The Daily from Ball State Unified Media

University program helps students mix with American families

By Kara Berg / February 2, 2014

For one international student at Ball State, coming to a new country didn’t mean going without a family. Three years ago junior architecture major Sasha Mballa joined the program after coming to the United States from Africa, which connects international students with local families, when he came to Ball State. Mballa said he stumbled upon the program by accident and decided to try it out. Since many international students come to school without any established friends, the program can provide support while they adjust to an American lifestyle. Of the more than 800 international students who attend Ball State each year, only 131 take part in the program.

Activists in Kiev, Ukraine, run to the front lines of a protest while holding shields and throwing stones Jan. 22. Ukraine special forces tossed grenades at protesters who continued despite the attack. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ILYA VARLAMOV
NEWS

Watching from afar

January 30, 2014

The ongoing protests in Ukraine have a Ball State professor and Ukrainian native feeling isolated and removed from his homeland. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators continue to fight against the Ukrainian government after Tuesday’s repeal of anti-protest laws.

NEWS

SGA rejects nominee for alleged takeover plans

By Rachel Podnar / January 30, 2014

The Student Government Association denied a nominee to join Senate after members said the candidate was trying to be elected as pro tempore. During the vote Wednesday afternoon, Bryan Kubel recommended SGA Senate not approve sophomore political science major Daqavise Winston’s application. Though Kubel is chair of the credentials board, he made the recommendation as a senator.

INDOT has used $3 million less than money allotted for entire winter.
NEWS

Winter weather ranks among coldest in Indiana history

By Rachael Barry / January 29, 2014

The harsh winter in Indiana has affected more than campus — decreasing blood donations, nearly wiping out the state’s winter funding and increasing hospital visits. And the season isn’t over yet. David Call, a Ball State associate professor of geography and weather expert, said the last time the state experienced weather like this was in 1979. Although temperatures are expected to rise this week, Call said this month will be colder than 90 percent of Indianapolis’ recorded winters.

The term
NEWS

Students eat less to drink more

January 28, 2014

Jenna Barkley, a Ball State sophomore, picked up a diet last month that did more than help her lose weight — she also can get drunk faster. She started a diet consisting of only meats, nuts, vegetables and fruits. She lost 8 pounds in the first week and said the loss lowered her tolerance to alcohol.

Matt Marko, lead campus organizer for Freedom Indiana, and SGA representative of Spectrum Carli Hendershot, a sophomore political science major, explain the process for calling residents. Students called households for over two hours to persuade them to leave a message to their representatives about their concern for HJR-3. DN PHOTO EMMA ROGERS
NEWS

Students call Indiana residents to stop HJR-3

By Danielle Grady / January 27, 2014

Despite jobs, large course loads and making rent, a few Ball State students are devoting as many as 10 hours a week calling strangers to oppose HJR-3. At 5 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday, as well as during several impromptu sessions in the week, Sam Itkin calls Indiana residents. The sophomore creative writing major urges them to contact state representatives in their area to oppose the HJR-3 amendment. Armed with laptops and smart phones Itkin and 34 others prepared for a last ditch effort to make an impact on Indiana legislators, before today’s deciding vote. They hope to stop the amendment, which could strip away benefits for same sex couples, from continuing past Indiana’s House of Representatives and onto a statewide referendum this November.

Freshmen telecommunications majors Abby Urbik, Logan Dooley, Noelia Herrera and Danielle Behrens of Music & Memory pose in iPod costumes for their campaign to donate old iPods or money for elderly people with Alzheimer’s Disease. PROVIDED PHOTO FROM MUSIC & MEMORY
NEWS

Student organization uses music to revive long lost memories

By Danielle Grady / January 27, 2014

Tyler Sparkman never got the opportunity to get to know his great grandmother. She was always physically present, but Alzheimer’s rendered her unable to recognize the freshman telecommunication major’s face. “I just remember every time I would go to visit her, she wouldn’t know who I was,” he said. “She would call me mean names and stuff, because she thought I was there to hurt her.”

NEWS

Students react to Saturday make-up classes

By Christopher Stephens / January 23, 2014

After Ball State announced one-day weekends to make up snow days, some students took to Twitter and asked, “#isthisajoke?” Makeup classes will fall on two Fridays and two Saturdays, and many students took to Twitter to say they aren’t happy. Ball State announced Wednesday that students will make up the two days missed because of inclement weather on Jan.

NEWS

Extra food totals 20 tons per year, goes to charity

January 23, 2014

Ball State donated almost 20 tons of food last year, but this is considered an insignificant number. Director of Campus Dining Services Jon Lewis said the size of the group of people the university serves allows for more surplus, which can be donated. “We’re going to have a more considerable amount of food because we are the biggest food service in Delaware County,” Lewis said. “A restaurant like McDonald’s is not going to be able to provide like we do.”

NEWS

Student Government passes elections code changes

By Rachel Podnar / January 23, 2014

Student Government Association voted to approve some of the changes to the elections code addressing issues and concerns from the previous election. Campaign season will last only two weeks this year, versus last year’s three week election season duration. SGA vice president Alyssa France said candidates last year expressed that three weeks was too long.

Ball State President Jo Ann Gora speaks to the crowd at the mayor's luncheon Jan. 3 at the Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, Ala. DN PHOTO COREY OHLENKAMP
NEWS

Presidential search releases qualifications, contacts candidates

By Rachel Podnar / January 23, 2014

The search for Ball State’s next president continues as 250-300 potential candidates will receive information about the university and presidency. Baker and Associates, the search firm conducting the search, released the candidate specifications detailing hopes of a visionary candidate with bold dreams for Ball State.

NEWS

Ball State SGA sponsors study abroad scholarship

By Rachel Podnar / January 22, 2014

The Student Government Association executive board debuted a new scholarship for summer study abroad to keep in line with its platform points. The $500 scholarship’s application went live last week, said SGA Vice President Alyssa France. France said changing her major sophomore year derailed her desire to study abroad, but she hopes the scholarship will help make the opportunity possible for another Ball State student.

Sugar Babies maintain a relationship with older people in exchange for money or gifts. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SEEKINGARRANGEMENT.COM
NEWS

Ball State students get close for cash

By Kara Berg / January 21, 2014

As Ball State senior Harper Creo got ready for a first date with a man she met on the Internet, she went through the typical routine: shave, put on makeup, paint her nails and struggle to decide what to wear. It would be a standard first date; the two would get to know each other and figure out what the other person wants from the relationship. The only difference is that Creo is being paid.

NEWS

Online rankings compete with on-campus learning

January 21, 2014

Ball State’s recent rankings for online courses show a disparity between resources and engagement in a classroom and learning on a computer. The U.S. News and World Report ranked the university’s business, education and nursing programs in the top 20 of their respective categories. Ball State was ranked No. 29 for best online bachelor’s program.

Smoke from a burning Ball State bus rolls across Interstate 69, north of Indianapolis. DN PHOTO MARIA STRAUSS
NEWS

No one injured in Ball State bus fire on I-69

By Staff Reports / January 20, 2014

A Ball State bus is on fire on the side of Interstate 69 South. The bus is fully on fire, blocking traffic for nearly two miles near the 208-mile marker, north of Indianapolis. Heavy black smoke is rolling east across the highway.

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