullion hear about it frequently from the community.

"We've been under Republican majorities for 20 years," Errington said. "So the laws that we have, that have been passed in the last 15-20 years, reflect Republican priorities."

Once the weather improves, Gullion also wants to be able to "walk door to door" after she acquires a campaign manager. She explained that walking door to door is how she won her last campaign as a councilperson.

"When you're willing to go and talk to people and listen to people [for] what they really want, I think that's what a campaign should do," Gullion said.

Past the politics

While Errington is not running for reelection as state representative, she did file for precinct committee person Jan. 9, along with being chair for Gullion's campaign. Errington said the precinct committee person is involved in educating people about registering to vote and updating their registrations.

She also said she is still involved with campaigning and the political process.

"I think it's something that's very interesting to me, and I want to continue to do it, but in a different way," she said.

While reflecting on her career, Errington said she hopes she is remembered by Muncie residents and her constituents as someone who "listened to them," and "always had an open door."

"I hope they feel that I help[ed] if they were having problems with [a] state agency, that I was willing to go to bat for them and to help them get through the bureaucratic red tape that might be holding them back," Errington said.

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

Ball State took down Buffalo 103-61.

Ball State took down Buffalo 103-61.

The team's fifth MAC win has given the Cardinals a feat that only a few other Ball State teams have accomplished. A perfect 5-0 start in conference play.

This is the third straight season that Head Coach Brady Sallee has led his team to this accomplishment, and he said the team has bought in early which has been a big reason for their success.

"This group is starting to game plan really well," Sallee said. "They're starting to understand the different things that we want to do from game to game."

The Cardinals got off to a hot start through one quarter of play. Ball State jumped out to an early ten-point lead after one quarter of play. The team totaled four steals in the first quarter, forcing the Bulls to turn the ball over nine times in the early window.

Senior center Tessa Towers said the early turnovers set the tone early for the Cardinals defensively.

"Our guards were really active coming out in the first half," Towers said. "It was our tempo of the game, this is what we wanted to do, and we went out there and did it."

Offensive success came easily for the Cardinals in the game, as the team shot 56 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the arc. The team recorded more rebounds, assists, forced turnovers and shot a better percent from the field than Buffalo.

"Passing it up, getting quick layups, it makes the energy go higher," Towers said.

With Ball State holding a significant lead the entire way, Sallee was able to put out a slew of different lineups, and a lot of Cardinals were able to see extended time on the court.

Twelve different Ball State players scored, and nine players played 13 minutes or more. A highlight of those players was freshman forward Alba Caballero, who finished the night with eight points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

Sallee said he has seen Caballero come out and play the way she does because of how she practices.

"She's a heck of a player," Sallee said. "You're starting to see the fruits of the labor a little bit."

Turnovers have been an issue for the Cardinals entering the game, as they averaged just under 19 turnovers per game in their first four conference games. But against Buffalo, Ball State only turned the ball over 12 times, which Sallee said the Cardinals need to keep replicating moving forward.

"It's a game of possessions, and when you give them away, you make it really hard on yourself," Sallee said. "This is the step we have to take."

Another bright spot for Ball State on the night was the play of Aniss Tagayi. The freshman forward was the biggest contributor to the Cardinals' ability to force turnovers, as she recorded four steals and a block.

Tagayi finished with 13 points and four assists on the night. Sallee said she has been working really hard to be able to have performances like this.

"She's so willing to do all the stuff that sometimes doesn't show up here, but today it did," Sallee said. "I'm really happy for her."

Looking forward, the Cardinals will go on the road this weekend to take on the Western Michigan Broncos on Jan. 17 at 1 p.m.

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

Phenis, a first-year graduate student, graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor's degree in teaching and a concentration in history and political science. He currently has an assistantship with Ball State's Office of Student Life.

Phenis was a part of SGA as a senator for all four undergraduate years. During his time in the student senate, he held various on and off-campus chair positions.

"My senior year, I was on the cabinet as the university governance representative, so I went to the big university meetings once a month. I've been involved in SGA a lot, so kind of coming into this now, I was offered this opportunity to be the elections board commissioner," Phenis said.

Phenis said he wants to make the executive board elections for next school year as smooth as possible, adding that not being involved with SGA for a semester and not personally knowing who is running for elections will give him an unbiased view.

He was approved to be the Election Board commissioner with 24 yays, zero nays and one abstention.

After Phenis was approved by the senate, they reviewed another application from Jennifer Goose, who is running for Election Board sheriff.

Goose is a graduate student with a bachelor's degree in public health and is currently earning a master's in science, concentrating in political science and emerging media design and development. She was also a part of the Residents Hall Association during her time at Ball State.

"I was also in our current conference scene, where I was our social education chair," Goose said.

Goose was approved to be the Election Board sheriff with 24 yays, zero nays and one abstention.

After SGA finished with election board applicants, the meeting proceeded to executive reports, starting with President Chelsea Murdock with the state of the student body.

"Our executive board momentum set out to achieve approximately 30 individual goals within five platform points that we hope will fit in our student body. All these were done to build momentum within that body, and to do so in tangible ways," Murdock said.

Murdock spoke of the initiatives the SGA executive board has been focused on and has accomplished so far this school year, such as the Red Zone program to help bring awareness to sexual assault on college campuses, implementing a mobile blue light on MyBallState to replicate the blue lights scattered around campus emergency services and the new Be Connected app for students to get involved in organizations and events around campus.

Murdock had also announced that with elections coming up soon to determine positions for next school year's executive board, she and Vice President Shaina Miller will be leaving their positions. Murdock will be accepting a job at Ball State University next year, and Miller will be graduating.

SGA will meet again Jan. 21 at their regular location in Cardinal Hall B in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center at 3:15 p.m.

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

Snow showers are expected to continue across Delaware County, according to the NWS. Periods of moderate snow are now possible through midnight.

Total snowfall is expected to range from 1 to 2 inches in Delaware County, with higher amounts possible farther north. Wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph may cause blowing snow and reduced visibility, especially on open roads. Winds are expected to drop below 30 mph by midnight.

The NWS is still warning that travel conditions may change quickly overnight. Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra time to reach their destination and avoid crowding snowplows.

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UPDATE: Jan. 14, 4 p.m.

Delaware County is still expecting snow and strong winds tonight, according to the NWS. Snowfall could now total 1 to 4 inches, with the highest amounts in northern areas. Wind gusts may reach up 30 to 35 mph, causing blowing snow. Overnight wind chills could drop to -5°F.

Snow showers will slow down by midnight, and winds are expected to diminish to under 30 mph by then, as well.

The NWS is still warning that roads may be slick, and conditions can change quickly, so it's advised to slow down and give snowplows room when driving.

#######

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Delaware County can expect snowy and windy conditions through tonight and into the weekend.

A band of moderate to heavy snow moved through the area Wednesday afternoon, with up to 1 inch of snow possible. Additional light snow is expected overnight. Wind gusts today may also reach up to 40 miles per hour, which could make driving more difficult.

The NWS said scattered snow showers will continue this afternoon. These showers may briefly reduce visibility while driving to about a mile. Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra travel time and avoid crowding snowplows.

Looking ahead, there are chances for light snow from Thursday night through Saturday night, with minor accumulations possible. Much colder air is expected late in the weekend, with wind chills potentially dropping as low as 10 degrees below zero from Sunday night into Tuesday.

This brief will be updated with more information as we have it.

Contact the Daily News via email ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

Tonight: The snow dies down in the early evening hours but the possibility of a light snow shower or flurries cannot be ruled out. Cloud cover persists throughout the night with winds coming from the northwest at 15 mph and gusting up to 30. Lows will dip into the teens, making for a chilly winter night.

Tomorrow: The snow will move out but clouds persist throughout the morning. Sunshine will break through by the afternoon with a proper mix of sun and clouds. High temperatures will not break 30 degrees, sticking in the mid-20s throughout the day. Winds will thankfully start to calm down with gusts of 25 mph possible throughout the day.

Seven-Day Forecast: Snow chances return Friday but the chances of accumulation are minimal. Temperatures slide down well below the average of 36 degrees throughout the week. Overnight lows will be dangerously cold with some nights settling into the single digits. A mix of sunshine and clouds will be prominent throughout the end of the weekend and first half of next week. Make sure to bundle up as you head outside because these winter conditions are not going anywhere as temperature outlooks show us remaining below average.

-Chief Weather Forecaster Joseph Sawicki

Follow us on Twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

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

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In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 7 of 9-1-1.

Music track: Talk by Chill Pulse

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Hosted by: Sam Jasionowski and Willow Emig

Edited by: Sam Jasionowski

Graphic by: Willow Emig

The Cardinals (4-13, 0-5) fell to Akron (13-4, 4-1), 87-77.

The team's first four minutes of play against Akron did not go as planned for the Cardinals.

The Zips sprinted out to an early 14-2 lead. The Cardinals missed five shots from the field before junior guard Armoni Zeigler laid the ball in at about the 17-minute mark.

But even with Ball State's sluggish start to the game, Zeigler along with senior guard Elmore James IV gave the team life. After the Cardinals' start landed them in an early 12-point hole, the two Cardinals' guards combined for 25 points to knot the game up at 28 apiece.

Despite Zeigler and James' efforts to get the Cardinals back in the game, the Zips would proceed to go on a 25-7 scoring run that bled into the second half. Once Akron reached their largest lead of the game of 22 points, the Cardinals struggled to ever bring that lead back down.

Zeigler ended the game with a season high of 30 points on 11-18 from the field. Lewis said Zeigler was aggressive from the start of the game and that he was "very pleased" with the guard's play.

"I thought he did a really good job of playing under control," Lewis said.

A positive for the Cardinals was their ball security. In past games, Lewis has talked about times when the team was dealing with communication issues, but outside of Zeigler's six turnovers, the team only turned the ball over four times.

The head coach said he is seeing growth in that area within the team.

"We are growing, we're making less and less mental mistakes," Lewis said. "Our communication is continuing to get better, which is helping."

The Cardinals are still dealing with a slew of injuries, as junior forward Kayden Fish, junior guard Joey Hart and senior guard Juwan Maxey are still missing time nursing injuries. Other Cardinals' players have had to play more minutes in recent games, like junior forward Mason Jones and Zeigler, who both played over 35 minutes in tonight's contest.

"Those guys are battling, they're warriors," Lewis said. "I really appreciate this group overall just showing up every day and working and getting better."

Lewis said in recent games, the team has been making fewer mental mistakes and has been attacking with more purpose. The team shot 48 percent from the field against Akron, which is one percent below their season high in MAC play.

"I just thought we played with a real purpose tonight," Lewis said.

Ball State's loss gave them an 0-5 start to MACplay and moved them to the bottom of the league standings.

Despite the early conference play struggles, Lewis was pleased with the team's play and said he thought it was one of the best games the team has played all year.

"I was really proud of how they competed," Lewis said. "The result is the result."

The team is still searching for their first conference win as the Cardinals will host the Ohio Bobcats at Worthen Arena on Jan. 16, another team that is near the top of the MAC standings.

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

This article is republished as part of a collaborative content-sharing agreement between Ball State Unified Media andIndiana Capital Chronicle,established to expand access to high-quality journalism and to better inform and serve the public through trusted, in-depth reporting.

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