Members of Muncie craft shop Forever Baskets talk about basket weaving and the business

By Elissa Maudlin / February 8, 2022

  It starts with the base, a circular slab of wood surrounded by thinner strands, which travel the perimeter of the slab, around and around. Tall strands the size of popsicle sticks reach toward the sky, away from the circular motion of the other strands, almost making a fence. Where the end of the continuous circle meets the sky-reaching fence, the thinner circular strands begin to weave around the taller strands, enveloping them. This is basket weaving.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Ball State alumnus Braxton Williams shares how he hopes to help others through his book, "The Infinite Horizons"

By Taylor Smith / February 3, 2022

Every afternoon, when the bell rang for lunchtime and his classmates’ stomachs grumbled at the thought of chips in their lunchboxes, Braxton Williams swung his backpack over his shoulder and made his way to reading class.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Muncie Education in Biracial Hair class aims to change the beauty industry

By Elissa Maudlin / February 2, 2022

In a room attached to the kitchen of Erica Robinson Moody’s home sits two salon chairs. A cabinet is filled with different colored hair dyes, an apron hangs on a hook near a large mirror and products stand in single-file lines on the counters.  Her son, Brooklyn Moody, sits in a salon chair where his mom said he often falls asleep, while she takes a comb, twirls it tightly on a small section of his hair and creates a tight, springy curl an inch or two in length. Dozens of these curls lie across his head. Brooklyn’s hairstyle takes 45 minutes to style this way, and the style only stays for about a week —  a reality for biracial hair.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Making a Month: A look at memorable moments in Black history

By Staff Reports / February 1, 2022

Feb. 1 is the beginning of Black History Month — a time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Black people in America and all over the world. In honor of the beginning of Black History Month, here is a timeline of some of the biggest events in American Black history.

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MUNCIE ORIGINS

Muncie native works to open her bakery, Casey's Cakes

By Sumayyah Muhammad / January 27, 2022

Casey Toomey’s grandma, Carolyn, baked cakes — “beautiful cakes with royal icing flowers” — to celebrate family and friends. She never sold them. It was her gift to those she loved. 

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MUNCIE ORIGINS

The Muncie Map Company aims to instill more pride in the Muncie community and its roots

By Maya Wilkins / January 26, 2022

“Do well by doing good.” Ben Franklin’s historic quote shapes the Muncie Map Company’s mission, seeking projects and jobs that benefit the Muncie community. Andy Shears, owner of the Muncie Map Company, is a Muncie native and a Ball State alumnus, and always wanted to give back to the community after leaving his former career as a professor.

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LISTICLE

Five ways to stimulate your senses to achieve your academic goals this semester

By Staff Reports / January 23, 2022

The new year and a new semester have begun, and many college students are looking for new ways to start it off strong. Some may try out new studying tools they discovered or make changes in their routine. However, for other students, these changes might only stay in place for a couple of weeks before being cast away to the island of forgotten semester goals. If you’re looking for ways to start off your semester strong that you may actually stick with, consider these five tips you may have not considered  — each involving your five senses.

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COMMUNITIES

Volunteer construction projects geared toward women help increase confidence in the Muncie community

By Sophie Nulph / January 20, 2022

Dark blue clouds cover the sun as the October wind picks up the coconut logs outside of 713 E. Willard St. The light sprinkle is a relief to the grime and sweat but can be bad news for the hog’s pen in place of a front yard. 

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

How filling in for shows at Ball State shaped actor and alumnus E.M. Davis' career

By Grace Bentkowski / January 13, 2022

Chicago-based actor E.M. Davis remembers entering their freshman year at Ball State as a “wannabe actor.” Davis wanted to major in acting in college, but they had some discouraging conversations about becoming an actor with previous high school teachers and family members.

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LIFESTYLES

Ball State art professor displays art in exhibition, reflects on career

By Maya Wilkins / January 12, 2022

When Audrey Barcio, Ball State assistant professor of art, was a child, she would watch her grandmother paint and sit by her side, working with her own watercolors, bonding over creating art, growing closer as they painted and discovering new techniques. 

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LIFESTYLES

Five safe ways to celebrate New Year's Eve during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Staff Reports / December 31, 2021

With the holiday season nearing its end, it can be tempting to spend more time with family and friends to ring in the new year. However, with the growing threat of COVID-19 and its variants, large gatherings and parties may not be the best idea, especially for those who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Nevertheless, 2021 is ending and 2022 is beginning, which calls for some celebration. Here are five fun and safe ways to celebrate the beginning of a new year during the pandemic.

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LISTICLE

10 Christmas gifts under $20 for last minute shoppers

By Tori Smith / December 10, 2021

Classes and extracurriculars can lead to college students being extremely busy. With students finishing up assignments, cramming for finals, and scraping any extra credit that they can get, December can seem like the busiest month of all. Christmas shopping sneaks up on us before we know it. Here is a last minute Christmas gift guide to direct you through your holiday shopping for all of your loved ones, whether they are into technology, cooking or fashion.

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CAMPUS

Fall 2021 Ball State graduate finds uncommon connection to grandmother

By Maya Wilkins / December 6, 2021

It’s 1957. Poodle skirts are “in,” Elvis Presley songs play all over the radio and drive-in movies are popular destinations for teenagers. Trending news topics include integrating schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

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COMMUNITIES

Local artist paints murals to bring Muncie’s southside community together

By Shwetha Sundarrajan / December 1, 2021

Drive on South Hoyt Avenue, and you’ll see businesses decorated with colorful murals, adding a pop of color to the otherwise bare street. Several local businesses, such as Rosebud Coffee House and the Common Market, have set up shops in Muncie's southside to bring the community together.

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LISTICLE

Five websites every college student should know about

By Staff Reports / November 29, 2021

Being in college, it can seem like things are a lot more challenging and tough. Students need tools and hacks to make the college experience easier. On the Internet, students can learn effective study habits and access digital copies of textbooks and answers to questions that may not have been discussed in their classes. Here are five websites to make every college student’s life a little easier. 

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CAMPUS

The School of Art’s Saturday Children’s Art Classes teach kids about art history and embracing creativity

By Miguel Naranjo / November 17, 2021

The classroom is filled with high-pitched clamor.  As children chat about everything from their favorite color to Minecraft, the teacher steps in front of the whiteboard, raises his arms and gives a loud “clap, clap, clap clap clap.”

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LISTICLE

A brief history behind 10 common Thanksgiving dishes

By Sumayyah Muhammad / November 15, 2021

With Thanksgiving break slowly upon us, the familiar taste of a home-cooked, or store-bought, Thanksgiving meal starts inching closer to our mouths — the sizzling hot, golden-brown turkey basting in the oven, the smell of grandma’s homemade pumpkin pie and the sound of everyone laughing together at the dinner table. 

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COMMUNITIES

After its grand re-opening in August, Forever Young Boutique expands its clothing collection to women and college students

By Grace Bentkowski / November 11, 2021

Amanda Hughes remembers strolling down the streets of downtown Muncie when she was little, peeking through cracked windows, counting boarded-up buildings and watching her hometown wear away. 

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COMMUNITIES

Charles Venable shares his love for Muncie through his go-kart business, Victory Laps

By Tori Smith / November 11, 2021

There he stood, overwhelmed by what he saw. The mile-and-a-half-long property that used to be Muncie’s Slick Track Raceway was now piled with problems. 

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CAMPUS

Six ways students can be more eco-friendly

By Staff Reports / November 2, 2021

Being environmentally friendly not only helps the planet but also your wallet. It can help you cut down on your electricity bills when you unplug appliances that are not in use. Here are six tips on how to be more eco-friendly in your day-to-day life.