ball bearings | volume 4 issue 4
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BALL BEARINGSvolume 4 // issue 4 // summer 2013
get your festival on
page 28
athletes go propage 12
the student debt crisis
page 5
ball state’s
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1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BALL BEARINGS // SUMMER ISSUE
2013: POVERTY AWARENESS YEAR Delaware County needs you to make a difference
FEATURES
36 FUN CLASSES 101 Gain a new perspective by taking classes outside of your major.
28 MONEY MATTERSStudents decide whether loans are their best option,
32
THE GUIDE
5 SUMMER FESTIVAL SAMPLING Annual traditions that will add more fun to your vacation
PUTTING IT ALL ON THE LINEStudent athletes find where their true focus lies
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
8 GENERIC versus BRAND NAME Products are more similar than you think. Don’t pay for the packaging.
food
10
12
DON’T STOP THE POP Four refreshing frozen treats
insights
24 ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAILFollow a student’s journey through the SGA election process
ENRICH
39 CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISMFair Trade movement fights for workers’ rights.
IN EVERY ISSUE
3
1822 27
42
describe your style
editor’s note
Q&A: MALACHI RANDOLPH
In Focus
columNS: bethany and BRANDON
16 MARCO, BIKE POLO A west coast sport comes to the heartland
20 LOVE LETTER BUZZ Campus gets steamier with BSU’s Secret Admirers’ Facebook page
technology
2 // BALL BEARINGS
ContributorsBOBBY ELLISAlexandra HolderBriee EikenberryGina PortoleseMatt McKinneyKrista SanfordTaylor PetersonMaria StraussSavannah Smith Emily TheisBrandon PopeSarah Ellis Victoria DavisKati Jamison Lauren DahlhauserEmma Kate FittesAiste ManfrediniMaris SchiessJen PrandatoSara NahrwoldLemuel YoungDan Carpenter Ben Dehr Jessie Bradway Annie Gonzalez Bethany GuyerBrandon NewmanTiffany Watt
editor-in-chieftaylor ellis
managing editorlauren hardy
assistant editormichelle johnson
assistant editorjoe ruley
assistant editorkaleigh sheahan
photo editorstephanie tarrant
assistant photo editoraaron kelly
design editorstephanie meredith
assistant design editoralex burton
advertising director chris haygood
pr directorleeann wood
advisordavid sumner
managing editor of contentcatherine greis
managing editor of presentationkarina lozano
producerhayli goode
producerlindsey riley
producerlacey bursik
design editoraubrey smith
video editorcarolyn case
advisormary spillman
BALL BEARINGSvolume 4 // issue 4 // sUMMER 2013
print staff//
online staff//
ball state university // muncie, inD. 47306 printed by ball state university printing services
3
You will never be able to fully prepare for some things in life. From what I’ve
heard it’s getting married, having kids and entering the real world after gradu-
ation. But, I’d like to add one more thing to that list — becoming editor-in-chief
of Ball Bearings.
Last April when I found out that I got this position, I had a lengthy summer
plan on how I would improve my skills so that I would be worthy of the pres-
tigious opportunity I had just been given. Sometimes, I sat in deep thought
and tried to come up with the perfect speech to give at the first editorial board
meeting so that everyone would be convinced that I was the right woman for
the job. My dramatic side often found its way into my dreams where I would
suddenly become mute during these meetings or fall on my face as I entered
the room.
Luckily, none of those dreams came true, but I did make quite a few mistakes
along the way. My biggest mistake was thinking that I was going to be able to
please 30+ people who all have different personalities and a different vision
of what Ball Bearings should be like. I quickly found out that being the leader
that everyone thought I should be was nearly impossible.
But, in these overwhelming moments, I reminded myself that I had been
chosen for this job for a reason, and that I needed to be the best leader I could
be — not the perfect version of a leader that everyone had in their mind. Some-
times in life, we are given opportunities that we aren’t prepared for and that
we can’t possibly understand until we take a leap of faith and give them our
best shot. This is why I think Vince Lombardi Jr. said, “Leaders aren’t born,
they are made. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of
us must pay to achieve any goal which is worthwhile.” And that’s exactly how
being editor-in-chief has been for me this year.
I dove full-speed ahead into something new, and what I found was that
sometimes we don’t have to make ourselves worthy, but instead we become
worthy as we grow into our opportunities and challenges. It’s amazing what
happens when we stop trying to be the person everyone else expects us to
be, but instead offer ourselves and our unique gifts to the situation in front of
us. No, I’m not the perfect leader that always has it together, but I’m Taylor
Ellis, and that’s enough. I have unique life experiences and abilities that you
may not have and vice versa. I may fail in areas where you succeed, and that’s
perfectly OK because not all leaders are cut from the same mold.
This year, when I’ve had a problem, someone else has had a solution. When
someone was knocked down, I’ve been able to help pick them back up. This is
why we all need to stop trying to be someone that we’re not and simply bring
the best version of ourselves to the table. After all, if everyone on Ball Bearings
staff were the same type of people, then nothing would get done because we
all play an irreplaceable role in producing this publication.
As you flip through the pages of this issue, you will see people who have
confronted challenges and emerged as individuals who bring unique life expe-
riences to the table. For Brandon Pope, it was learning how to overcome failure
after the SGA elections (page 24). For Molly Flodder, it was coming up with
a plan to tackle Delaware County’s poverty issues (page 32). And for David
and Sara Ring, it was opening up the Downtown Farm Stand and joining the
fair trade movement (page 39).
These individuals didn’t let people’s expectations paralyze them, but instead
took small steps forward to become the best leaders they could be. Next time
you’re tempted to compare yourself to others or place unrealistic expectations
on yourself, just remember that you’re enough, and that you’ve lived a life that
no one else can emulate.
editor’s note //
TAYLOR ELLISEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
advertise with usfor more information, contact us at [email protected].
contact uscomments can be directed to [email protected].
4 // BALL BEARINGS
Like what you see in the print issue? Head over to our website for more great content. From learning about campus’
comedy groups to discovering alternative classes, Ball Bearings Online offers a visual and interactive way to tell stories
using multimedia. Here’s what you can find from this issue:
ballbearingsmag.com //
get more ball bearings
alternative classesLearn more about unique classes on campus.
Check out a comic book class and a scuba
diving course, which are both offered for
students. Then, take a quiz to figure out what
class is right for you.
poverty awarenessTake a look at how the Muncie Mission is
helping the impoverished locally and what
other organizations are stepping up to help the
community.
bike poloInterested in seeing how bike polo actually
works? Watch a game for yourself. And if
you like what you see you can check out our
clickable to learn the official rules for the
game.
pro footballAfter reading about a few students who are
chasing their dreams of becoming pro athletes,
read the story of one student who was drafted
to the NFL, but had to turn down the offer for
reasons beyond his control. See how this major
turning point changed his life for the better.
online exclusive: Watch out for “BSU Goes Viral:” a wrap-up of Ball State’s top moments throughout the year. THIS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES everything from David Letterman and Oprah on campus, to students camping out to see the band Fun. our online team has you covered to relive this year’s biggest moments on campus.
5
Festivals provide a way for people to come together
and celebrate, commemorate or honor something
in their community. Whether it’s great food, music,
workshops or rides, these Indiana summer and fall
festivals offer something for everyone.
story // leeann wood illustrations // stephanie Meredith
Festival Fever
Twelve fun events that beat bummin’ it at home this summer
South Bend Blues & Ribs Festival // June 22,South Bend This festival celebrates what
South Bend considers to be the
best blues and ribs in the area.
The proceeds of this festival
go to fund the development
of Miracle Park, a special
needs facility. You can enjoy
the music and barbecue while
supporting a great cause.
Frankfort Hot Dog Festival // Jul. 26-27,Frankfort The Frankfort Hot Dog
Festival is all about, you
guessed it, hotdogs. Along with
a hotdog-eating contest, you
can participate in the 5K Bun
Walk/Run, watch Dachshund
racing and live entertainment
including karaoke and dancing
in the streets.
Valparaiso Popcorn Festival // Sept. 7,Valparaiso Popcorn guru, Orville
Redenbacher, was born and
raised in Valparaiso, Ind.,
giving the town the perfect
reason to celebrate this classic
snack. The festival is packed
full with popcorn-inspired
events, such as Popcorn Panic
5K Walk /5M Run and the
Orville Redenbacher Parade.
6 // BALL BEARINGS
music
food
All-American Country Hoedown // May 30-June 2,CampbellsburgIf you’re a country music lover,
this festival is for you. It will
feature performances from
several local country singers,
a horseshoe tournament and
parade. This year will mark
the 19th annual All-American
Country Hoedown.
Med Flory Jazz and Blues Festival // June 8,LogansportNamed after Logansport’s
jazz legend, this festival
features blues, jazz, bebop
and big band music. To
go along with this theme,
festival-goers are encouraged
to dress in their favorite
1920s garb.
Music Fest XVI // July 12-13,FremontFor classic rock, head to
Fremont for its annual Music
Fest. This festival highlights
local talent, including the
Fremont High School choir. If
you attend this festival, you can
also look forward to a car show,
mud volleyball tournament and
fireworks to end the night.
THE GUIDE // entertainment
7
just for fun
art
Broad Ripple Art Fair // May 18-19,Indianapolis Art CenterFundraiser turned major
festival, the Broad Ripple Art
Fair is the Indianapolis Art
Center’s largest moneymaker,
showcasing over 200 artists
from all over the country.
While looking at the art, you
can also enjoy live music in the
festival’s beer and wine garden.
Hoosier Hills Fiber Arts Festival // May 31-June 1,FranklinRanging from “Spinning Beaded
Yarn” and “Knitting Continental
Style,” to “Beginning Basketry,”
Hoosier Hills offers many
classes to choose from. You
can also expect shearing and
weaving demonstrations, Civil
War reenactors and jousting
demonstrations.
Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival // August 1-4,NappaneeLocated in Amish country, this
festival showcases the art of more
than 300 artists. The artwork is
for sale, so it is a great place to
find a new piece for your living
room. Chosen by The American
Bus Association as the “Top 100
Events in North America,” this
festival will celebrate its 51st year.
500 Festival // May 2-26,Indianapolis This almost month-long festival
leads up to the Indianapolis
500 on May 26, 2013. The
majority of the events are races,
which ties into the Indy Car
theme. It includes a 15K, 5K,
Mini-Marathon and Rookie
Run. The 5K has a post-race
party as an incentive to finish.
The festival ends with the
iconic IPL 500 Festival Parade.
Angola Balloons Aloft // July 12-13, Angola This free festival is for the
adventurous at heart. It is
especially known for its hot air
balloon competition, which
includes balloons with unique
shapes like Noah’s Arc, Betty
Jean Butterfly and Oggy the
Friendly Dragon. It also features
a skydiving competition as well
as hot air balloon, helicopter and
airplane rides.
Circus City Festival // July 13-20, Peru See downtown Peru transform
into an amusement park for
this midsummer, week-long
event. In addition to the circus
performances, there are rides,
games and other forms of local
entertainment. Peru is famous
for their Amateur Circus
that performs in the Festival
Parade, which also features
circus wagons, clowns, floats
and music.
generic versus brand names. When two products seem
identical, it can be difficult to know the true differences
apart from the price tag. Does a cheaper price hint at a
lower-quality product?
To put it simply, here’s the main difference between
the two options: one has a commercial, while the other
does not.
“The secret’s out, store brands are just as good,” Lisa
Rider, the vice president of retail consulting solutions for
Nielsen, a marketing information company tells Tulsa
World. “Store-brand buyers are no longer seen as cheap-
skates, but as savvy shoppers.”
Many labeled products use the same national name-
brand manufacturers to produce a generic counterpart.
For example, based on the product code, Muncie’s Mei-
jer brand milk is actually bottled at the same place that
bottles Dean’s Milk, in Rochester, Ind.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
requires all manufacturers to have the same standards for
its generic and branded products. They often use similar
equipment, similar ingredients, undergo a similar testing
and quality analysis and always abide by the same set of
FDA regulations. As a result, a lot of what a consumer
pays for is the packaging.
Generic, or store brands, have come a long way from
the bottom-shelved, drab packages of decades past. Better
packaging design was the first successful step, but the im-
provement in product quality in recent years is what has
made store brands a competitor to name brand products.
According to Consumer Reports, store brands have come
to represent better selection, value and savings for many
shoppers and are the fastest growing and most popular
items for sale today.
The difference between the products lies within the
brand tax, which consists of advertising and promotional
costs incurred by national brand makers that are then
passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. A
store-brand manufacturer does not have these costs, but
still buys the same high-quality ingredients and runs the
same state of the art manufacturing line.
Retailers are catching on to the advantages of manu-
facturing their own products, and the popularity of the
loyalty among consumers to store brands. Most recently,
Walgreens launched its own brand, Nice!, which feature
items from regular drugstore products to dry food, like
macaroni.
Store brands such as Nice! help families buy essential
household items for a fraction of the cost. A recent study
from the Private Label Manufacturers Association found
that consumers save an average of 33 percent on grocery
bills by paying for store brands rather than name brands
at the check out line.
So there’s no reason to feel guilty for being cheap; generic
products still give you quality for a fraction of the cost.
Being a cheap college student can have its setbacks, but when it comes to food, it’s OK to save some extra cash
story // Alexandra Holder photos // stephanie tarrant
shop and save
8 // BALL BEARINGS
consume WITH CAUTION
Monosodium Glutamate What it is: Usually heard by the name MSG, this
amino acid is used as a flavor enhancer in processed foods.
It is one of the most common food additives.
Why it’s bad: It’s a neurotoxic chemical additive
shown to harm or overexcite nerve cells, sometimes to the
point of death. Regularly consuming excitotoxins destroys
brain cells and can lead to serious health problems,
including neurological disorders.
Where to find it: Campbell’s soup, frozen din-
ners, Hamburger Helper, Doritos and Pringles
Sodium Nitrites/NitratesWhat they are: Two closely-related chemicals
used to preserve meat. They inhibit botulism-causing
bacteria and allow processed meats to maintain their pink
hues, which is why the FDA allows their use.
Why they are bad: When added to meat and
ingested, the nitrates fuse with amino acids and are
converted to nitrosamines, powerful carcinogenic com-
pounds, which are associated with an increased risk of
certain types of cancers.
Where to find them: Ham, salami, bologna and
hot dogs
AspartameWhat it is: One of the most widely used artificial
sweeteners
Why it’s bad: Aspartame is an excitotoxin. It also
is believed to be carcinogenic, and produces neurotoxic
effects such as headaches, dizziness, blurry vision and
gastrointestinal disturbances. Aspartame is 10 percent
methanol, which is shown to be broken down by the body
into the toxic by-products formic acid and formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is considered to be a potent nerve toxin
and carcinogen, which may explain why aspartame ac-
counts for more reports to the FDA of adverse reactions
than all other foods and food additives combine.
Where to find it: Diet beverages, chewing gum
and flavored water
High-Fructose Corn SyrupWhat it is: A highly-refined sweetener in which corn
starch is separated from the corn kernel. The corn starch
is then converted into corn syrup through a process called
acid hydrolysis.
Why it’s bad: Nearly all HFCS is made from
genetically-modified corn. It has been shown to contribute
to weight gain and the development of diabetes. HFCS
is also is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease,
arthritis, insulin resistance, and elevated triglycerides and
raised LDL cholesterol.
Where to find them: Barbecue sauce, salad
dressing, bread and pastry products, and sweet and sugary
cereals
Artificial Food ColoringWhat it is: An additive that gives food a color differ-
ent from its natural state
Why it’s bad: Artificial food dyes were originally
synthesized from coal tar; now they are derived from
petroleum. The controversial dyes are one of the most
widely used additives in food products today. Many
dyes have been banned because of their adverse effects
on laboratory animals. Studies have confirmed that nine
dyes currently approved for use in the U.S. raise health
concerns. According to the Center for Science in the
Public Interest’s (CSPI) study on food dyes, “The three
most widely used dyes, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6,
are contaminated with known carcinogens. Another dye,
Red 3, has been acknowledged for years by the FDA to
be a carcinogen, yet it is still in the food supply.” CPSI
further reports that these nine food dyes are linked to
health issues ranging from cancer and hyperactivity to
allergy-like reactions.
Where to find it: Colored candy, Kool-Aid, Jell-O
and boxed macaroni and cheese
five harmful ingredients found in common foods
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shop and save
9
10 // BALL BEARINGS
THE GUIDE // food
brain freezeEase the stressing effects of finals week with these warm-weather treats
story // lauren hardy PHOTOS // gina portolese
ingredients instructions• 1 1/2 pounds seedless
watermelon without the
rind, dice into 1-inch
pieces (about 4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup mint leaves,
minced
• 2 teaspoons finely
grated lemon zest
In a blender, puree the
watermelon with the
sugar until smooth. Stir
in the mint, lemon zest
and salt. Pour the puree
into eight Popsicle molds
or two standard ice cube
trays (insert Popsicle
sticks halfway through
freezing) and freeze until
solid, about three hours.
watermelon mint pops
ingredients instructions• 2 packets hot chocolate
• 2 tablespoons semi-
sweet chocolate chips
• 3 cups milk
In a medium saucepan,
heat milk over medium
heat to simmer for about
three minutes. Add the
chocolate chips and hot
chocolate packets and
whisk until combined
well. Remove saucepan
from the stove and let
cool completely. Pour into
Popsicle molds and se-
cure with Popsicle sticks.
Freeze until solid.
creamy cocoa popsingredients instructions• 3 cups vanilla Greek
yogurt
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 cups Fruity
Pebbles cereal
In a blender, combine
yogurt, milk and sugar
and blend until com-
bined. With a spoon, stir
in Fruity Pebbles. Pour
or spoon the mixture into
Popsicle molds and se-
cure with Popsicle sticks.
Freeze overnight or for a
few hours until solid.
fruity pebbles froyo bars
ingredients instructions• 16 oz can crushed
pineapple
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1 tablespoon sugar
In a blender, puree the
pineapple until smooth.
Pour into a bowl and set
aside. Place the raspber-
ries and sugar in the
blender and puree until
smooth. Fill Popsicle
molds with pineapple
mixture about 1/3 of the
way. Pour raspberry mix-
ture on top of it another
1/3 of the way. Fill the
remainder of the mold
with pineapple mixture
and secure with popsicle
sticks. Freeze overnight
or for a few hours until
solid.
tropical berry pops
It’s late April, which means papers are piling up, study guides are blurring together and
temperatures are rising. Cool off, and take a break with these fast popsicle recipes that’ll leave
you feeling refreshed and recharged in no time. (Serving sizes will vary based on what popsicle
molds you use.)
12 // BALL BEARINGS
Three Student Athletes Prove That pursuing a professional sporting dreams and Finishing Their Degree is Not a Catch-22.
As children, many of us played ball outside, long past lunchtime and into the
late hours of the night. We’d grab our siblings or neighbors and play until
our parents called us in, or the streetlights came on, signaling that it was
time to call it quits.
Some of us became athletes in high school, pushing our bodies to the limit
outside of the classroom. Chances are, however — whether after high school
graduation or a shift in focus — we’ve all had to give up competing in the
sports we loved.
Some like Ball State football player Travis Freeman, women’s soccer
player Brigit Reder, and men’s volleyball player Kevin Owens, who kept
playing in college, forcing them to pit their academic future against the
possibility of becoming a professional athlete.
Though the payoff can be great, they always face a tough decision: do
they risk it all for going pro or finish their degree? Freeman, Reder and
Owens are proving that it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
From 2011-2012 the NCAA reported a record high for student-athlete
going prostory // LAUREN HARDY PHOTOS // JONATHAN MIKSANEK, ALISON MERCADO, STEPHANIE TARRANT
travis freeman has been playing football since age six. although he dropped out of college to pursue his childhood dream of playing in the nfl, getting his degree is still on the forefront of his mind.
13
-Travis freeman
“YEAH, FOOTBALL IS GREAT; YOU GET RECOGNITION AND YOU BUILD A BOND
WITH YOUR TEAMMATES, BUT EDUCATION IS BEYOND FOOTBALL. IT’S LIFE.”
participation, with 453,347 players. On average,
only 1 percent of those athletes make it to the
professional arena. And based on the NCAA’s most
recent Division 1 Graduation Success Rate Report,
only 82 percent receive their diploma in six years.
After spending so much time in sports, many student
athletes are not as prepared to enter the workforce as
their academic peers.
Travis Freeman was one semester away from
graduating when he got a call from an agent, asking
him to train for the March 20, 2013, NFL Pro Day
event at Ball State. The linebacker and organizational
communications major has always taken pride in his
education, but when the chance came to pursue his
childhood dream, he knew it was a once in a lifetime
opportunity.
For three months, Freeman trained around
four hours a day with Speed Strength Systems in
Cleveland, Ohio, putting his body to the test so he
could perform his best for NFL scouts on pro day.
Today, he waits for a call, hoping that someone will
contact him for a tryout.
Despite the outcome, Freeman says he will have
no regrets. Even though he took a major risk leaving
school, he unquestionably plans to complete his degree
someday. And as the first from his family to go to
college, he wants to show others that obtaining a degree
is possible, regardless of life’s situations.
“Yeah, football is great; you get recognition and you
build a bond with your teammates, but education is
beyond football — it’s life,” he says. “College is for
education. Period. It sets you up for a career, and
you have to take advantage of that … it should be an
expectation, not an option.”
Freeman compliments the Ball State football
coaching staff because they’ve always encouraged
players to have a plan B for when their playing days
are over.
“They instilled in us that football is not going to
last forever,” he says. “You have to plan for a career.
That’s why you come to school; that’s why you got a
scholarship.”
According to the Department of Education, only 3
percent of Ball State’s student body is a varsity athlete.
Being in this minority has taught Freeman much more
than how to be a good football player and student.
The discipline, time management and self-motivation
needed to compete at an NCAA level has given him
a realistic perspective of life after college. Freeman
admits this experience has been no easy task, but for
him, he had to go the extra mile to succeed.
“Whether it’s class, or the fact you got an F on a
test, or that you have to get up in the morning when
everyone else is asleep, or that you’re down in a football
game, you have to overcome the adversity in the end,”
he says. “I think that’s the biggest thing about being a
college athlete is that you’re not just a regular student;
you’re obligated to do something extra, even when
you’re tired and hurting.”
According to the Cardinal Varsity Club, Ball State
ranks first in the Mid-American Conference, fourth in
the country among public universities and ties ninth in
the nation overall for its student-athlete graduation rate
of 75 percent.
THE GUIDE // sports
14 // BALL BEARINGS
Fellow student athlete Brigit Reder has a 3.94 GPA
and a school record for 6,725 total minutes played in
a career, which reflects the self-motivation required
to be a student athlete. But she has also had to put her
academic accomplishments on hold.
Until her junior year Reder, who is a special education
major, had her doubts about pursuing a professional
career.
“I kind of thought, ‘No disrespect to the MAC, but
we’re [in] the Mid-American Conference,” she says.
“I’m not in an ACC school, or Big Ten or SEC school …
Not that I was playing myself down, but I was trying to
have a realistic view of it all.”
Despite her initial thoughts, Reder was invited to
attend the combine for women’s soccer players in
Sunrise, Fla., to show off her skills in February 2013.
After countless vertical jumps, 40-yard dashes and
mock games, Reder impressed the assistant coaches
for the Western New York Flash, a National Women’s
Soccer League team. For the first time, Reder realized
that she had a shot at going pro.
A few days later, Reder went back to student
teaching at Carmel Middle School in Carmel, Ind., —
a requirement she must meet before she obtains her
degree. During lunch one afternoon, she received a
phone call from a Flash representative, offering Reder
a tryout at their Buffalo, N.Y., facility. Though she felt
excited about the call, Reder was also hesitant.
In order to receive her special education degree,
Reder must student teach two, 8-week sessions. She’s
finished the first, but was one week into the second
program when the Flash called her. If she accepted
the invite, she would have to temporarily drop out of
college while she tried out.
Fortunately, the schools’ officials were supportive,
actually telling her to go.
“Don’t even question it. You go and keep trying,”
they said.
According to Reder, Ball State has helped her figure
out the logistics of the situation, making it easier for her
to pursue this new opportunity. Others close to Reder
questioned her decision, accusing her of “giving up on
her degree.” But Reder doesn’t see it that way.
“To put [school] on hold is definitely a hard
decision,” she says. “[But] that’s the reality. I can
come back to it and finish. I’ll have the rest of my life,
essentially, to stay in a classroom and to work.”
So Reder left the classroom, packed her bags and
headed east. For about four weeks, she trained with the
Flash, including Olympic greats like Abby Wambach.
Reder performed well in the training sessions, even
winning team scrimmages with fellow rookies.
However at the same time, she began questioning the
path she chose. She was unsure whether she could
stay focused on soccer while working another job to
support herself in Buffalo, miles away from friends and
family. And a part of her still really wanted to finish
her degree.
When The Flash cut its roster down to 20 salary
spots for the regular season, and Reder was given one
of the five, unsalaried practice player spots, she got
the answer she’d been looking for. Instead of signing
a contract, she left and returned to Ball State to
reevaluate her priorities.
Over the next few months, Reder’s life was a roller
coaster of emotions as she battled between staying
focused on soccer and returning to school. Then, on
April 8, 2013, Reder signed a contract with the Seattle
Sounders, postponing getting her degree for another
semester.
“It’s nerve-wracking, and it’s a big decision to make,
but you have to have confidence in yourself,” Reder
says.
Reder will finish student teaching and get her degree,
but not until the Sounders’ off- season for the 2013 fall
semester.
IN APRIL, BRIGIT REDER SIGNED A Contract with the seattle sounders. she will have to complete her degree in the off season.
Although popular sports like men’s football and
basketball have increased their student-athlete
graduation rates, the overall rate for NCAA athletes
fell one percent between 2011 and 2012, according to
the NCAA’s latest report.
Men’s volleyball saw one of the biggest
decreases: from 87 to 79 percent. You could say
that Ball State middle blocker Kevin Owens is
an exception. He doesn’t just plan to finish his
actuarial science degree in four years; he plans to
play professionally, too.
“Playing volleyball professionally is pretty rare for
guys,” Owens says. “So when I realized there were
opportunities, I thought, ‘Why sit behind a desk when
I could do something I love and get paid for it?’”
Though most days start at 5 a.m. and end late for
this junior, Owens is committed to staying on top of
grades, maintaining a 3.5 GPA thus far. He hopes
his determination will testify to his performance on
an international volleyball team. After graduation
he plans to start out in a lower league and work his
way up toward the big leagues, which are in Italy and
Russia.
Regardless of what happens, Owens, Reder and
Freeman know their professional careers will not last
forever. They have a realistic outlook on the path that
lies ahead and know that even when their bodies tell
them to stop, their passion for the sport will live on.
Until then, they will keep moving forward.
“There isn’t a deadline to when I’ll stop trying,”
Freeman says. “It’s more of a mental state you get
to, when you realize, ‘OK this is not working for
me anymore, and I need to move on with my life.’
Whenever that is. I’ll be completely fine, whatever
happens, because football has taken me more places
than I could have ever imagined … it has paved the
way for my education, and I’m blessed because of the
game.”
kevin owens hopes to travel the world playing professional volleyball after obtaining his degree.
15
The deindustrialized city of Munice, Ind., may not look like
you’re typical trending hotspot. However, once you make it past
Savage’s Ale House, around the potholes and over the Muncie
trench that stretches the entire length of the abandoned lot, you’ll
find a three-on-three crew of bike dudes swinging homemade
mallets, while balancing on two wheels.
The game they’re playing is called bike polo and it’s just
another example of how Muncie is catching onto metropolitian
trends of Midwestern cities from Bloomington to Chicago.
And you won’t find these custom-built bikes riding down the
streets. Their front wheels are covered with custom, neon paint
jobs or political advertisement signs, the riders took from some-
body’s yard to keep an oil-filled orange ball out of their spokes.
Chad Copeland, a well-versed bike polo player, was riding in
downtown Muncie a couple of years ago when he stumbled upon
two guys attempting to play the sport haphazardly. The 26-year-
old Valparaiso, Ind., native offered to join the two, bringing his
know-how to the town and teaching others how to play.
The skill required to play bike polo is more complicated than
the game itself. With a shout of, “3.. 2.. 1.. polo,” players from
each team joust to gain control of an oil-filled, street hockey ball
in the center of the playing field, which can be any abandoned lot
or court. Offensive objectives mimic those of street hockey: get
the ball in the opponent’s net.
Players cannot touch the ground with their feet and contact
between players is limited to bike-to-bike, mallet-to-mallet and
body-to-body.
“The No. 1 rule of bike polo is ‘don’t be a dick,’” Copeland says.
Bike polo dates back to 1891, but a group of cyclists in Seattle
allegedly coined the hard court pastime in 2008, and it is now
into its fifth year of holding a worldwide championship. Unfortu-
nately for those playing in suburban cities, the sport hasn’t gained
much popularity outside of the biking community.
Members follow an anti-consumerist approach, which requires
them to build everything themselves. You won’t find these guys
sporting store-bought mallets, bikes or court equipment.
16 // BALL BEARINGS
THE GUIDE // sports
SCRAP METAL SPORTstory // stephanie tarrant PHOTOS // stephanie tarrant illustration // krista sanford
A Group of Ball State Cyclists help develop a local Bike Polo League.
17
Wheel cover
Bike Breakdown
Right handle: Straight, one-sided handlebars
Low gear ratio
Nice tight geometry
for the frame
One of the things about bike polo is creating your own
bike. Here are some of the ways that bike polo bikes are
different from regular bikes.
Players use anything from ski sticks for mallets, to recycled parts
for bike construction.
A crucial part of the design is keeping the gear ratio low, around
1.2 to 1.7, so that the bike’s pick-up speed is quick. Although it won’t
ever go faster than 15 mph playing the sport, riders must be able to
accelerate quickly to the ball.
“You can build a bike from anything. It’s a builder’s sport, and I
love the fabrication,” Copeland says.
Though it’s a non-traditional activity, cities like Indianapolis, Bloom-
ington and West Lafayette, Ind., have a growing bike polo following.
The Indianapolis parks department recently designated two courts at
Arsenal Park for bike polo, and Lafayette held a tournament at the end
of March where players from all over the state played.
Last summer, a group of 10 guys hosted barbecue Friday in the
empty lot on the southeast corner of Washington and High Street.
And those interested in playing this summer should swing by the
empty lot behind Savages around 5:30 p.m. to catch a glimpse of
Muncie’s newest sport in the biking community.
“I wouldn’t say it’s specific to Muncie. I’m interested in the
community as a whole, going to different cities and playing against
different teams and making friends. It’s the way that I’ve made
some of my best friends,” Copeland says. “When it’s right, it’s a nice
camaraderie.”
Copeland has participated in several tournaments, but he hopes a
solid Muncie team can compete together someday, after attracting
more players.
SCRAP METAL SPORTstory // stephanie tarrant PHOTOS // stephanie tarrant illustration // krista sanford
As straight a fork as you can get
Tom Mastreaches for control of the orange street hockey ball behind chad copeland.
THE GUIDE // fashion
18 // BALL BEARINGS
MEET: Kayla Wiles
your style iconEveryday women (and men). I take notice
of what it is that I like about their style and
then find a way to rework that idea to fit
my own.
how would you describe your style?I would describe my style as boy meets
girl. I have a very feminine body shape,
and I love contrasting that with menswear
inspired pieces.
favorite place to shopH&M has a lot of trendy styles and is the
first place I go if I am looking for a wallet
friendly version of a designer dress. If I am
looking for something a little more unique,
I get my thrift on at Goodwill or Rag-O-
Rama.
go-to closet itemMy pair of BDG boyfriend style jeans
from Urban Outfitters
Dream clothing item Dooney & Bourke python print bucket
satchel
What makes your style uniqueI embrace my inner grandma. My idea of a
sexy outfit usually involves a collared shirt,
cardigan or a pair of mom jeans.
what fashion means to you
Fashion gives you the opportunity to
continually reinvent yourself. You can
change the way you and others perceive
you, simply by the way you dress.
year: seniorMajor: Apparel Design
Jacket: H&MJeans:
Urban OutfittersTop: H&M
Necklace: UrbanOutfitters
Shoes: TJ MAXXBag: Target
“I would describe my style as boy
meets girl. I have a very feminine body
shape and I love contrasting that
with menswear inspired pieces.”
19
story // TAYLOR PETERSON photos // MARIA STRAUSS
MEET: sun min lim
your style iconI don’t have a specific style icon I look up
to for what I wear, but I’m inspired by
people that dress to extend who they are.
How would you describe your style?
I’ve built up my wardrobe to consist of
classic pieces with modern interpretations.
My hair is also a big part of my image.
Favorite place to shopI love the thrift stores in Wicker Park
in Chicago. They have durable, stylish,
designer pieces for much cheaper prices.
go-to closet itemA denim jacket from Topman that I
bought at Crossroads Trading Co. in
Wicker Park. Whenever I wear it, it pulls
my outfit together so well.
Dream clothing item/accessory
A Prada suit
What makes your style unique
I stick to staples and usually don’t follow
trends. I mostly wear neutrals, but I’ll have
a pop of color somewhere.
what fashion means to you
I loathe dressing down, because it is not
who I am. Fashion doesn’t define anyone,
but we should use clothing as a tool to help
define ourselves.
year: juniormajor: public relations
Jacket: H&MJeans:
Urban OutfittersTop: H&M
Necklace: UrbanOutfitters
Shoes: TJ MAXXBag: Target
“I’ve built up my wardrobe to consist of classic pieces with modern
interpretations.”
THE GUIDE // technology
20 // BALL BEARINGS
Evan Brown did not hesitate to click the
webpage’s “submit” button after typing a
paragraph that confessed his true feelings
for a girl who was sitting across the room.
The freshman psychology major was in
his PHIL 100 class, listening to the sound
of his professor’s voice, which was sound-
ing more and more like Charlie Brown’s
teacher. That’s when he made eye contact
with a girl across the room.
“She was really pretty and just all
around good looking,” Brown says. I knew
I wanted to talk to her, but didn’t really
plan on it because I couldn’t just go up
and approach her. I think this was my way
of taking initiative.”
Brown saw the Ball State Secret Admir-
ers’ Facebook page as an opportunity to
get his true feelings out and hoped the girl
across the room would see the post.
Her name was Rachel Buck and she was
a freshman, zoology major with black and
purple hair and red lipstick to match.
“Honestly, in the class he posted the
note, I was probably looking at the Face-
book page,” Buck says. “When I first of
heard of it, I thought it was really interest-
ing and I quickly became addicted to it.”
Buck continued to check the page, hop-
ing to see her name in the address line.
When she finally did, she was flattered
by the sweet statement and excited about
what it could bring. So she wrote her
admirer back, inviting him to message her
so they could meet.
Buck and Brown are just two of the
many students who have already connect-
ed through the Ball State Secret Admirers’
page, which was anonymously created by
two students on March 27, 2013. After
story // HAYLIE GOODE ILLUSTRATION // EMILY THEIS
SeCrets, Secrets Can Be FunBall State’s Secret Admirers’ Facebook page not only sparked curiosity ON CAMPUS, it also sparked love.
21
Dear Rachel Buck,Not only are you extremely beautiful
but you are unimaginably smart. I
would love to get to know you and
listen to your views of the world over a
cup of coffee sometime.
From,A guy that sits across the room from you in your philosophy class
Dear Facebook civilians,Not to sound slutty or anything
But feel free to use me whenever
you’d like
Love, grammar
Dear admirers,We know you procrastinate by
constantly refreshing this page, and we
don’t blame you! It’s good stuff! But if
you think you procrastinate by reading
it, imagine how much time we spend
procrastinating by running it! With
that said, we have homework we must
do, and will be leaving for the night!
For future reference, we will usually
stop posting around midnight every
night. Once again, we post when we
have free time, but we do have social
lives as well, so keep that in mind! We
thank you for your offers to help, but
so far we are happy with the way this
is working! Keep on spreading the love,
and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!
Sincerely, The Admins
To everyone,Well after looking at this page I guess
I realized that people actually pay a
lot of attention to the people around
them. Oh boy
never wearing sweatpants again
OUR FAVORITE ADMIRERS
seeing Indiana University’s secret admir-
ers’ page, the students decided their own
school needed one. The first day, the stu-
dents were disappointed by the turnout.
The next day, “the admins,” as they are
referred to, were amazed by the amount
of submissions they received. Overnight,
the page had exploded.
“At first we thought it would just be a
fun thing, and it would provide some en-
tertainment,” the admins say. “But now,
we try to brighten people’s days and show
just how much love exists on campus.”
The anonymous students used to post
everything that was submitted to the
Google document, which is how the ad-
mirations are collected. However, since
the page exploded to 6,115 “likes” within
a week of its creation, the admins now
censor what is published.
“Originally, we posted everything we
received, but we got some complaints
about harassment, and we were threat-
ened with expulsion if we did not take
the page down,” the admins say.
Ultimately, the page was taken down
for about four hours and fans began to
complain through social media.
“We saw on Twitter and Facebook that
people were upset it got taken down, so
we decided to change a few things and
bring it back,” the admins say. “[Now]
we try to post the same general type of
[uplifting] thing, and sometimes, funny
ones as well. It’s been a lot of work, but
it’s all been worth it!”
Anyone interested in expressing love
towards Ball State or its students can sub-
mit his or her love notes to be published
on the site. There is a link to the Google
document near the top of the Facebook
page where students can type their
feelings, then hit submit. It is up to the
admirer to decide exactly how anony-
mous he or she chooses to be, and how
anonymous they choose to keep their
admired. Because it goes into a Google
document, the admins say even they
don’t know who posts the notes.
“We created the Google form using
Google Drive, and once you create a
form you can see the responses on a
spreadsheet. The spreadsheet only shows
a timestamp and the submission, so we
only know when something was sent in,
and not who sent it in,” the admins say.
While Buck and Brown admit they
are excited to meet, Brown says he will
see where it goes after their first date. It
could lead to one of the first relationships
made possible by the page.
The admins admit they had no inten-
tion of starting relationships or dates out
of the site, but they’re grateful.
“We really had no expectations for it
at all, we weren’t thinking it would turn
into something this big. So we are just so
grateful every time we get a new submis-
sion or like, it truly is amazing to us!”
22 // BALL BEARINGS
insights
growing up is hard to do
you can handle the truth
By the end of our time in college, we’ve become
accustomed to lower fashion standards. We stroll
into class with messy hair, sweatpants, and a
face that says we’ve not yet left the REM cycle.
We jot down notes as the smell of alcohol leaks
from the pores of the person sitting next to us.
Some straggle into class late, others never show.
While this is a typical day in the life of a college
student, soon we must arrive on time and in
working order to a professional job with much
higher standards.
Perhaps the most important part of arriving
to work is doing so on time, which becomes
complicated when the workday begins at
approximately 8 a.m. Semester after semester,
that specific time of day is avoided by legions of
college students. Personally, I’ve always made a
conscious decision to steer clear of classes that
begin before 11 a.m. Some call it laziness, but I
like to think of it as smart planning. Why would
anyone want to spend his or her college years
waking up in the single digit hours when we
have to report to work at an early hour for
the rest of our lives?
In addition to most professions
requiring an early start time, a great
deal of them also require us to make
regular appearances. There’s the
occasional sick day, maybe a few
vacation days, and of course fleeting
weekends. For the most part, though,
we have to show up. This transition
can be rough for college students since
we’ve become seasoned in the art of skipping
class. We know which teachers don’t take
attendance, when nothing is due, and when a
quiz is unlikely. When any of these apply to a
class we don’t want to attend, it seems obvious
that the real lesson in that day’s class was
realizing we should stay home.
Few topics can strike fear into the hearts of
college students like the mention of adulthood.
Sure, we all want to graduate. But starting again
from scratch? Building a career? Paying bills?
That doesn’t sound like the fun and freedom of
adulthood we imagined as children. Developing
from a student to a full-fledged adult requires
many adjustments, some more difficult than
others to accept after years of
the college way of life.
bethany guyerMajor: TelecommunicationsYEAR: Senior FUN FACT:all i want in life is to read stevie nicks’ diaryFollow bethany @bethanyfarts
illustration // JENNIFER PRANDATO
find the fontthat fits you
confessions of a font snob
When I was younger, I was forced to make a transi-
tion. For some reason it stopped being acceptable
to save Word documents on floppy discs thanks to
the newest software on the market, Microsoft Word
2001. During this troubling time, I found refuge in
the font Comic Sans. Being an overtly masculine
male, I often compare possessions of mine to women.
Things I care for, like my car, often take on feminine
pseudonyms. My favorite font is no exception. With
that being said, Comic Sans MS is ‘Wifey’ as the
cool kids say. She wasn’t my first, but when you’re
young you’re supposed to make mistakes right? For
example, the girl you swear you loved in 9th grade,
but the only thing you two had in common was third
period lunch. I tried seeing other fonts, but we never
really connected.
I fooled around with IMPACT for a while, but she
was too intense. Then, I started messing around
with Script MT Bold, but she was too fancy. I tried
to get a serious commitment out of Jokerman, but
she could never be taken seriously. There I was …
an eleven year old excited for my first conversation
on AOL IM with the cute girl from math class.
XxxAshley_Nicole13xxX finally gave me her
screen name during the monthly pizza party and I
didn’t even have a font to set up my away message!
I thought I’d never find a font, but then I saw her.
Comic Sans MS is her full name but I call her
Sandy. She sat there under Colonna MT looking
relaxed yet ready for a challenge, whimsical but not
obnoxious, strong without even clicking on the bold
icon. She was perfect.
Font preferences can reveal a lot about a person.
I always knew about my font fondness, but didn’t
realize other people thought about it too. That is until
I got to college and experienced those god awful email
threads with classmates debating when and where to
meet up for the group presentation due next week.
Each preferred font said something unique about the
person using it. Like the girl using Garamond who
was a perfectionist and only listened to Beyonce’s
“Single Ladies.” Or the girl in the drama club
whose email signature was in Broadway, as if the
Helen Keller quote at the bottom of every email was
meant to be sung aloud. Don’t forget the guy using
Stencil whose backpack still has wheels because
he swears it’s so much easier on his back. You’re in
college, not Terminal C asking strangers if they think
your duffle will fit in the overhead.
For some reason, Comic Sans takes criticism in the
world of academia. Sorry my thoughts just don’t look
like MY thoughts when they’re in Times New Ro-man. If you don’t have a preferred font, find one and
cherish it. Maybe one day you will be as happy with
your font as I am with mine.
brandon newmanpursuing master’s in: digital storytellingYEAR: graduate student FUN FACT:If i could have dinner with five people, dead or alive, they would be ellen degeneres, malcolm x, william shakespeare, kanye west and lena dunham. in that order.
Follow brandon @irjerrell99
illustration // emma kate fittes
23
sans
comic
mrs.
W24 // BALL BEARINGS
insights
BEYOND
A STUDent’s journey through the student government elections
story // Brandon pope PHOTOS // Briee Eikenberry & provided
the ballot
hen I joined Cardinal United, an execu-
tive slate running for student government,
I could have never imagined what would
follow. In my head I envisioned talking
to people, kissing a few babies, getting
elected and then enacting changes on the
Ball State campus. What I got was quite
the opposite; a constant battle of time, my
first true test of character and an experi-
ence that goes far beyond platform points.
The Student Government Association
at Ball State is the key agent for change at
the student level. It’s completely stu-
dent run. The president, vice president,
secretary, treasurer and senators all work
together with faculty and administration
to advocate student concerns.
My philosophy was simple: why lobby
to SGA about issues when I could be a
member of SGA and do something about
it? So I looked into being a senator for the
off-campus caucus. One of the initiatives
I really wanted to push was the divide
between off-campus and on-campus
students. I also wanted to bridge divides
between the Muncie community and Ball
State students. With these goals in mind,
I began rallying signatures, 50 to be exact,
for a senator position.
Every year brings a new SGA election
and a new executive board of the organiza-
tion. This includes the positions of presi-
dent, the vice president who runs senate,
the secretary and the treasurer. I was more
in on this process than I usually would
have been. People knew I was eyeing a sen-
ate seat, making them more willing to involve
me in their conversations and dialogues.
I had no interest in running on an SGA
slate, nor did I have the time. Just the
thought of running for an executive position
seemed foreign to me. That was until I saw
an old friend.
Zeyne Guzeldereli approached me in
the library with no ulterior motives. What
started out as reminiscing on the horrors of
morning physical conditioning class, became
a dialogue on policy, both nationally and
here at Ball State. We ended up talking
about where our university stands on issues
like safety, engagement in Muncie, and the
off-campus student divide. His eyes lit up.
He asked me if I was joining SGA, and I told
him yes, hopefully as a senator.
A few months later, I found myself
verbally committing to run for treasurer as
a member of Cardinal United. The four of
us were each assigned to come up with 20
well-researched points for the university to
develop our platform. That process domi-
nated my Christmas break.
The week after winter break, we had
25
our first meeting as a group. In the weeks
to come, we met every Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday night for about three hours.
Debates ensued over which initiatives
were most important; and individual pas-
sions collided, making some conversations
heated. However, as a team, with all of our
strengths coming together plus an excep-
tional staff of SGA veterans, we were fully
equipped for an executive slate run.
The first half of the campaign was the
most fun. I had a blast talking with differ-
ent organizations and students about their
needs, concerns and what motivates them.
But once the second half of campaigning
kicked in, I discovered how dirty politics
can get.
There were a lot of emotions from sup-
porters of all three slates. Those emotions
were vocalized over Twitter and Facebook.
It got nasty at times. Vitriol was especially
eminent during debates. What would start
out as a forum on university policy turned
into personal attacks. Everything from a
candidate’s appearance to the way they
spoke became fodder for criticism. The
emergence of “SGA Fact Check” Twitter
accounts was the breaking point. These
accounts claimed to fact check each slate,
but in reality made unwarranted personal
insults.
Then, when an SGA Fact Check ac-
count called a senator in SGA a “whore,”
the elections board immediately handed
down blame to Cardinal United. The
reason why we were accused was never
disclosed. I woke up to the news around 9
a.m. on a Wednesday. We were fined $519
and had to issue a public apology that day
at senate or face elimination.
The news hit me like a rock. I had never
been a victim of corruption until then. I
rolled back in my bed and cut off contact
from the world. I have never felt lower.
There was no question if we were in-
nocent or not, I knew that we were. But
in an instant, our reputations had been
drug through the mud. To be charged
with these allegations without any proof
or evidence, and to not have a chance to
defend ourselves was an injustice. Seeing
my friends take the heat for it was even
worse.
Suddenly, the future of Cardinal United’s
campaign was the center of discussion. Was
it worth staying in the race or not? After tears
were shed and hugs were shared, we decided
that it would be a disservice to our support-
ers to not keep pushing on. Somebody obvi-
ously wanted us out of this race. Dropping
contention would give them their wish. We
had started a transformative movement, and
SGA is completely student run and
operated. Much like our national
government, the organization is
comprised of three branches:
SGABASICS
It consists of the president, vice
president, secretary, treasurer, and
their appointed cabinet. This body
serves as the face of the organization
and a direct representation of
its brand. In short, the president
manages the organization. The
vice president runs the senate. The
secretary tracks attendance and takes
minutes for the organization. The
treasurer manages the organization’s
extensive budget and decides where
the money goes. The treasurer
also handles the SGA event co-
sponsorship fund.
It is comprised of senators who work
together to draft legislation. The
student senate has four caucases: On-
campus, Off-campus, At-Large, and
Organizational. Each caucus has the
task of voicing the concerns of their
respective constituents. Each senator
also serves on one of the six standing
committees: Governmental Affairs
and Student Awareness, Community
and Environmental Affairs,
Academic Affairs, Student Safety,
Student Services and Diversity and
Multicultural Affairs.
It enforces laws within the organi-
zation. It is comprised of a judicial
court of 7 to 17 judges and three
ex-officio non-voting members.
Some members of this branch are
appointed to the University Review
Board, which reviews violations
of the Code of Student Rights and
Community standards.
1
2
3
EXECUTIVE
LEGISLATIVE
JUDICIAL
Brandon pope walks away from his sga experience with a new sense of leadership.
26 // BALL BEARINGS
insights
cardinal united finished around 200 points behind a spark forward in the 2013 sga election.
there was nothing that was going to bring it
down as long as we had a say in it.
After giving our statements to the senate,
the originator of the Twitter account came
forward, and our names were cleared. Going
forward, we used our momentum to rally
the vote. But many more challenges were
presented to us. We grinded out long hours
at night, hanging up posters and chalking
streets off campus. One night we had to
chase down people who were ripping down
our campaign material and pouring water
over our chalk promotion. Another night, we
saw people placing their posters over ours.
War had been waged. But we continued to
keep it clean, honest and ethical.
As the time to vote dwindled, I slowly felt
that we were losing the fight. Our opposition
had more people on their side, including the
head of the elections board. On [February
26] … The call came in and confirmed that
Cardinal United finished second, losing by
a little more than 200 votes. Silence fell over
the room. In that instant our hopes of being
the next executive slate for SGA were over.
The pain was immense, but the positives far
outweighed the negatives of the loss. I can
raise my glass to the fact that we had done
everything we could. We even did things I
never could have imagined, inspiring almost
2,000 people to vote.
I could call the large majority of my
opponents friends before the election.
I can proudly say that is still the case –
for the most part. Some ties have been
severed because I was falsely brought up
on charges of violating student code by
two individuals. One is a current SGA
member. The other is no longer a part of
the organization, allegedly “retiring.” I was
proven innocent and cleared of all charges.
However, these people that dealt in the
shadows have yet to be held accountable
and apologize for their actions. Until they
can step forward into the light, they will
remain no friend of mine. Rather, they
will stand as mas-
cots for corruption in
one of the university’s most
storied student programs.
Going forward, I will continue to advo-
cate for Ball State students. I don’t need
a fancy executive title to make a differ-
ence on my campus. Now is no time for
gridlock, rather it is a time for compromise
and a time to be united. I am open to
collaborating with SPARK, the winners
of the 2013 SGA elections and their
administration.
This year’s election was historic, and
I’m glad that I had the opportunity to be a
part of it. Because of SGA, I received the
chance to work and grow closer with truly
remarkable people. We inspired a move-
ment for tangible change and it is some-
thing I will never forget. Fortunately, I am
at peace with everything that happened.
There’s a silver lining in every situation,
and mine is gleaming bright.
27
TOP Fivefavorites
5
I would like to be a CEO of a
fashion company. I basically
want to be like Angela Ahrendts,
the CEO of Burberry.
I can’t live without my toothbrush because
teeth are my obsession. I can’t live without
my phone because it’s my connection to all
my favorite people around the world. And
I can’t live without pizza because it’s my
best friend when times are rough.
2. things i can’t live without
3. pump up song for sga
4. guilty pleasureTic Tacs because they go with
me wherever I go.
5. Dream job
Follow malachi on twitter@MalachiRandolph
“Coming Home” by Diddy
How do you want students to view you as SGA president?Not on a pedestal. I want them to interact with me.
I don’t want to be the type of president that just
goes and sits in his office all day. I want to be at their
events and doing activities with them.
If you could have lunch with one world leader, who would it be and why?I would have lunch with Mark Zuckerberg, the
CEO of Facebook, because his influence on the
world is bigger than most people recognize.
What is a quote that you live by?Jeremiah 9:23-24
Malachi Randolph is a sophomore international
business and Spanish major and fashion economics
minor. He has recently been voted the Student
Government Association president for the 2013-
2014 school year.
STORY // victoria davis
1. PoliticianCondoleezza Rice is my favorite politi-
cian because of her history of standing
up for herself. Although not recognized,
she was the first female and/or minority
in several prominent roles, including
that of Secretary of State, Stanford Pro-
vost and National Security Advisor.
TEN MINUTES WITHmalachirandolph
What’s the worst red head joke you’ve ever heard?People throw me all types of jokes about my hair
being on fire … Also, people think that you are a dif-
ferent race because you’re a red head.
What is your overall goal for you and your SGA cabinet?I want to see SGA brought to the middle of student
organizations. Right now, I picture it as a circle and
SGA is just one of those organizations in the circle.
I want us to not be in full power, but for us to know
what is going on. I want SGA to be something that
everyone is aware of.
What qualities do you feel that all people in leadership roles should have?You have to be approachable and personable. You
can have all of the greatest leadership qualities, the
beautiful look and everything, but if people can’t
talk to you, you can’t lead because you can’t listen.
29
As college tuition rises to an all-time high, students prove that being debt free isn’t as impossible as it seems.
story // Michelle Johnson PHOTOS // Lauren Dahlhauser INFOGRAPHICS // EMMA KATE FITTES
Last year’s buzz about national student loan debt hitting the $1
trillion mark left a lot of college students cringing and media moguls
playing “whodunit.”
“Everybody wants to point fingers at the other side,” says John
McPherson, director of Scholarships and Financial Aid at Ball State.
“The people on the financial aid side are saying, ‘Well, colleges are
jacking up prices,’ and colleges are saying, ‘Well the aid hasn’t kept
pace with the price.’ So everybody wants to point fingers, and I’m not
sure who’s right and who’s wrong.”
PINPOINTING THE PROBLEMBall State has lost more than $77 million in state support in the
past six years as lawmakers have shifted resources to faster-growing
regional schools such as Ivy Tech and those emphasizing degrees in
STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) areas.
“But state financial aid funding has actually increased,” McPherson
says. However, that increase has been outpaced by a growing number
of students who qualify for aid.
McPherson attributes a large part of the student debt situation not
to a decrease in state funding, but to an influx of people applying to
universities.
The state issues what McPherson calls a “fixed pot of money” to be
spread out among Indiana’s universities. The more students applying
for funding, the less available for each student. McPherson says that in
bad economic times, universities see an influx in applicants looking for
retraining in technology fields after being laid off.
“When you have a big explosion of people applying for financial aid
like that, and most of them are eligible because they’re coming back to
school because they’re unemployed, that huge explosion in the num-
bers is what drove down the amounts,” McPherson says. “It wasn’t a
matter that the state cut funding, it was a matter that the demand was
so high that they sort of had to level it out to spread across the broad
numbers of people. “
McPherson also thinks students need to be more careful with their
money. Many tend to dig a hole of debt for themselves by treating
refund checks like paychecks.
“A lot of students come in and they’ve been living with mom and
dad and they have all the luxuries of home,” McPherson says. “And
when they come to college, they think they have to have all of those
things now. So you know at home I had my own room, I had a big
screen TV, I had my cellphone, I had a car … And now I come to col-
lege and so I think I have to have all those things again.”
30 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
Peter Dunn, a financial planner, radio host and author of “Avoid
Student Debt” from Indianapolis, agreed that students aren’t putting
proper planning into their college years. “Pete the Planner,” as he’s
called on his WIBC FM radio show, strongly advises students to avoid
loans at all costs, even if it means forgoing the traditional away-from-
home college experience.
“I think the whole, ‘I want to go to college to find myself and figure
out what I want to do,’ I think the luxury of that is kind of over,” Dunn
says. “Yes, college is a four-year social experience, but at the same
time, you truly, objectively cannot afford to go to hang out for a couple
years until you know what you want to do.”
STUDENTS DITCH DEBTDunn suggests two alternatives to digging a financial grave: A. be a
commuter student or B. go to a less expensive school initially and then
transfer to a school that would best support your future career.
Ethan Hughes, a former Ball State student, went with option “B.”
After attending Ball State for a year and borrowing about $3,000 from
his parents for living expenses, Hughes was tired of not being able to
support himself. He decided to leave Ball State and work until he had
enough money to live on his own again. Now he works at Rascal’s Fun
Zone, lives with his parents for free and hopes to continue his educa-
tion at IUPUI or Franklin College in the fall.
Although he misses college’s social environment, Hughes says he’s
happy with his decision to take a hiatus from school and move back in
with his parents.
“It’s not as exciting of a life as my friends that are off at school are
having, but it’s worth it,” Hughes says. “… Even though it’s going to
take longer to get through school now, when I do finally finish, I’ll
have a lot less money to pay back … I’ve heard stories from a lot of
people that you can spend your whole life paying [loans] off. It would
be one less thing to not have to worry about when life has struggles.”
It took Liberty Margrett one semester at Ball State before she knew
that enough was enough. After completing the Fall 2012 semester,
19-year-old Margrett sat down with her parents to total the cost of her
future monthly loan repayments if she were to continue her education
at a university away from home.
“It was enough for a mortgage,” Margrett says. “That’s when a light
bulb came on.”
Margrett decided to discontinue her college career and work until
she had enough money to start paying back the $10,751 she owes in
loans. Most of her time is consumed by 70-hour workweeks at two
part-time jobs.
Although leaving school put her anxiety at ease, Margrett says that
sacrificing a social life at college for a more sound financial future isn’t
for everyone.
“I think it’s best to find a balance you’re comfortable with,” says
Margrett. “Some people are more comfortable taking risks than others.
If you feel you can spend a substantial amount of money on school,
then you shouldn’t feel guilty for the investment. But, if you feel that
it’s too much of a gamble, you shouldn’t feel that you’re missing out.”
According to the Project on Student Debt, two-thirds of college
seniors who graduated in 2011 had student loan debt, with an average
of $26,600 per borrower. The average Indiana graduate with college
loan debt is just above this amount at $27,500 and Ball State gradu-
ates are just below the national average at $25,667.
— Peter dunn
Top Five tips from a
financial planner
“I would tell people that any time they’re
about to take out a student loan, take a breath and see if there’s an alternative way of doing it … The most adult decision you’re going to
make in about a 10 year period, from the
time you graduate high school... is the actual
decision you make on college funding. Yet,
we’re so excited about leaving home and
doing those sorts of things, we’re not in the
best position to make that great decision.”
“Get angry at your debt,
you’ll get rid of it faster. The longer the
debt drags on, the more interest you’re
paying.”
“When you go to college, you’re actually supposed to be broke. Don’t try to extend
the lifestyle that you had here, in many
instances, your parents are in the prime
earning level of their career, so their
habits of spending have nothing to do
with the student’s lifestyle when they
get to college.”
“No one wants to commute, let’s be honest, but you
can decrease that cost of college by up to
50 percent by commuting from home.”
“Dropping out isn’t the solution, because then you’ve got debt
that isn’t supported by a degree. I think it’s
the most dangerous debt to have because
you’ve got half a college degree and a bunch
of loans. A better solution is to finish your
education at a more affordable institution.”
12
34
5
31
However, some find a way to do it for less.
Erica Stevens graduated in three and a half years with no debt. The
public relations major combined a Presidential Scholarship, grants,
sacrificing a minor and working through school while getting minimal
support from her parents.
For Stevens, loans were never an option. Her parents warned of
the dangers of debt, telling her that if she needed to take loans out for
school, she should put a college education on hold. Stevens spent her
summers working as a hostess and her semesters at Ball State at the
Art and Journalism Building’s iLab, as a multicultural assistant for
Housing and Residence Life and as a bartender at The Silo.
Stevens says she struggled with money during college and her social
life took a hit especially during the semester she was bartending, but
that struggle is now paying off in her post-graduate years. As a full-
time paid intern for Fleishman-Hillard, a PR agency in St. Louis, Ste-
vens isn’t experiencing the same financial stress that her friends are.
“Being debt-free opens a lot of doors because I love my major but
I need time to figure out exactly what I want to do,” Stevens says. “I
don’t have this huge pressure to get a full-time job out of school. It
allows me to move wherever I want and I’m not really worried about
that financial burden.”
THE BIGGER PICTUREAlthough $1 trillion sounds like a lot, McPherson and Dunn agree
that the student debt crisis is just a small chunk of a larger national
debt deficit.
“A trillion dollars in loan debt is one thing, but really we have a
whole lot of national issues that I think our federal congressman
should be focusing on,” McPherson says.
Dunn thinks that taking control of finances early is the best way to
avoid the slippery slope of student debt. But he says the real way to
avoid student debt is to change how we look at it.
“At some point in our American history, we stopped saying,
‘Can we afford it?’ and instead we just afford anything and then
figure it out later,” Dunn says. “We do that with our consumer
habits, with our mortgages, with our credit, but it starts when
you’re 18, as a student.”
For many students, the daunting nature of debt may leave them
contemplating whether or not four years in higher education is worth
the price tag, especially when their colleagues’ degrees are collecting
dust while they work at minimum-wage barista jobs to survive after
graduation.
McPherson thinks it’s best to look at the long-term benefits of having
a college degree, rather than the short-term financial struggles.
“If people are borrowing at Ball State, you know what are they
borrowing? $25,600 — that’s about the cost of a car,” McPher-
son says. “So, you can go out and buy a car, which is going to be
dead in 10 years, or you can go out and spend that same money
on an education, which is going to benefit you for a lifetime.
I think that’s the perspective that people have to focus on,
because yeah, it’s a lot of money to get an education, but look at
the end result.”
AvG. debt for different schools
63%of students attending a public or private
4-year institution have student debt.$27,500 rank: 11average student debt in Indiana in the United States for debt
Bal
l Sta
t e U
niv
e rs i
t y
Ind
ian
a S
tate
Un
iver
sity
I nd
ian
a U
ni v
ers i
ty
Pu
r du
e U
niv
e rs i
t y
Indiana debt
source:
projectonstudentdebt.org
30,000
25,000$25,667
ba
ll s
tate
un
ive
rsi
ty
ind
ian
a u
niv
er
sity
pur
du
e u
niv
er
sity
ind
ian
a s
tate
un
ive
rsi
ty
$18,445
$28,434$27,286
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
L32 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
ori Wright waits in line Thursday morning at the Har-
vest Soup Kitchen for a hot meal, never imagining she
would be in this situation. She has been coming about
twice a week since she lost her job in December.
As a certified mental health technician, Wright
is a rare sight at the soup kitchen. After working in
Florida, she came back to Indiana, where she lived and
worked for more than 20 years. But her career took
an unforeseen turn. Suddenly, Wright found herself
without a job, money or a home.
Wright uses public transportation to get to the
kitchen, but a one-day pass on the MITS bus costs $1
and being unemployed makes paying that fee all the
more difficult.
According to Wright, this loss of income even made
groceries a questionable expense.
“I’m at the mercy of soup kitchens and food pan-
tries,” she says.
She constantly worries if she was going to have
enough to make it.
“I felt myself cutting back on a meal so I had enough
for my next meal,” she says. “It can happen to any-
body. It doesn’t matter your education level, how old
you are … things happen.”
Relying on soup kitchens to stretch that extra dollar
for meals is a reality for the growing number of those
living in poverty in Delaware County. Loretta Parson,
director of Harvest Soup Kitchen, sees this reality
firsthand nearly every day of the week.
With employment scarce in the area, about 100
people a day, 400 to 500 people per week, walk
through the doors of the kitchen on E. Charles St. in
downtown Muncie, Ind. At the end of the month, dur-
ing breaks and on holidays those numbers increase.
“They feed themselves for a day or two, and it helps
them maybe pay another bill,” Parson says.
In 2000, 14.3 percent of Muncie families lived below
the poverty line, according to an American Commu-
nity Survey, which is done through the Census Bureau.
In 2011, that number rose to 19.7 percent, with the
story // sara nahrwold PHOTOS // Maris Schiess
Poverty awareness year is tackling economic issues by educating the community on how they can help the impoverished around them.
not just a
poor person’s problem
33
official poverty rate at 15 percent for the United States.
There were 46.2 million people in poverty in 2011.
Those in poverty are reminded every day of their need
for basic necessities, but it’s the people who aren’t in pov-
erty who are being targeted to participate in Delaware
County’s 2013 nonprofit initiative, “Poverty Awareness
Year,” to help those who are less fortunate.
In March 2012, TEAMwork for Quality Living, a local
organization aimed at empowering people in poverty toward
self-sufficiency, created a poverty awareness week. Around
766 people participated in the 30 different events and activi-
ties offered during the week. Although these events were
successful, Molly Flodder, TEAMwork’s executive director,
wanted to expand the week into a year so they could include
more events and get more people involved. These educa-
tional events are designed to help community members learn
how to care for their impoverished neighbors.
Though Muncie resident Mary Mordue does not live in
poverty, she participates in the Poverty Awareness Year
events. Mordue, a Delaware County resident of 13 years,
-MOLLY FLODDER
“AS THE PROBLEM OF POVERTY CONTINUES
TO GROW IN COMMUNITIES, WE CAN’T PUT OFF THE
NEED TO LOOK AT IT.”
lori wright has a bachelor’s degree, but she’s also one of the 500 people who rely on the muncie harvest soup kitchen for food.
34 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
has always seen poverty as a persistent problem in
this community. And the numbers show that it has
only grown in the last 5-10 years.
“I think as the problem of poverty continues to grow in
communities, we can’t put off the need to look at it,” Flod-
der says. “The sooner people who are in traditional com-
munity leadership roles wake up and realize the impact of
poverty on the well-being of the community, the better.”
Throughout 2013, poverty awareness events and
workshops will continue, with each month having a
specific theme. For example, March was “Poverty and
Nutrition” month. Working off this theme, TEAM-
work and other organizations teamed up to host
Cook for a Cause, an event that focused on teaching
others how to cook with just a few simple grocery
store items, such as soup and beans. Participants also
learned nutritional and food safety techniques.
“To actually look out and see how unhealthy people
are eating and to try and change that is something I’m
interested in doing but didn’t really know how to get
started,” says Mordue, who participated in the cook-
ing workshop. “The best thing this program is going
to do for me is give me a framework.”
After attending Cook for a Cause, participants
were encouraged to host their own cooking sessions,
to teach those in poverty them how to make healthy,
budget-friendly meals.
Ball State freshman dietetics major, Kiya Dues, vol-
unteered at the Cook for a Cause event to get plugged
into the real issues behind poverty.
She helped lead a handful of community cooking
enthusiasts by making a simple meal, explaining food
label percentages on a can of soup and suggesting dif-
ferent spices to add to the skillet meal. She hopes to
take what she learned and apply it to her own cooking
session out in the community this year.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity to tell people
in the poor community how to eat and what to eat
bsu student KIYA DUES is using her passion for nutrition to teach those in poverty how to cook on a budget.
35
and cheap ways to get your food,” Dues says.
While she has only been a Ball State student less than a
year, Dues recognizes the poverty in the surrounding area.
“I’ve heard about it, but Ball State is kind of a
bubble,” she says. “This year I have been volunteer-
ing, and my eyes are getting opened up.”
Flodder says that events like this are important
because they help the community understand poverty
and learn different ways to fight it.
“They are a way to mobilize people who are typical-
ly not involved in these situations,” she says. “Poverty
is something that will never end unless it becomes a
priority for all of us.”
Organizations like Second Harvest Food Bank are
also aiding in the fight against poverty. Currently
serving a poverty population of about 16,000, the
food bank advocates for those in need and educates
the local poverty issues. Tim Kean, president and
CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, says that a short-
age of food in Delaware County is not the reason a
growing number of people are hungry.
Wright also encourages community members to
take action against the problem growing in their
backyards.
“We thought of poverty as a third world nation
problem but it’s not, it’s right here,” Wright says.
“People need to pay attention, open their eyes and
reach out a hand. Don’t be so greedy.”
Despite living in poverty, she proudly says she has
set goals for herself and won’t give up on them be-
cause of her situation. Eventually, she hopes to return
to school and get a master’s degree.
Dressed casually in blue jeans and a pullover
sweatshirt, Wright finishes her coffee and is ready to
be busy for the day to stay motivated.
“I’m a survivor, I’m a fighter,” she says. “Things
happen and I can get through this. It may take me
awhile, but I’ll come out of it.”
Poverty andMedian Houshold Income
2007Poverty Level 20.3%, MHI 29,952
2008Poverty Level 19.4%, MHI 29,041
2009Poverty Level 20.6%, MHI 28,662
2010Poverty Level 19.7%, MHI 29,881
2011Poverty Level19.7%, MHI 30,200
36 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
HIGHEREDUCATION
story // Aiste Manfredini PHOTOS // Maris Sheiss
Learn how to spice up your degree and graduate with an unforgettable experience
with a
TWISTcreative
In this fast-paced, go-getter society, completing the core
curriculum is no longer enough for college students to
make it in the real world. Employers look for college gradu-
ates who have not only succeeded academically, but have
also contributed to activities outside the classroom. When
we’re told to participate in extracurricular activities, we
automatically think: student organizations or intramural
sports. But there are also ways to enhance your college
experience by taking classes outside your major.
“The truest education is the kind you do on your own,”
says Kathlyn Kenninson, Director of the E.B. and Bertha
C. Ball Center.
Taking a step outside of the traditional classroom setting
and allowing yourself to enroll in a provoking, indepen-
dent learning course at the Ball Center.
It all started with Mr. Edmund Burke Ball – one of the
five cordial brothers who founded what is now the Ball
Corporation. Once E.B. Ball married Miss Bertha Crosley
of Indianapolis, the couple built their home overlooking
the White River between 1905 and 1907. That home is
not the site of the Ball Center.
In 1977, the Ball Center opened as an academic building
at Ball State. The center’s mission is to provide stimulat-
ing, intellectual opportunities at Ball State and in East
Central Indiana communities through programs, lectures,
classes, seminars, workshops, etc., that are presented in an
informal learning environment.
Each non-credit course offered by the Ball Center is
unique in its own way and provides knowledge that stu-
dents will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
You may think, “I don’t have time for courses that won’t
count as credit,” but you have to go beyond that and see
it as a rare educational opportunity that could make you
stand out amongst your peers to potential employers.
The Ball Center helps students get a more conceptual
understanding of the content that they are learning in
these non-traditional classes, as opposed to memorizing
material for a test, when it could easily be forgotten in the
years to come.
“The highlight of a higher education is that you’re
supposed to get a curious interest in the world,” Dr.
Bohanon says.
These classes will not only teach you a unique combina-
tion of skills, but most importantly, will build your analyti-
cal and communication abilities – which is exactly what
employers are looking for in job seekers today.
37
-DR. CeCIL BOHANON, BALL STATE PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS
“THE HIGHLIGHT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS THAT YOU’RE
SUPPOSED TO GET A CURIOUS INTEREST IN THE WORLD.”
VISIT THE BALL CENTER: 3401 West UniversityMuncie, IN 47304
SUMMER SONGSInstructor: Dale BashamThursdays, May Starting Date to be Announced, 7-9 p.m. Cost: $125 Ever wanted to have a moment in the
spotlight? Basham will be joined by his singing
partner of 25 years, Rebecca Bly. Together
they will prepare their students for a premier
performance at Vera Mae’s Bistro on July 4.
A Taste of CalligraphyInstructor: Paula Sullivan Friday, April 26, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cost: $50 (includes lunch) With a few tools and a bit of patient practice, you’ll
be on your way to learning the basics of calligraphy
lettering. This sophisticated art will teach you the
foundation and knowledge using several letter
styles such as Celtic and Old English.
Writing Your MemoirsInstructor: Paula Sullivan Friday, May 31, 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cost: $50 (includes lunch) “What did I used to be, and how did I get
there?” These are some questions to ask when
leaving a permanent record of your life. Even if
it’s heartfelt or just plain embarrassing, you will
write a memoir in your own words creating a
written heirloom for others to enjoy.
Painting Plein-ly and Loving the Experience Instructor: Ann JohnsonFriday, June 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cost: $50 (includes lunch) There is something about painting outside
while looking at a spectacular landscape.
Everything is alive and your painting will be
also. Come learn how to paint not all of what
you see, but also what it means to you.
High Noon Critical Readers
instructor: Nacy lindleycost: $12
Love to read but can’t make up your mind
on what book to choose next? Join a book club!
The Critical Readers meet monthly on the
third Wednesday at 12 p.m.
Books for discussion are:
April 17 – Vessel of Sadness by William
Woodruff
May 15 – Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck
Muncie Action Plan (MAP): Moving Beyond the Rust Belt Mentality Tuesday, May 7, 10-11:30 a.m. Presenter: Ginny Nilles free, Reservations Required
Come check out Ginny Nilles, director of
the Muncie Public Library and co-chair of the
MAP Board of Directors, discuss the effects of
the Muncie Action Plan on the community.
Magna Cum Murder Crime Writing Festival October 25-27, 2013 Cost: $250 (for the full weekend); daily registration or single-event registrations available.
If you’re a lover of crime writing or reading,
come enjoy this year’s festival at the historic
Columbia Club on Monument Circle, India-
napolis. Writers and readers from all over the
U.S., and some abroad, will come together for a
weekend of exciting panels and discussions.
DANC 121 - Introduction to Modern Dance 2 (1 Credit)
Freedom of expression is a powerful thing
– especially while traveling the dance floor.
Learn how to emphasize alignment, phrasing,
body awareness through space, vocabulary,
musicality and performance skills.
Contact Sara Yanney-Chantanasombut at
[email protected] for more information.
PSYS 277 - Psychology of Sexu-al Behavior (3 Credits)
If you have a curiosity for human sexual behav-
ior, then this might be the class for you. Not only
will it focus on the development of sexual identity
and attitudes but it might help you better under-
stand your significant other’s complex behavior.
FCFA 101 - Dimensions of Cloth-ing (3 Credits)
Creative? Have an eye for detail? Learn how
to analyze style and adornment while empha-
sizing dimensions that affect the design and end
uses of textiles and clothing.
CJC 312 - Victimology (3 Credits)
Ever wonder what happened to the many
forgotten victims of crime? Discover the
criminological examination of victims including
victims’ reactions and criminal justice reports.
AHS 290 - Asian Art (3 Credits)
Explore the eye-opening and diverse world
of art and architecture in Asia. From the
prehistoric era to the advent of the industrial
era, this class emphasizes characteristic forms,
techniques, and art theory in the context of
developments in society and religion.
SUST 250 - Intro to Sustainable Development (3 Credits)
Keep calm and think GREEN. Discover the
values that frame decision making for maintain-
ing systems elements for setting natural, hu-
man/social and economic sustainable develop-
ment goals.
Contact Professor Vann for more information
CANADIAN STUDIES (CANS)150 Canada: Cultural Crossroads (3 Credits)
Ever wonder what Canada’s all about?
Discover the geography, history, government,
economy, literature, art and music defining
Canada’s individuality and international
heritage.
WGS 220 - International Wom-en’s Issues (3 Credits)
Are you an advocate for women’s rights? This
course will focus on investigating women’s ex-
periences in non-Western culture and help you
better understand the importance of empower-
ing women around the world.
ANTH 451 - Witchcraft, Magic, and Religion (3 Credits)
This may not be equivalent to your typi-
cal acceptance letter to Hogwarts, but it will
certainly teach you about the human attempts
to control life through supernatural beings,
prayer, sacrifice, and techniques of magic and
witchcraft.
Beginning Genealogy Tuesdays, April 9, 16, 23; 10-11 a.m. Presenter: Jack Carmichaelfree for students – Reservations Required
Ever wonder where your family came from?
Find your ancestry by taking this three-day
course that will cover valuable resources and
aid you in researching your family history.
38 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
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39
Story // Dan Carpenter photos // fair trade usa, Ben Dehr
Consumers play a large role in the global economy, but do they play a role in the modern slave trade?
UNEQUAL EXCHANGE
rom coffee to sweatpants, bananas to shoes, chocolate to cos-
metics, or jewelry to soccer balls, there is a person behind ev-
ery price tag, and everything can be traced back to the hands
that made it. Dollar signs aside, there is a growing disparity
between global companies and their employees — an injustice
otherwise known as the modern slave trade.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNO-
DC), more than 80 percent of the world’s countries identify
as being affected by the modern slave trade. And the United
Nations estimates that the slave trade brings in $31.6 billion
of profit every year, with industrialized economies responsible
for generating 49 percent of that income. From spending
long hours on a farm to being trapped within claustrophobic
textile mills, the men, women and children who are forced
to work for little compensation make up the backbone of this
mistreated labor force.
The global economy is built upon misplaced value. Instead
of placing value on the producer of a certain good and their
well being, value is placed upon the result and the profit. If
prices are low and demand is high, then the producer and the
consumer is happy. But this need for fast, efficient and cheap
products has only increased demand and continues to fuel the
slave trade.
Local companies like the Downtown Farm Stand are
aligned with the international fair trade campaign and are
fighting for a fairer wage, worldwide.
Between lobbying, raising awareness and helping businesses
adapt an alternative business model, fair trade “contributes to
sustainable development by offering better trading conditions
to, and securing the rights of, disadvantaged producers and
workers,” as defined by four European Fair Trade Organiza-
tions (FTOs).
the fair trade business model aims to give every worker a fair wage for their labor.
40 // BALL BEARINGS
ENRICH
Dave Ring and his wife, Sara Ring are local, organic farmers
and owners of the Downtown Farm Stand in downtown
Muncie, use a fair trade model to run their business where
they actually interact with each of their producers face-to-
face. However, if there are any fair trade products that they
cannot get within the U.S. like coffee, tea, tropical fruit, and
cocoa, Dave ensures that he purchases it from another fair
trade certified producer.
“We like fair trade products because it ensures there is a
monitoring system in place. I can’t go down to Guatemala, but
I know the producers are getting a fair wage,” Dave says.
Although this kind of loyalty and personal commitment
involves a great deal of work and communication, Dave says it
is worth the extra effort to know that everyone involved in the
process receives a wage they can live off of.
“It puts more money in the producer’s pocket and ensures
that they’re getting a fair wage, and in the end, builds the food
system,” Dave says.
A relationship built on the well-being of both the producer
and consumer results in various forms of growth. With more
money in their pockets, producers can sustain their business,
provide for their family and develop the quality and efficiency
of their operations. Fair trade is unique because it acts as an
advocate for the producer, while also functioning as a tool for
local and international community development.
According to Parker Townley, the National Organizer for
Fair Trade Colleges and Universities, Fair Trade USA and
similar organizations have enabled fair trade certified farmers
to earn $77 million in community development premiums
since 1998. Over the years, that money has been used for
community-elected development projects in areas such as
healthcare, education, environment, business management
and the improvement of quality and productivity.
Despite the strides made by the fair trade movement in the
last several years, the World Bank estimates that more than 2
billion people live on less than $2 a day. The fair trade effort
to shrink that number is merely a drop in the bucket; there is
still a significant amount of work ahead.
Ultimately, collaboration among governments
and corporations play a large role in ensuring that
producers around the globe are treated fairly and the slave
trade is abolished.
But according to Grace Sharritt, a member of Free the
Slaves and the Social Justice League on Ball State’s campus,
change starts with the consumer. And for Sharritt, her pas-
sion for fair trade started when she was 17 years old. After
listening to a speaker from the human rights organization,
Stop the Traffic, she decided, “I am going to learn as much as
I can about this.” After doing extensive research she quickly
learned that buying fair trade chocolate was an impactful first
step in ending slavery. Now she and fiancé Chris Kozak, along
with Free the Slaves and IJM, are petitioning to get Ball State
Dining to start selling fair trade chocolate on campus in order
to raise awareness of conscious consumerism.
They believe that with a global market that is dependent
upon supply and demand, consumers are in a critical position
to greatly alter supply chains and production. This is what fair
trade also focuses on: developing a conscious consumer.
“How I choose to spend my money as a consumer is a pretty
powerful thing,” Sharritt says. Kozak, agrees.
“It may not matter right now, but I’m going to start right
now,” Kozak says. “Maybe twenty years down the road there’s
going to be one million people, or five million people, or 100
million people who think the same way I do because a friend
of mine saw me not shopping at Walmart and asked why.”
Kozak, Sharritt and the Rings believe that taking small
steps to enact change is effective. Simple steps may include
consumers reevaluating their purchasing patterns, shopping at
stores like the Farm Stand, getting involved with anti-traffick-
ing groups on campus, learning to live with less and seeking to
get informed about how they can make an impact.
This year, World Fair Trade Day falls on May 11. For a
full list of fair trade certified places and products, visit http://
www.fairtradeusa.org/products-partners.
visit the downtown farm stand: 125 E. Main St.muncie, in 47305
by the numbers //
41
comparing companies & their fair trade grades
Apparel h&M (b+) // express (D)
ChocolateDivine Chocolate (A) // Godiva (D-)
Electronics Kindle (D) // Leap Frog (D-)
JewelryAmerican Eagle (B) // Jared (D-)
ShoesADIDAS (b+) // Forever 21 (D-)
ToysLego (B) // My Pillow Pets (F)
The following grades measure the use of slave labor in the supply chains of major brand name companies. More specifically, each grade is based upon the evaluation of four categories within any given brand: Policies, Transparency and Traceability, Monitoring and Training and Workers’ Rights. For more detailed information on brand evaluation, visit www.free2work.org.
approximate number of people in modern-day slavery
people who are victims of forced labor exploitation in areas like agriculture, construction and manufacturing
total annual profits generated by the slave trade
people trafficked across international borders every year
amount generated on average by each forced laborer annually
countries affected by human trafficking and the slave trade
price of a slave on average
source: polaris project
27,000,000
14.2 million
$32 billion
800,000
$13,000
61 $30
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clockwise from top: A “Keep Out” sign is seen hanging haphazardly on the stoop of an abandoned house off of East Main Street. ©BENJAMIN DEHR
Broken glass and smashed paneling spontaneously spread throughout the depths of an old Elementary school on County Rd. 500 N. ©briee eikenberry
an abandoned automotive factory in michigan has been vandalized by locals. ©gina portolese
This vacant hospital is located in the heart of blackford county. it has been sitting empty for 10 years, since a new one was constructed.. ©c. mead jackson