The Lewis and Clark expedition, an expedition that began in 1804 after President Thomas Jefferson tasked Meriwether Lewis with exploring lands west of the Mississippi River, according to a November 2009 article from History.com, has stuck with Smith since he was a kid. This past summer, he was able to live out his childhood dream by walking a portion of the trail that the very same explorers did.

Over time, Smith developed an interest in the expedition and the time period.

"I would always go to that book and look through the same five or 10 pages," he said.

Currently, Smith is a teacher at Muncie Central High School, with almost 30 years of teaching experience. He explained that he does not teach a specific subject and only works with students in alternative education programs.

According to the Indiana Department of Education, the alternative education program is designed to meet the needs of public school students in grades six to 12 who have "not been successful in the traditional setting."

Smith said he decided to pursue teaching because he has always wanted to make a difference in the lives of others.

"[Teaching] was a natural fit for me," he said.

About seven to 10 years ago, Smith started listening to a podcast called "The Thomas Jefferson Hour," now called "Listening to America." The podcast, hosted by Clay Jenkinson who portrays himself as Thomas Jefferson, was a weekly program dedicated to the "search for truth in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson," according to "The Thomas Jefferson Hour" website.

Elizabeth "Liz" Eagle, part-time tour coordinator of the Listening to America tours, said the "Listening to America" podcast has evolved into a nonprofit organization, adding that Jenkinson likes to talk to different people about what is happening in the country.

"The main thing is for Clay [Jenkinson] to be able to reach out to people and talk about America," Eagle said.

Smith said the podcast "reinforced" his interest in the Lewis and Clark expedition and became something he wanted to do. But when he was unsure how he would come up with the funding for the trip, Lilly Endowment Inc. made it possible.

Lilly Endowment is a private foundation based in Indianapolis that specializes in supporting causes such as community development, education and religion, according to its website.

The organization renewed the 2025 Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program for teachers in grades K-12, according to a press release from Lilly Endowment's Judith Cebula, allowing Smith to become eligible for the grant to participate in this trip.

Lilly Endowment approved up to $15,000 in grants for 129 educators across Indiana, with the purpose being to fund projects that educators design themselves in order to restore their commitment to their profession, according to the press release.

To receive this grant, Smith said he had to write a proposal outlining his itemized budget for the trip, in which he included his plans to take what he learns and incorporate it into his curriculum, or even his daughter's second-grade curriculum.

"I wanted to be able to go into her classroom [and] share my experience with her students," he said.

With support from Lilly Endowment, Smith received a grant to walk the path Lewis and Clark took centuries ago.

"[Lilly Endowment] wants teachers to do things they've always wanted to do," Smith said. "Something that would energize you, create new motivation for you as a teacher and inspire you."

Eagle said her role as a tour coordinator is to manage the essential information travelers need to participate in these expeditions, including flight details. Not only does she help manage any information regarding the tour itself, but she also attends the tours as a traveler.

While it is not in Eagle's job description to state facts or other knowledge about the trip's contents, she said that if she knows facts about the expedition, she will "share what she knows."

"That was a learning experience," Eagle said. "You do a little bit at a time, and you learn."

The trip started in Great Falls, Montana, consisting of 10 total days, where the expedition was divided into two portions: a water portion and a mountain portion.

Smith recalled that he and his group canoed down the Missouri River for "40 or so" miles over three days, covering 15 to 20 miles each day. After the group finished for the day, they would set up placards on the ground to serve as "authenticated camps" for the night.

Smith and his group drove four hours to reach the mountain portion of the trip, where they hiked along Wendover Ridge. He explained that it was a 7.5-mile hike, during which the group could stop to eat lunch and take a break.

While the trip was not exactly like the original, the experience was the same, Smith said, explaining that he and his team were not on horses carrying up to 1,000 pounds of equipment like Lewis and Clark were.

However, the once-in-a-lifetime trip was not without challenges.

Smith described a small rainstorm turned hailstorm, which caught them in a flash flood. The water reached up to Smith's knees, an experience he called the "scariest time."

He explained that while there were guides on the tour, he noticed they appeared "panicked." Even though this experience was "scary," he recalled it as "pretty authentic" in totality because Lewis and Clark had experienced a similar situation of unpredictability.

According to Discover Lewis and Clark, the explorers encountered a flash flood, during which many were "bruised and bloody" due to the hailstorm. Along with injuries, other explorers were nearly "swept away" by the flash flood.

Eagle summarized that although the annual trip can be "strenuous" at times and certain days may be "grueling," travelers can always "get something out of it" by going outside of their "comfort zone."

"I think being there is such a rich experience rather than reading about it," she said.

Smith echoed these sentiments and explained that the students he works with are in a "tough place," with their main focus on graduating from high school. He said he wants to prove to his students that there should always be a desire to learn and experience new things.

Smith also said he wants other educators to learn about this opportunity, explaining that he hopes to share his travels with "different communities, organizations and different places" because he never knew this opportunity existed in his 30 years of teaching.

"I want to be able to share that experience with them, and that opportunity with them," he said.

Contact Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea.sundquist@bsu.edu.

Last fall, Foster said the Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee released a similar survey, and many people on campus participated in it. The Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee then listened to the feedback, which led to the new bus-tracking widget on MyBallState.

RELATED: Bus Tracker widget launches for Ball State students

For the new survey, students can access it through this link or by checking their student email.

"To continue our efforts to improve the way we all park and move through campus, we are once again seeking your input. Please complete our survey. Doing so requires less than 10 minutes," Foster said.

Contact the editor via email at editor@bsu.edu.

Tonight: Rain will continue to linger around tonight, ultimately pushing out by 10:00 p.m. This will cool us off for the night so a jacket will definitely be needed tonight and headed into the morning. Wind gusts will calm down by late tonight, however expect it to be chilly as the temperature will be in the upper 30's.

Tomorrow: Rain will push out and leave us with lingering clouds for the day. The temperature will stay in the 40s as there wont be much of a temperature change for the day. Expect it to be cold and breezy for the afternoon, however the wind gusts will calm down by the evening.

Seven-Day Forecast: Rainy and cold week ahead of us, however in our temperature outlook we can expect above average temperatures coming our way. Expect rain to move out by tonight, leaving us with lingering clouds Wednesday and Thursday. Beginning Friday, expect rain to move back in but quickly move out leaving us clear for the weekend. Monday we can expect warmer temperatures, finally ending on Tuesday with more rain pushing back into the forecast. Plan accordingly for the week as temperatures will be a rocky rollercoaster!

- Weather Forecaster Kendra Heath

Follow us on twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

For more information about the Weather-Ready Nation program please click HERE.

"I named it Lone Pine Lodge because I wanted the children to be able to say, 'I'm at the lodge' or 'I'm going to the lodge,' I'm not going to a shelter or to a mission. I wanted it to be exciting for them," explained Center Township Trustee Marilyn Walker.

In collaboration with the Muncie Mission, A Better Way and other local non-profits, the trustees created the lodge. Located on East Main Street, it provides a space for families in any and all situations. Families can get placed through the mentioned non-profits, the trustee office or the Muncie Fire Department. After being involved with the trustees for 19 years, Walker knew there was a real need in the community.

"We see this every day at the office," said Walker. "You know, people are dropping their life insurance that they have had for years so they could pay for food. It's sad. So we want to be able to be here for help and hopefully get them back on track."

Usually, families are split in shelters. Mothers and children are sent to the YMCA and fathers are sent to the Muncie Mission. The start of this shelter stemmed from the idea of keeping families together.

"One of the things that I consistently ran into trouble with at the Hub was finding shelter for families who came in seeking assistance," said Lodge manager Brandon Elliott. "I would call shelters throughout the state trying to find a spot, and I could never find anywhere that didn't have a waiting list."

The lodge can fit between four to six families at a time for a 90-day stay. Along with housing, families will be offered case management, help getting food stamps and other resources to get them back on their feet. All the furniture in the lodge is sourced from Indiana, being built by the Amish. Although they started building the space a year and a half ago, Walker knew that her connection to it was something bigger.

"My dad was a trustee, so that was kind of instilled in me and what we do," said Walker. "I can remember my dad coming home and someone being denied over the guidelines. Dad would come home and take food out of our cabinets to take it to them. And that's just what it's about, kindness and helping people."

The Lone Pine Lodge will start accepting and placing families on December 1st. If you would like to help the lodge, you can donate hygiene products to the trustee's office. Donations are not expected but always accepted.

Contact Abby Urban with comments at abigail.urban@bsu.edu.

After the 43-day-long government shutdown, SNAP benefits are officially set to be back to the table. With this being the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, it has forced the USDA to instruct states to reduce SNAP benefits.

Many families in East Central Indiana turned to Second Harvest Food Bank during this time of uncertainty.

I spoke to the CEO and President of Second Harvest, Bekah Clawson, about how they had to stretch resources this fall. Like many other local food pantries and banks, they had to use their own funding to continue operations.

Indiana officials say full SNAP benefits will resume as soon as possible-but the exact date is still unknown. Bekah says this uncertainty leaves families in a state of anxiety-not knowing when it will end.

Director of Fundraiser Development, C.S. Hendershot, says in Delaware County alone, more than 18,000 households are food insecure. According to the organization's 2024 Annual Report, it served over 7 million meals across Central Indiana.

The Annual Report shows that one in six people in East Central Indiana struggles with food insecurity, and one in five children is food insecure.

Second Harvest stresses that the need is not over. Hendershot tells me, "The need is never over." They say support from the community remains crucial as benefits begin to roll back in.

The best ways to get involved are giving financial donations, participating in food banks, and keeping up with the community.

Indiana officials say a full timeline for restored SNAP benefits will be released as soon as it is finalized.

Contact Lilly Tavarez with comments atlilly.tavarez@bsu.edu

Tonight: An upper-level trough three miles above us is expected to shift very slightly creating a broad upward motion ahead of it. This lift will bring about increasing cloud coverage as well as scattered showers occurring Tuesday morning. A stray thunderstorm or two is possible because of cooler, higher up air, but overall these storms should be weak.

Tomorrow: A shortwave will cause a small disturbance tomorrow bringing about a lot of rainfall for much of the day. The beginning of this rainfall is expected tomorrow morning around 4:00 a.m. Rain should start to taper off late Tuesday night as a brief ridge of high pressure moving in towards the north brings about drier, calmer conditions with cloud coverage slightly decreasing.

Seven-Day Forecast: For the next several days there will be a series of pattern changes relating to weather phenomena as well as several isobaric changes. Towards the middle to more later in the week a much stronger short wave is expected. Southerly flow along with warm air advection should increase the temperature Thursday and Friday. With additional rain showers along with a possibility of weak thunderstorms. After this shortwave moves out, high pressure will make an appearance Friday night into Saturday bringing about quiet and dry conditions. This high will remain stable until about Monday where we will see increasing cloud coverage along with possible precipitation.

- Weather Forecaster Rachel Fulton

Follow us on twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

For more information about the Weather-Ready Nation program please click HERE.

For the big ticket award, Game of the Year nominees include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Interestingly, among these nominations is that half are independent games, with Hades, Silksong, and Expedition 33 all also nominated for the Best Independent game award, and Expedition 33 also being nominated for Best Debut Indie alongside cryptic puzzle game Blue Prince, retro-inspired rogue-like Megabonk, and superhero narrative phenomenon Dispatch.

Expedition 33 is also a Game Awards record-breaker. According to the Game Awards onTwitter/X, the French indie RPG is the most nominated game in Game Awards history with a total of 12 nominations, including three in the Best Performance category for Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, and Jennifer English. Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei follow close behind it this year with seven nominations each.

Other notable nominations include PEAK, the indie hit of the summer, and ARC Raiders, the recently released extraction shooter, both of which are nominated for Best Multiplayer Game. Both A Minecraft Movie and The Last of Us'second season have been nominated for Best Adaptation. Hades II, Silksong, and Split Fiction have respectively been nominated for six, five, and four awards.

Sources: TheGameAwards, SandfallInteractive, KojimaProductions, Nintendo, Steam, TeamCherry, Steam, Steam, Steam, Steam, X/Twitter, IMDB, IMDB, IMDB, PlayStation, Steam, Steam, IMDB, IMDB, Steam

Images: X/Twitter, X/Twitter, X/Twitter

"There is an issue that is affecting wireless connections to the campus network for some users," Associate Vice President of University Communications and Digital Strategy, Greg Fallon, said earlier in the day via email. "Our Information Technology staff are aware and actively working on a solution. At this time, it is unclear how long the issue might persist. In the meantime, if users need access to WiFi, they [should] attempt to follow these workaround instructions as an alternative."

Later, Fallon confirmed the outage had been fixed. "I was just informed all network issues have been resolved," he said.

The university has not announced the cause of the outage.

Contact the Daily News via email at editor@bsudailynews.com.

Today: Clear skies today with mild winds at 6 mph and the high being 51. Later in the day, we could expect some clouds to roll in, but overall it is going to be a beautiful day.

Tonight: Temperatures will drop very low tonight with the low dropping into the high-30s. Rain is expected to hit us in the early hours of the morning, mild at first, and it will continue into the morning and early afternoon Tuesday. Calm winds are pairing with this 80% chance of rain.

Tomorrow: Rainy skies through the morning and early afternoon tomorrow with temperatures getting colder, sitting in the 40s all day. Clouds will persist throughout the day but the rain should lighten up into the afternoon and evening.

Seven-day Forecast: Rain is expected this week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and letting up over the weekend. High temperatures are going to stay mostly in the 50s, but expect slightly warmer days later in the week. The sun will be back out this weekend after being covered most of the week. Lows are variable this week so make sure to prepare for those drops in temperature accordingly.

- Weather Forecaster Daphne Gibaud

Follow us on twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

Formed in March 2022 out of a desire to create community through skating, Secretary Ashton Cook said the club provides an outlet for students to take a break from their coursework.

"[Our mission is] to build unity through skating, teach people how to skate and [teach] the dance techniques [of skating]. We also like to describe [the club] as something for students to take their mind off of school and meet new people," he said.

With workshops scheduled roughly every other Wednesday, room 310 of the university's L.A. Pittenger Student Center is often filled with students gliding across the linoleum floor on their roller skates learning new tricks.

The workshops typically begin with some form a of warm-up exercise, and from there, members can spend the meeting time as they see fit.

"We just let [students] skate, and then we'll start doing our own routine or dance moves that we've already practiced," President of "8 Rollers" Aubrey Myers said. "The skaters will ask us, 'Teach us this,' or 'Show me how you do that.' It's really up to the skater and how they feel. We don't want to force them to learn anything. They can just come in and do their own thing."

Marissa Wadleigh, a member of "8 Rollers," shared why she joined the club and what she enjoys about it.

"I really like rollerskating, and I hadn't really learned [in] this type of style before," Wadleigh said. "It gives me a way to skate and to try new things."

The executive board members said they believe their workshops are what their members value most about "8 Rollers."

"Even if [students] don't have their skates, they can come in, sit down. There's some people that do that all the time. We always just say 'come vibe,'" Cook said.

This style of learning skating techniques and flexible meeting times is appreciated by first-year club members like Aimee Martinez.

"I like how ["8 Rollers"] is not like other clubs where you always have to be there. With ["8 Rollers"], [you] just come out and have fun, that's the whole point of it," Martinez said.

"8 Rollers" occasionally practices outside the campus's Multicultural Center when the weather is nice. Myers said the center's outdoor space is also ideal for the club to host its fundraising events, the most recent being the club's October bake sale.

Apart from meetings, workshops and events, "8 Rollers" also performs and showcases - both on and off campus. In April, Myers said three of the club's members participated in the Royal Elite's Annual Spring showcase.

"8 Rollers" has also been invited by Ball State's RedPrint Step Team to perform in their upcoming "Lights, Camera, STEP" showcase Nov. 9 in Pruis Hall.

Executive board members of "8 Rollers" said they have also considered hosting a skating party or their own performance showcase in the near future, possibly collaborating with other campus clubs to expand outreach in the coming years.

"I'd love to try to do more showcases and performances and just different types of events that bring more people out," Myers said.

Vice president of "8 Rollers" Zanyah Seals and Myers both said they feel the team has progressed over the years due to an increase in campus popularity, more performance opportunities and overcoming challenges such as struggling to find spots on campus to rollerskate.

"It's grown a lot because when I first joined, we were just going to workshops every Wednesday, and we probably did, like, one showcase a year - so we didn't really have much exposure," Seals said. "I'd definitely say we upped our game because people know us now."

Students interested in joining "8 Rollers" or learning new skating techniques can check out the club's Instagram page, the Ball State Student Organizations page or attend one of their workshop meetings, held bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the student center, room 310.

Contact Gracie Parkhurst via email at gracie.parkhurst@bsu.edu.

Operation B.I.R.D

Join Man2Men for a night of physical activity and sports filed with fun!

• Price: Free
• Location: Multicultural Center
• Date and Time: Monday, November 17 from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Affording Study Abroad

Studying abroad is more than a trip; it's an investment in your education, your future career, and your personal growth. But how do you make that investment work financially? Join this collaborative session where campus experts from the Study Abroad Office, Cardinal Central, Financial Wellness, and the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships will help you explore practical strategies for funding your global experience.

• Price: Free
• Location: Student Center: Yuhas Room (102)
• Date and Time: Tuesday, November 18 from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Innovation Fest

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a student eager to explore opportunities, or a community member invested in the future of entrepreneurial behaviors, Innovation Fest is your launchpad for inspiration and collaboration. Visitors will be given E-Bucks to "vote" on their favorite idea. In addition, the fest will be highlighting some of Ball State's most innovative programs.

• Price: Free
• Location: L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom
• Date and Time: Wednesday, November 19 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Holiday Watercolors

Local artist Ann Johnson will teach simplified techniques for creating a beautiful holiday watercolor masterpiece from start to finish. Her professional experience enables her to teach novices as well as advanced painters in the same setting. You will have the opportunity to display your artwork at the Center's Holiday Open House!

• Price: $45
• Location: E.B. and bertha C. Ball Center
• Date and Time: Thursday, November 20 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

An Evening @ The Murray

All art for sale special event rates with live music by Dan Wright along with tasty food and drinks provided.

• Price: Free
• Location: The Murray
• Date and Time: Friday, November 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Being the "mom" friend is not something I signed up for - it just happened. It started somewhere between making sure that people got home safely and carrying extra snacks for my friends in my bag at all times.

I slipped into the role easily. At first, it felt like a joke that my friends started. However, as time went on, I realized that being the "mom" friend has not only shaped the pressure I feel to take care of everyone else, but also how I see myself.

A 2024 article by Amendo claims that being the "mom" friend can be overwhelming for just one person to bear by themselves. Not only that, but being the "mom" friend can also make somebody feel like they are the only one holding their friend group together.

The author of the article states, "However, even as someone who often loves being the 'group mom,' it can wear me thin if I feel like I'm pulling more than my fair share in the friend group. It can sometimes feel like my work goes unappreciated - and yes, friendship is work."

It can be easy for people to believe that maintaining a friendship with someone, especially someone in the same age group, is easy. In reality, when there is only one person responsible for making sure that everyone is happy, arrives home safely and has a ride to and from an event, that is far from the truth.

I am always there for my friends when they need me, no matter what. Even while away at college, I am still only a phone call away. Sometimes that can lead me to push my own emotions down just for my friends, and I never want my feelings to be what makes them more upset.

I do not mind being there for my friends, but after a while, it is mentally draining to always be there for both the good and the bad.

Being the "mom" friend means I wear a lot of different hats, one of them being the "therapist" friend. It means I am always making sure everyone else is cared for while putting myself second. A 2020 article by Medium explains that this role can actually affect someone's mental health.

According to the article, "The expectation you should always listen to, and in some cases literally fix, extremely complex emotional issues and traumas that require genuine professional help simply projects that individual's personal responsibilities and stress onto another person."

When my friends come to me with their problems, I always feel the need to fix them. Whenever there is something I cannot fix, I always tend to get worried - worried that they may get hurt mentally or physically, even if it is out of my control, and there is nothing I can do to help.

Being a people pleaser is a constant challenge for me. I want everyone to be happy, no matter the cost. I know that it is not healthy, but I cannot seem to stop. If I could, I would probably give my whole heart to my friends.

For the longest time, I was the only friend who had a driver's licence and a car. At first, I loved this; I was like the hero, but after a while, it stopped being as enjoyable.

I used to have to pick up my friends every day because they did not have a way to get to and from events, so I would make a pit stop to drop them off. After a while, it can get frustrating - especially when you have to plan around everyone else's schedule just to get to where you need to be.

While being a driver might seem easy, it also involves making sure everyone reaches home safely. Even if I do not drive my friends home, I always tell them right before we leave to "text me once you get home." I always do this because it lets me know that once I get that text, I can finally relax.

I am the person who will walk them to their car or up to their house if it is dark outside, just to know they are safe. I will not leave until I see them go inside their home and close the door.

If one of them gets hurt, my protective instincts kick in. If someone tries to make fun of them, I stand up for them. I ensure they remember how much they are loved, even when others make them feel small.

But if there is one thing that being the "mom" friend has taught me, it is to always be prepared. To pack extras for everything. My bag is always full of items such as snacks, feminine products, chargers, and medicine.

Why do I do this? Because you never know when someone else's phone will die or if one of them will need something for a headache. Always having these types of items with me prepares me for the worst when it potentially comes.

Despite how much I love my friends, being the "mom" friend has led to not prioritizing my own mental health. The title has led me to put my friends' needs above my own, and I frequently ignore my limits to make sure they are taken care of.

In a 2020 article by Medium, the author talks about this feels, stating, "Unlike flying on planes, where we are told to put our own oxygen mask on first, I've become accustomed to doing the opposite."

The reason this quote hits close to home is simple: it is true. In the end, I would rather make sure my friends are okay than prioritize my own well-being.

But even if these reasons seem a bit pessimistic, they are not negative to me.

The truth is, I would never ask my friends for a better title. If doing these things allows me to show my friends the love they deserve, then all the consequences are worth it.

To my friends, thank you for being the greatest friends I could ask for. To those who feel the way I do, you are not alone and remember to take care of yourself.

Take it from a "mom" friend.

Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.

These clubs rely on events like this sale for funding for their most exciting excursions. Their next goal is to save enough money to take the club off campus for a field trip to a religious sanctuary just outside of St. Louis. The president of Religious Conversation Hour at Ball State University, Elijah Sturjes, looks forward to making this mission come to life.

Sturjes works closely with Dave Concapcion, the faculty advisor for the philosophy club and faculty liaison for the booksale fundraiser. With Concapcion's help, they were able to reach professors and faculty all across campus to make donations. This resulted in a wide variety of academic texts for students to choose from.

The Philosophy club invited and encouraged all Ball State students across all fields and majors on campus to attend the sale and find an affordable book that suited their interests.

"I think it gets them to think about subjects that they're interested in - sort of go more in-depth on - we have a big problem with effective literacy in America, where people aren't reading, so being able to offer people books at a very cheap price could get people to read about stuff that they're interested in," Sturjes said.

The sale ensured there was an option for any student who stopped through, containing books from almost every college. All the books on sale were extremely affordable. Most of them were priced at $2. The exceptions were small $1 paperbacks and various $3 hard copies.

Sturjes was there for the beginning of the sale on Tuesday. "Seeing people get excited about reading is always fun," he said.

The religious conversation hour group encourages people to have conversations about important subjects and think deeply about different perspectives regarding both religion and philosophy.

"We have different content each week to sort of stimulate discussion," explained Sturjes. "But it's always about getting people to talk about topics and ideas that matter deeply."

Though the Religious Studies club and Philosophy club are separate in administration, they hold all of their meetings jointly. They meet every Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in room 291 at North Quad.

Contact Tatum Harris with comments at tatum.harris@bsu.edu.

He was disappointed with the outcome. He was disappointed with the coaching staff. He was disappointed with the players and the lack of discipline. He was disappointed.

The Cardinals (4-6, 3-3 MAC) lost to the Eagles (4-7, 3-4 MAC) 24-9. It is the fourth game in the 2025 season in which Ball State failed to score a touchdown.

"Those guys deserved a lot better performance than what we just put out there," Uremovich said about the seniors.

Redshirt senior linebacker Joey Stemler was brutally honest in saying it is hard to realize he just played his final game in Scheumann Stadium. Even if the loss is hard, Stemler was above all appreciative of the opportunity to suit up for Ball State football in Muncie.

Uremovich said he has no doubt Ball State can move on, led specifically by the group of seniors. He said this is his fifth time walking into a program, and the senior class is unlike any he has seen.

The head coach said the seniors have shown up and gone to work every single day, with no questions asked.

"I'm pissed that we didn't get it done," Uremovich said.

Uremovich said the undisciplined play by the Cardinals shows people that Ball State is not the team people thought they were. Entering today, Ball State was a perfect 4-0 in Muncie and 3-2 in the MAC.

The head coach said when the offense is not playing the best, you cannot shoot yourselves on the drive, which Ball State did multiple times. The Cardinals had multiple plays in the red zone that all but ruined their momentum, including penalties and an interception.

Ball State made four trips to the red zone against the Eagles but only put up nine points. The offense finished with 225 yards of total offense but only had 85 yards of offense in the first half.

Stemler said the lack of discipline was the main issue for Ball State's defense. He said the Cardinals were trying to do other players' jobs, missing gaps and just overall not sound.

The defense let up 380 yards of offense, with 229 of those yards coming through the air. The Eagles graduate student quarterback, Noah Kim, averaged 12.7 yards per completion.

The Cardinals will break down the loss as a team, and Uremovich said everyone on the team is going to be held accountable, even the coaches. He said the film does not lie.

Uremovich said Ball State will need to evaluate the plays they are calling and who they are calling them to in order to clean up execution. He said he can promise Ball State is going to make those evaluations.

"I want to see how these guys respond," Uremovich said.

For Uremovich, it is full steam ahead to close out the 2025 season for the Ball State seniors.

"They deserve to be in a bowl game for the way that they bought into what we're doing," Uremovich said.

With two games left in his collegiate career, Stemler said he is giving it his absolute all in the coming weeks.

"The goal of a bowl game is still there," Stemler said. "They're great teams, but we know we have to play the Ball State football way, which we didn't play today."

Ball State has just two guaranteed games remaining, and Stemler said he wants to see a bunch of energy within the program in order to close the season out.

The Cardinals will head to Toledo Nov. 22, with the kickoff against the Rockets coming at 2 p.m.

Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu.edu or on X@ElijahPoe4.

On Ball State's senior day, the Cardinals fell to the Eagles 24-9.

Here are three takeaways from the early afternoon action.

Slow start

In a game that was very important for the team's bowl game hopes, the team came out flat. The Cardinals had possession first, and they went three and out, netting negative one yards.

Eastern Michigan took advantage of their defense's stop, and the Eagles drove all the way down the field in nine plays to cap off a 58-yard touchdown drive.

After the Cardinals took over with a 7-0 deficit, redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly threw an interception deep into a 62-yard drive.

Ball State was outscored on just about every statistic in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Ball State defensive eleven forced two straight stops, one being a turnover on downs and the other resulting in a punt.

Despite the defensive effort, the Kelly-led offense was only able to tack on three first half points, while the Eagles had another touchdown drive to extend the lead to 14-3.

When it looked like the Cardinals were down and out with Eastern threatening to add to their two-possession lead after Ball State's third punt, a miscommunication with Eastern's senior quarterback Noah Kim resulted in an interception by Cardinals' senior defensive back Michael Gravely Jr.

Even after the interception, Ball State's early offensive woes continued, going three and out and setting up the Eagles to add another three points to extend their halftime lead to two touchdowns.

Rushing offense gave the Cardinals life

Ball State had 26 first half passing yards. They ended the game with only 62 yards, marking one of the worst passing games of the season.

The Cardinals only offensive success came from the ground game. Kelly recorded 67 rushing yards, and redshirt sophomore running back TJ Horton recorded 33 yards on 12 carries in his second start of the season.

72.4 percent of the Cardinals 225 total yards came from rushing, and it seemed like jet sweep rushing plays were the only times the Cardinals had life.

Redshirt junior receiver Eric Weatherly led all position players in rushing and receiving, tallying 49 rushing yards and three catches.

A tale of two halves OR Cardinals were dominated

From kickoff to the end of the first half, Ball State was dominated on all fronts. The Cardinals only had 26 first half passing yards compared to Eastern Michigan's nearly 200.

The Cardinals only had one drive that ended with points, and even that ended in just a field goal. The defense was the only saving grace for Ball State, as they intercepted Kim once and forced a turnover on downs by taking down Kim on a fourth-and-two quarterback draw.

Early in the second half, redshirt junior defensive back Muheem McCargo intercepted Kim once again after sophomore defensive back Eric McClain tipped the ball in the air.

But even after being set up in plus territory, the Cardinals failed to gain a single pass yard and had to settle for a field goal after a pair of big rushing plays.

The defense got another stop following the field goal, giving the Cardinals the ball back with a chance to lessen the deficit. On what was a promising 14-play, 61-yard drive that looked like it would end in points, the Cardinals turned the ball over on downs.

After the failed drive, Eastern Michigan took advantage, putting together a 7-play, 81-yard touchdown drive to dampen any of the Cardinals' hopes of coming back.

All of the second half, the Cardinals put together multiple promising drives, but they all ended in field goals or turnover on downs.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email @kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

"We make sure that we always have our salt barns filled with salt in preparation for that," Donnie Wright, Operations director for the Muncie Department of Public Works, said.

When there isn't any inclement weather, the plows undergo maintenance at the city's depot.

"In our garage right now we have some plows that stay on," said Wright. "Some that get utilized we have to put them back on, and it's just a matter of filling them up and putting them on the roads."

Wright also says that city plows are deployed to the major intersections and highways first. Public works follow specific guidelines to plow secondary streets.

"Thoroughfares, secondaries, the MITS bus company has bus routes; we try to make sure that we have all that route covered," said Wright. "So they can get through, we do not go into neighborhood roads unless there is six inches or more of snow. If we get six inches or more of snow and we're working on the main roads, the Muncie sanitary district steps in, helps us out."

Ball State University is not under contract with the City of Muncie sanitation. Instead, the campus operates an independent landscaping service.

"This time of year, early November, [we're] starting to get our equipment," Director of Landscaping Michael Planton said. "Inspected and getting it ready for snow season, by the time Thanksgiving arrives, we are pretty much ready for snow removal."

Planton says that specialized outdoor heating systems are able to help remove snow near buildings across campus.

"There are several buildings that have heated systems. As you go into the building, we get those turned on and inspected to make sure they are working."

Both organizations work to keep the city and students safe during the harsh winter season. City management reminds drivers across the city to be mindful of plows and to drive carefully, staying at least 500 feet away from salt trucks.

Contact Isaiah Fairrow with comments at isaiah.fairrow@bsu.edu

Ball State was able to keep up with their winning ways as they came out victorious Thursday as they won 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-18) and Friday as they won 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-15).

Thursday

"I told the group, enjoy [the MAC championship] Friday night, enjoy it Saturday, but we still have lots of work to make sure we're right where we want to be," Head Coach Kelli Miller Phillips said.

Around the halfway mark in the first set, Ball State was able to benefit from an error and take a 13-12 lead. A couple plays later, junior middle hitter Gwen Crull was able to bring in a kill for the Cardinals, putting them up 14-13. A few points later, Central Michigan found themselves giving the Cardinals three straight points off of errors, Ball State led 20-19.

Junior outside hitter Camryn Wise was able to blast a kill past the Chippewas to put Ball State up 23-20, the Cardinals were then able to secure the set win thanks to a kill from sophomore middle hitter Tiffany Snook.

"They run such a fast tempo, it just took us a bit of time to really grasp the speed at which we needed to go, plus they serve short every single time, and that threw us off our offense a little bit, but I think we finally got some rhythm as the match went on, and we found a way," Phillips said.

The two teams traded off points to start off the second set, as they were tied up at five apiece. Ball State was able to go on a 3-1 run, putting them up 9-6 and forcing Central Michigan to call their first timeout of the set. A kill by sophomore outside hitter Carson Tyler was then able to propel the Cardinals' lead to 15-11.

Ball State was showing aggression on both sides of the ball up to that point, as they were able to force an error right after Tyler's kill. A few points later, the Cardinals found themselves up five and close to going up 2-0 as they led 22-17. Going up 2-0 is exactly what they did as Ball State was able to take set two 25-19.

The Cardinals were able to get going quickly in the third and possible final set, as they went up 5-2, they were quickly able to turn that into an 8-5 lead. Graduate opposite Christian Ashby, then got a huge block for Ball State to put them up 10-6.

A few errors from Ball State put Central Michigan right back into set three with a score of 12-10. A few points later, Crull delivered a massive kill to extend the Cardinals' lead to 16-11.

Ashby was able to make another impact play as she got a kill which allowed Ball State to go up 20-13. Central Michigan found themselves giving up yet another point from an error, Ball State was able to extend their lead to 23-16.

Tyler was able to make another impact play as well, as she got a kill to give the Cardinals the match point. The very next point, Ball State was able to close it out and win it 3-0.

"Anytime you're playing, you're playing to win at home, and making sure we take care of business on senior night. Meaning that always adds a little bit extra emotion and passion for what we're doing," Phillips said.

Friday

After beating the Chippewas on Nov. 13, the Cardinals had one last regular-season match, senior night at Worthen.

"This team is so special, and I'm grateful for all these girls. There was never one day that they didn't take me in. They've always been great teammates and great friends," graduate outside hitter Noelle VanOort said. "They feel like sisters and I've only known them a couple months. It's just so special to be able to finish our regular season at home for senior night."

The Cardinals got their first two points of the night thanks to a pair of high-flying kills by Wise. Ball State was able to add on tour more quick points to go on a 4-0 run, and take an early 4-1 lead.

A few points later, Wise and Carson were able to team up for a block to extend the Cardinals' lead to 12-6. Central Michigan was able to put together a run nearing the halfway point in the set, to bring it to 13-12. A few points later, Tyler was able to record a service ace and extend Ball State's lead.

As the Chippewas cut into the lead, the Cardinals were able to extend it, making it a 19-14 game late in the first set, but Central Michigan made another run, bringing it to 19-17. Ball State was then able to go on a run of their own, stretching their lead to 22-17 before taking the set 25-18.

Tyler got the Cardinals going early on in set two, scoring a high-flying kill to give Ball State a 3-2 lead. That 3-2 lead was quickly turned into a 7-4 lead, but the Chippewas ensued on a 3-1 run to bring it within a point.

A few points later, Central Michigan was able to catch up and even the score at 11-11. Ball State was able to stay consistent with the ball on their side of the net, as they pushed the lead out to 20-17. As Central Michigan tried to fight its way back, the Cardinals were still able to close out the set and take it 25-22 to go up 2-0.

Set three started off with two straight points for Ball State, thanks to kills from Tyler and Snook. After a few reviews and a timeout, the Cardinals still had the lead, 6-5. Ball State then went on a 4-0 run, thanks to back-to-back aces from sophomore defensive specialist/libero Elizabeth Tabeling to extend their lead to 14-8.

The Cardinals were able to stay in front and even extended their lead nearing the end of the third and final set; they led 20-12. As Central Michigan tried to power their way back, it wasn't enough as Ball State won the set 25-15 and the match 3-0.

"We were trying to do some different things offensively, so that was kind of a reminder to myself to stay the course, trust in it, and see the bigger picture," Phillips said.

This victory caps off the Cardinals' incredible 17-1 MAC season as they now head to Bowling Green as the number one seed for the MAC conference tournament starting Nov. 22.

"Our team is 100 percent ready for [the MAC Tournament], we trust our process here, trust our recovery, and trust our coaches that they're going to do what we need to do," said senior outside hitter Katie Egenolf.

Contact Rylan Crum at rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum.

Bryce plays safety for Eastern, while Marlon played linebacker for Ball State Football from 1996-1999. He was a part of the last Cardinals team to win the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship and led the team in tackles for multiple seasons.

Born and raised in Jamaica, where he said he learned the importance of family early in life, Marlon lives by the motto, "family over everything," and applies it in his relationships with Bryce and his daughter, Emerson.

He described what a full-circle moment it is to experience with Bryce what he experienced with his family.

"I was the first grandchild [in my family] to graduate college," Marlon said. "Fast forward [to] now, I get to watch Bryce graduate next May, and also get to watch him play on the same football field I played on."

Bryce said that he and his father are really close, and that they "talk about everything." Beyond the bond they share as father and son, both Llewellyns played defense for their respective schools. Bryce leads Eastern Michigan in tackles this season, just like his father did at Ball State.

Bryce started as a running back at Cathedral High School, but eventually transitioned to safety, which gave Marlon a chance to teach him about the position from a young age.

"I played so long in defense, and me and him really bonded," Marlon said. "I could tell him the importance of that position, I can look at things faster, and I became his second coach, [how] I could read offenses with my eyes closed, and [then] he started reading [them too]."

Bryce said that Marlon was the one who helped him understand reading defenses and how the defense functions as a whole. Shifting from offense to defense was a huge change in how he had to approach the game, and Bryce said having his Dad as a role model was a huge help.

"He helped me understand the process and go through all the growing pains with me on being a better player overall," Bryce said. "The biggest thing is his experience and his knowledge of the game has helped me kind of take over what he's known, and put it into my day-to-day actions."

Bryce described Marlon as a "great support system," not only as a football player, but also as a father.

"My dad has been through it already, so he's able to guide me through the entire process, which has been one of the best blessings throughout my entire college career," Bryce said.

With Marlon's Jamaican roots, soccer was all that he really played growing up. He saw those soccer roots in Bryce and said he thought Bryce would be a "super soccer player."

Marlon did not expect Bryce to pursue football, but he said when he saw Bryce start to get into the sport, he knew he was going to be special.

"One day he just gravitated to football," Marlon said. "He knew [that] I played football, but it was never a push for football, it was like, 'just find something you love to do.'"

At Marlon's home, he has a picture up on the wall of him embracing his son after Bryce made a game-winning interception in a game played for Cathedral. Bryce described moments like that with his dad as "euphoric."

"During that time, I had been through so much, and it was just such an uphill battle to get to the point where I was," Bryce said. "Having my father right there on the sideline to embrace me and be in that moment with me, it's an unshakeable feeling."

Past football, Marlon and Bryce share one of the most important things to them: their faith. A verse from the Bible that the two often quote is Hebrews 10:35: "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."

Bryce said the verse his father shared with him has helped him tremendously on his football journey and in life in general.

"He gave me that scripture during the time in high school when I was making that transition from running back to safety and was iffy on football, and uncertain in myself," Bryce said. "He's always just instilled that confidence and reassurance in me that I found with him that I have also been able to find in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as well."

Marlon said that his faith in God was something he wanted to show Bryce at a young age because it had helped him in his life. He said it has been special to watch Bryce grow in his personal faith outside of school and football.

Outside of faith and football, Marlon had the idea one day of tapping into his Jamaican roots and opening a Jamaican restaurant, and he said he brought the idea up to Bryce as soon as he got it. The restaurant is called "Scotchy Jamaican Grill," and is based in Anderson.

"I left church, and I called Bryce. I said, 'Bryce, what if you and I created a restaurant?'" Marlon said. "He was like, 'Let's go!' We started creating a concept, [and] a business plan."

In less than a year in business, the restaurant has become one of the most popular Jamaican restaurants in the Midwest. The Indiana Pacers hosted Marlon and Bryce's restaurant as a guest chef at the 2025 NBA Playoffs, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted them as guest chefs as well.

Bryce said he learned to cook from his mother and father, and that he has always loved cooking since then. So he said that when his father had the idea, he was all in.

"I know my Dad needed help, and I will always be there for my family too, to make sure [that] everything they want to do to be successful, they're able to do," Bryce said. "When my Dad came to me with the idea, I was all in open arms to join alongside him."

Having the opportunity to open a restaurant with his son is something Marlon always looks back on, and he said that all the restaurant's success has come from a father and son having fun.

"It was pretty cool to watch it, from being invited to the Pacers to being invited to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," Marlon said. "All these amazing opportunities because I get to do [it] with my cool son."

He said that it has been a blessing to sit back and watch them use their authority in life, as his lived experiences have allowed him to look at things from a different perspective and help guide them on "their path in life."

Marlon said that one of the biggest blessings has been watching Bryce grow on his own and making his own decisions for good.

"Bryce has done a really amazing job on us[ing] his authority for good," Marlon said. "And so to watch him do it is definitely a blessing, but also to watch him inspire his sister [to] do the same thing is pretty cool as well."

Reflecting on the two's relationship, Bryce said he will never have to question whether his dad will be there for him.

"I just know that one person in my life that will always be there for me is my dad," Bryce said, "That's one person that I never have to wonder or be surprised by if he's gonna be there by my side through thick and thin."

As Bryce's senior season with Eastern Michigan is coming to a close, he will take the field at Scheumann Stadium on Nov. 15 to face Ball State and play on the field his father played on for the first time.

"I think when I do walk on the field, it will be a huge reflective moment for me," Bryce said. "I will have maybe 50 people in the stands, all my family is going to be there, and I haven't played at home since high school, so it's going to be a great moment for my family to see me play live."

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email @kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

Tonight: Cloudy skies with a low of 55 degrees, slightly breezy conditions with winds out of the southwest at 10-15 MPH.

Tomorrow: Expect mostly cloudy conditions with strong winds of 15-25 MPH and gusts upwards of 30. Expect a high of 69 degrees

Seven-Day Forecast: Warm and breezy start to the weekend as we see our temperatures approaching the 70s, but temperatures will fall back into the low 50s to high 40s for your high temperatures throughout next week. Also, the chance of rain will be returning with the primary threat being toward the second half of next week.

- Weather Forecaster Zachary Alberson

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