Seventy-two African high school students and mentors will come to Ball State this year as part of the Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program. The first group of three will arrive April 3 and stay at Ball State for two weeks.
A Ball State representative says there are no new developments concerning the letter sent by Indiana legislators regarding a professor that was accused of teaching intelligent design last summer. Joan Todd, a university spokesperson, said “there is nothing new to add,” regarding the letter sent March 10 by four Indiana senators who question Ball State’s respect for academic freedom and religious liberty in its treatment.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving, authorities said Monday. Irsay was arrested Sunday night in the northern Indianapolis suburb of Carmel on preliminary charges of driving while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Bryant Orem said. Police in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel say Irsay was stopped late Sunday after he was spotted driving slowly, coming to a stop in the roadway and failing to use a turn signal. Police say the 54-year-old Irsay failed several roadside field sobriety tests before he was arrested.
Two new fraternity chapters have joined Ball State this academic year: Kappa Alpha Psi, which was reactivated, and Pi Kappa Phi. Greek Life on campus makes up 12.31 percent of all students.
Students applying for Ball State and other universities after the Spring 2016 semester will have the option to take an updated SAT test. The new test will return to a 1,600 point scale and the writing portion will be optional. The test will consist of evidence based reading, writing and math. Students will also no longer be penalized for guessing on the test because wrong answers will no longer count against them.
MUNCIE, Ind. — Four conservative Republican Indiana legislators are questioning Ball State University’s decision to prohibit the teaching of intelligent design in a science course. The legislators sent a letter this week to Ball State President Jo Ann Gora, saying her decision last summer raised questions about whether the school had violated the religious and academic freedom of the professor involved, The Star Press reported. Gora’s decision followed complaints that the “Boundaries of Science” class taught by Eric Hedin, an assistant professor of physics, was promoting the idea that nature displays evidence of intelligent design, as opposed to evolution.
Governor Mike Pence named one new appointee to Ball State’s Board of Trustees. E. Renae Conley, a retired executive vice president of human resources for Entergy Corporation, which is an energy production and distribution company, was appointed to the board today, according to a press release. Conley earned two undergraduate and one graduate degree from Ball State as well as received the Miller College of Business’ 2001 Award of Achievement and was inducted into the Miller College of Business Hall of Fame in 2013. Conley also served as president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. Frank Hancock, owner of Sport Graphics, and Marianne Glick, director of the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation, were reappointed to the board by Pence today.
RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — Police say an out-of-control car crashed into a gasoline station in an eastern Indiana city, starting a fire and injuring four people.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Four gay couples from southern Indiana sued the state Friday, seeking to force Indiana to recognize same-sex marriages from out of state and issue licenses to same-sex couples. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Albany, Ind., asks a federal judge to overturn Indiana’s Defense of Marriage Act, which declares same-sex marriages void even if another state recognizes the union. “How long do you wait before you decide ‘I think I’d like to stand up for myself’,” said 66-year-old Lane Stumler of New Albany, who wants to marry his longtime partner Michael Drury.
Ball State issued an all-clear at about 11:45 a.m. after alerting students to a bomb threat at Burris Laboratory School just 15 minutes prior.
At his funeral today, friends and family remembered freshman Elija Swager as the kind of guy who never met a stranger.
The line stretched to the door of Fairview Missionary Church in Angola, Ind., as people arrived to remember a Ball State student who died Saturday. Freshman Elija Swager was found dead Saturday at an off-campus apartment.
Changes to the Indiana Lifeline Law could expand caller immunity coverage to those who report offenses including drug overdoses and sexual assault. On Feb. 26, the House passed the changes, Senate Bill 227, unanimously with an amendment. The bill will return to Senate.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says four SWAT officers have been hurt in a shooting while serving a warrant. Officer Kendale Adams told The Indianapolis Star that two officers have been released after treatment at hospitals and a third officer was checked by medical personnel at the scene of the shooting Wednesday night.
Richard Burkhardt, a former acting president of Ball State, is remembered by faculty members for his dedication to the university and his compassion. He died Tuesday morning in Muncie at the age of 95, a little more than a month after his wife of 27 years died.
Senate blocks Obama’s pick for civil rights post; Russia, West try to hammer out Ukraine diplomacy; Former IRS official refuses to testify at hearing; Facebook to delete posts for illegal gun sales; New SAT: The essay portion is to become optional
This year’s harsh winter conditions already have caused Muncie to spend about $16,000 more than last year on repairing potholes, most of which goes toward a temporary fix. The city spent roughly $60,000 last year on patching roads using hot and cold mixes, said Donnie Wright, supervisor for the Department of Street and Public Works. The expense was split evenly between the winter and the summer.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An asteroid is headed this way. But even though it will come closer than the moon, astronomers say it will pose no danger. The newly discovered asteroid, called 2014 DX110, will hurtle between the moon and Earth on Wednesday.
The Catholic Church, its more than 1 billion members and other denominations will celebrate Ash Wednesday today, the first day of Lent. Brogan Drumm, a junior theatrical studies major, called herself as a “cradle Catholic,” which means she was born and raised into the faith. “There have been times where I haven’t wanted to be Catholic, but all in all, I always seem to come back to my faith,” she said.
Richard Burkhardt, a former acting president of Ball State and Burkhardt Building’s namesake, died Tuesday morning in Muncie. Burkhardt began his career in higher education as the director of the division of teacher preparation at Syracuse University. In 1952, Burkhardt came to Ball State where he first served as the vice president for instructional affairs and dean of faculties, according to the Ball State website.
