Members of the LGBTQ+ community are being restricted from donating blood and plasma

By Lila Fierek / 4 days ago

You must be 18 years or older. You must weigh more than 110 pounds. You must be in good health.  Simple rules for donating blood, right?  Not necessarily.  You must not be a male who has had sexual contact with another male in the last three months. You may be able to donate blood as a trans man … but not if you’ve had sex with another man in the last three months. If you are an individual who identifies as female and has had sex with a man, you may be eligible to donate blood. 

---

---

LIFESTYLES

Behind the scenes at Ball State theatre

By Olivia Ground / March 16, 2023

Silence falls over the crowd. The orchestra plays the first notes. Energy vibrates through the room, as anticipation grows. Goosebumps form, and smiles widen as the curtain opens to reveal a the set — elaborately painted structures and period props, costumes, hair and makeup.  Before an actor says the first line — in that opening pause — the audience enters the story. Kip Shawager, associate professor emeritus of theatre design of the Ball State University Department of Theatre and Dance, said these visual cues establish the setting, the time period and the tone of the story.    “We’re supporting the actors and the directions and everything they do by surrounding them with visuals to tell the story that makes sense,” he added.  Shawger shared that all the visual and design aspects of theatre — costuming, sets, props, hair, makeup and lighting — all have to work in unison.  

---

LIFESTYLES

Ball State’s branch of Camp Kesem supports children who have been affected by their parent’s cancer through a free weekend of fun and encouragement

By Grace Duerksen / March 7, 2023

Kelly Hayes, second-year creative writing major at Ball State University, grew up in a home where she said all anyone talked about was cancer. “All you ever think about is that your parent is sick, and that takes up your whole life,” Hayes said Her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and when Hayes was 16 years old, her mother died from it. Two years later, Hayes was introduced to Camp Kesem, an annual summer camp for 6 to 18-year-olds. “My mom had died two years ago at that point, so it was still fresh,” Hayes said. “I saw the [Camp Kesem] banner and mission, and I said, ‘Isn’t that amazing?’ I wish I had something like that as a kid. I wanted to help.” 

---

LIFESTYLES

Buying local produce gives back to the community, and in some instances, is cheaper than alternatives

By Ella Howell / March 4, 2023

The original building that housed Sparky’s Corner Greenhouse was relatively small, but now it’s an expanded building in vibrant shades of pink, green and yellow. Inside, there are various hues of green stretching from floor to ceiling for Muncie residents to choose from. Sparky’s Corner Greenhouse aims to better the community by making affordable plants and produce accessible while working against inflation. Brian Carless is a co-owner and became comfortable in Muncie through his work in the Avondale Community Garden. 

---

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

The Tri Kappa sorority gives back to the community through fundraisers and their Twice as Nice store

By Lila Fierek and Mya Cataline / March 3, 2023

Euchre nights, cemetery visits, ax throwing, aerial aerobics, glass blowing workshops and community volunteering. This is what it’s like to be a part of Tri Kappa Muncie.  “It’s a place where you can socialize with people, but you also feel like you’re doing a service to the community,” Diane Frye, president of Tri Kappa Muncie, said.

---

---

LIFESTYLES

Troy Dobosiewicz, deceased theatre education program coordinator, is remembered for his impact on students

By Miguel Naranjo / February 24, 2023

On Feb. 4, Troy Dobosiewicz passed away unexpectedly at 51 in his home in Muncie, according to his obituary in the South Bend Tribune. Though the professor is no longer alive, his memory and his impact on the Department of Theatre and Dance and its students continue to serve Theatre Education students at Ball State.

---

LIFESTYLES

From majoring in math to working on Broadway, Ball State University theatre professor Michael Rafter shares his journey

By Lila Fierek / February 24, 2023

Five children in a high stakes battle. Who can play piano the best and win the cookie? When Michael Rafter is your brother, there is no chance.  The Emmy-award winning conductor and professor at Ball State University discovered his musical talent through an at-home piano playing competition. Rafter’s older sister would babysit and teach her five other siblings something on the piano, and whoever could play it best would win a sweet prize.  “I always won the cookie,” he said, “but my brothers beat me up and ate the cookie.” Though the rest of his brothers were athletic and could pick up a football and throw a “perfect spiral,” the keyboard is what made sense to Rafter.  He won the cookie for a reason. Today, Rafter is the musical director for the Broadway revival of “Funny Girl” starring Lea Michelle. 

---

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

A walkout from 55 years ago started the implementation for African-American studies at Ball State

By Lila Fierek and KwaTashea Marfo / February 21, 2023

There was political unrest and several things needed to be addressed on Ball State’s campus. Fifty Black students were up for the test. Sparked by the racial complications and the conditions of the 1960s, college campuses across the United States were in an uproar. African Americans were fueled with determination to change academic bureaucratic policies. During the 1967-68 academic year, Ball State’s African American population faced two main concerns: the university’s lack of social activities for Black students and the need for representation of Black minorities in the curriculum and faculty. However, the demand for their issues were not met until a walkout was correctly timed.

---

LIFESTYLES

Ball State bus driver says goodbye to students and faculty after five years

By Olivia Ground / February 20, 2023

He greeted every single person who stepped foot on the bus with a smile. He knew multiple students by name. He knew their major, their schedule and where they were headed. He knew their plan for the day, and what they were doing that evening. He knew when they were graduating, how their extracurriculars were and what they planned to do after school.  He took care and pride in keeping students safe, especially at night.  Ball State University bus driver Brian Kemp has driven campus shuttles for five years. For him, the best part about this job is the students. 

---

---

LIFESTYLES

SunShine Cafe Muncie employees and customers share their special bond

By Elissa Maudlin and Angelica Gonzalez / February 12, 2023

Kamara Heier stood at the front podium of SunShine Cafe Muncie. She watched customers come in and helped them pay out. The cafe wasn’t new to her; she’s been working on and off there for the last 14 years. 

---

LIFESTYLES

The family behind Reality Bytes virtual reality arcade wants to make VR attainable for the residents of Muncie

By Ella Howell / February 9, 2023

From the outside, the strip mall on West Fox Ridge Lane appears to be a typical building in Muncie. However, once you step inside, you’re faced with countless possibilities. The Rizzo family opened the virtual reality arcade, Reality Bytes, in July 2022, and their novelty idea has taken entertainment in Muncie to a new level.

---

LIFESTYLES

Amy’s Pet Spa opens in Muncie to pamper your pet

By Lila Fierek / February 5, 2023

On the corner of South Cherry and West Adams, husky howls and barking can be heard in the air, though usually only for a few minutes. On that corner in downtown Muncie, sits Amy’s Pet Spa.  Owner Amy Shears has been busy since she opened in November 2022, and her business is only growing. Kelley Stewart, Shears’ neighbor and owner of Sit-Stay-Play Pet Grooming Kelley Stewart, recently broke her wrist, leaving Shears to help Stewart’s clients in the midst of a pet grooming shortage. 

---

LIFESTYLES

Ball State fraternity sweethearts discuss their roles

January 29, 2023

Sigma Chi fraternity brothers stand in the formal room, waiting for a special girl to arrive. A white rose, the fraternity’s flower, is handed to her as the brothers serenade her with their sweetheart song and welcome her into the fraternity. She is now their sweetheart.

---

---

LIFESTYLES

Five gym etiquette rules to follow when working out

By Lila Fierek / January 28, 2023

With 52 percent of Americans’ New Year’s resolutions being to exercise more, according to Statistica, and 12 percent of new gym members starting in January, according to RunRepeat, gyms have been filling up. This means new people to fitness centers, some who don’t know the “unwritten rules” of the gym. Here are five rules of gym etiquette for all those visiting the gym.

---

STUDY ABROAD:

The top 10 study abroad locations offered by Ball State

By Lila Fierek / January 24, 2023

For the last couple years, COVID-19 has been an excuse for dismissing travel plans due to borders being closed and high chances of getting sick. Though COVID-19 is still a problem all over the world, life is beginning to return to normal, and with that, more study abroad opportunities are opening.

---

LIFESTYLES

Ball State’s Pre-Seed Fund offers students the chance to win $2,500 toward their business

By Lila Fierek / January 20, 2023

The first step third-year Ball State student Hunter Seagraves took to winning the Pre-Seed Fund: rejection. Two years ago, when Seagraves applied to the Entrepreneurship Center’s bi-annual grant, he was turned away. He said he was never going to apply again.

---

LIFESTYLES

Need a little help keeping your New Year’s resolutions? Consider making it a habit with these five tips.

By Miguel Naranjo / January 15, 2023

 New Year’s resolutions are supposed to correlate with the renewal of the year and its seasonal cycle; new beginnings are the cue for a person to grow and change. However, despite people’s best intentions, a study performed by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that about two-thirds of people in the U.K. and Australia gave up on their New Year’s resolutions within the first month of 2021.

---

LIFESTYLES

Ball State's ROTC program turns college students into steadfast leaders

By Miguel Naranjo / December 17, 2022

Ball State students in the ROTC are one-half scholar, one-half soldier. Maddie Dilds, an ROTC cadet, and Nathan Dunn, recruitment operations officer for the Ball State ROTC, give an inside look into the most rigorous leadership academy the school has to offer.

---

LIFESTYLES

Fourth-years Katie Cole and Keith Smith share their moments performing in their college career moments

By Jayda Mann / December 10, 2022

Two fourth-years in the Department of Theatre and Dance reflect on their experiences, how it lead up to their respective roles in "The Nutcracker" and where it will take them in the future.

---

LIFESTYLES

Five Tips for Managing Stress During Finals

By Zach Gonzalez and Danny Royster / December 10, 2022

Finals week is coming up and some students may be wondering: how can I remain calm and do my best? Here are five tips for managing stress during finals.