On the very first play for Ball State offensively, sophomore infielder Brayden Huebner set the tone hitting his tenth home run of the season. The Cardinals stretched their lead to 4-0 in the first inning following a home run from junior Brady Davidson.

With three innings down-and-out, Ball State had increased their lead to 15-0.

Indiana South Bend finally managed to get on the score board in the fourth inning, putting up four runs to the Cardinals' 18. The fifth inning saw an increase in success for them as well as they put three more runs on the board.

After the fifth however, Ball State began to run away with it, getting back on the winning side of things 25-7 through seven innings.

"Today was really about getting some pitchers that we needed to get back on the mound, Strawmyer and Leduc were able to do some good things for us. We had the chance to get our younger players out there too. It was good to get some success", said Ball State Head Coach Rich Maloney.

The Cardinals have a three-game series against UMass this upcoming weekend at home. The Minutemen are 12-20 overall and 8-13 in Mid-American Conference (MAC) competition.

Coach Maloney stated on the upcoming matchup, "You always want to feel good going into a series. It's a big series, they've won six games in a row in the MAC and were trying to stay in the race. It's going to be a big weekend."

Huebner reflected on the game and his first inning home run, "I think it gave our pitchers confidence for sure. From the hitting perspective, I think we could improve on some things but we've been doing a good job. For myself, I've been a little too selective so today I was just aiming to be aggressive and get my barrel out. Hopefully this raises our confidence and our bats stay hot so we can keep going".

Contact Bryce Pennell with any questions @bryce.pennell@bsu.edu or on X @bryceBSUDN

Join the newest Cardinal Spotlight on a tour to the Burkhardt Building, home of the Department of History.

Meet Charlotte Harrison, your tour guide, and this week's Cardinal Spotlight. Born in Somerset, Kentucky, the senior classical cultures major has spent most of her life as a resident of Cambridge, Indiana.

Despite her current status as a student of classical cultures, Harrison was not always part of the Department of History. She started at Ball State as a chemistry major, but after reflecting on her future, she opted to explore her interest in classics.

"Classics has been an interest of mine for a while, so I thought I'd give it a try," Harrison said. "That was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made."

Harrison credits her mother's unwavering support of her creative endeavors, even when her focus wavered, with making her the person she is today.

"From my worst sketches to my proudest presentations, my mom has unconditionally supported my passions, no matter how often I changed my focus," Harrison said. "Without her encouragement, I don't know where I'd be."

In addition to the support from her mother, Harrison was inspired by her first professor, Christine Shea, to pursue a career as a professor of classics. She has found mentors in Shay and in professor Richard King.

"Dr. Shea has been a huge mentor for me in my classics journey, along with Dr. Richard King," Harrison said. "Both have an incredible reservoir of knowledge on a vast number of topics."

Harrison has had many opportunities to explore her passions within her major, but her favorite experience has been her work as a docent for the David Owsley Museum of Art. There, she has been able to sharpen her skills and knowledge as a classicist and find a passion for museum work.

"I primarily do tours with children; it's amazing what young minds can come up with when we discuss art," Harrison said. "I have also learned a lot about the various cultural objects we hold, and I plan on staying in the museum field while I'm working my way towards becoming a professor."

Harrison is well equipped to work as a docent and as a professor, as she credits her tendency to ramble about history as one of the most unique things about her.

"Sometimes it can be hard to break me out of my shyness, but one guaranteed way to do it is to mention something I can rant about. I'm well known amongst friends for ranting about various historical topics," Harrison said. "So, I think that's probably the most 'me' thing about me. I just love history, I can't get enough of it, and I want to share it with everyone."

No matter what passion Harrison pursues in her career, either as a professor or at a museum, she is sure to share her love of classics with others.

At Cardinal Media, we believe everyone at Ball State has a story worth telling. Cardinal Spotlight is our way of getting to know students beyond the surface - what they're up to, what matters to them, and what makes them who they are. Ordinary college life is more interesting than it gets credit for, and we want to hear about it.

As a long-time Gorillaz fan, I was very excited for their latest album, The Mountain. After their last release, Cracker Islandin 2023, I thought fans would have to wait at least five years for another release. I was happily surprised when The Mountain release was announced.

Much like past albums, The Mountain combines global influence with distinctly American ideals and commentary. Accompanied by an incredible short film, the album takes listeners on a spiritual journey about grief, identity, and how those things interact with the world around us.

Progression

Gorillaz is the king of album progression, taking listeners on a journey. The first song, "The Mountain," is mostly instrumental, with indistinct talking at the end. It reminds me a lot of "Plastic Beach." The very next song, "The Moon Cave," picks us up. It's striking how disconnected the lyrics seem from the song's instrumentals. The lyrics echo insecurity, asking, "Why am I taking so long? Why is my voice not strong now?" with the instrumentals chugging the song along almost by force. Fictional singer 2D's vocals sound strained, like he is trying to smile and move forward, but the world holds him back. More reminiscent of "Plastic Beach," the great Bobby Womack drops in with bars that drip with confidence and energy, juxtaposing 2D's.

Breakdown

I knew "The Happy Dictator" was going to be one of my favorite songs on the album when it was released as a single a few months before the album's release. It has the political charge and timely appeal that I loved in records like Humanz, but flips that on its head and tells the story of someone who is brainwashed by the current regime. Despite the distinct Hindi influence, this album still comments on the goings on in America, and this song is the perfect example. It romanticizes being under the spell of a dictator's regime, without making it seem too appealing. This sort of ignorance described is bliss, but something about the song just feels off. It sounds like a cultist's anthem, complete with the rhythmic chanting, "Oh what a happy land we live in." The instrumentals get stranger and the lyrics more distorted in the second verse, showing more obviously the corruption that is truly taking place.

After an experience like "The Happy Dictator," Gorillaz has no problem bringing the listener right back to reality. "The Hardest Thing" reminds the audience of the pain experienced during the ebbing and flowing of our lives. The song serves as a tribute to Tony Allen, who passed away in 2020, making his appearance in the song that much more chilling. The first time I listened to this song, I got goosebumps. As someone who has a particular interest in songs about grief, this song and the following, "Orange County," are easily tied for my favorite song on the album. Separating the two would be a disservice to the message they are trying to portray, and the hopeful tone that "Orange County" makes out of this experience with grief is just as important as the grief itself. "Orange County" is about not only experiencing joy despite grief, but joy because of grief. Contributor Kara Jackson puts this perfectly in the lyrics, "Every face you forgot, Father's Jaw, They suspend the clock, another start, get another chance to love." When you lose someone or something in your life, it gives you a brand new outlook on all those memories and all the people and things remaining in your life. These two songs tell us that grief is sad, yes, but "not your enemy." "The God of Lying" brings listeners perfectly out of this thought, asking, "Are you dying for an answer for what they call good grief?" It explores how hard coping with grief in the midst of what seems like the world falling apart around you can truly be.

Transitioning to the second half of the album perfectly, "The Empty Dream Machine" and "The Manifesto" remind listeners what they came for: a pure, uninterrupted Gorillaz masterpiece. Both songs tap into a sound that is so unique to this album, but also so inherently on brand with the Gorillaz sound fans have come to know and love. 2D's surrealist vocals are paired with an incredible rap feature and soul influence. This combines for a pair of songs that have been stuck in my head on repeat since the release of the album.

"Delirium" comes at the right place in the album. The album would start to drag on for me without its upbeat nature to keep me engaged. It's just enough to get me in the mood for "Damascus." Yasiin Bey, formerly Mos Def, is a Gorillaz classic and has perfect verses on this track. It's always a joy to see his genius on a track, and he has so much chemistry with Omar Souleyman in a way I haven't heard in a multi-language song before. Souleyman is speaking Arabic while Bey speaks English, but it sounds like they are talking to each other, with neither addressing the other directly. And not only are the two people speaking to each other in different languages, but the two cultures almost talk to each other in this song. Both people describe an unattainable person, Bey acting as the person, Souleyman acting as a yearning lover. The lyrics "لو إنك زبون حجازي, يِحرِم عليّي ملبوسك," roughly translate to "Even if you were a Hijazi Zaboon, It would be forbidden for me to wear you." A Zaboon is a garment in the Hijazi region of Saudi Arabia, worn for special occasions like weddings. Here, Souleyman is placing this person at a high status. He is saying he is not worthy of the occasion of this person's presence. In response to this, Bey says, "See me navigate the waves in the light and the black, Stars in the heavens and a breeze on my back," oozing ego and self-confidence.

"The Shadowy Light" continues this theme a little, but is weaker than "Damascus." Asha Bholse just repeats a long chorus, while 2D takes on religious themes in the verses. They don't feel like they relate very much, which makes it one of the weaker songs on the album for me, which is a shame because I love Bholse's voice and was excited to see her feature. Instrumentally, however, it makes up for it. It has such an amazing melody that I've found myself humming it a lot these past few weeks. It feels like a breath of fresh air and a perfect song to start winding down the album. "The Sweet Prince" and "Sad God" continue this melancholy, reflective vibe. I appreciate when an album gives you the space to reflect on the journey you just went on, and I think the final three songs on this album do just that. Lyrically, they sum up the overarching themes of grief, uncertainty, and coping. Instrumentally, they reuse some of the same melodies and sounds the viewer heard throughout the whole album.

Global and American Features

Gorillaz has always been famous for their many features and musical guests, from Snoop Dogg on Plastic Beach to Beck on Song Machine. The Mountain is no different, with Asha Bholse, famous for her work in Bollywood, and soul legend Bobby Womack.

The features on The Mountain do a wonderful job of introducing listeners to artists that they may not be familiar with. Gorillaz is not only inherently inspired by American culture, but they are also historically most popular in America, according to an article from Chartmasters. This makes the sheer amount of global influence in this album package some of these artists in the Gorillaz sound that American audiences may already be used to. As a long-time Gorillaz fan, some of my other favorite artists were introduced to me through the features in their songs, such as Little Dragon and De La Soul. Since the release of this album, I've been really enjoying IDLES and Trueno.

Listening to a lot of the features outside of Gorillaz, it's clear how the features and collaborators really mesh with the sound of the band. IDLES, for example, is one of many post-punk artists Gorillaz has collaborated with, but their album progression stands out as following a really similar format to Gorillaz.

Final Thoughts

From beginning to end, The Mountain takes listeners on a wonderful, global journey through grief, belonging, and identity while running alongside their iconic sound and imagery. Blending a global sound with commentary on the American political climate results in a masterful attempt at reminding their most popular audience base how much more there is to learn.

Sources:Chartmasters

At least 162 state officials nationwide have been publicly accused of sexual harassment across more than 424 distinct incidents over the last 12 years - including in the Hoosier State, according to the latest "Abuse of Power"reportfrom the National Women's Defense League.

The nonpartisanorganization is dedicated to preventing workplace sexual harassment and protecting survivors.

About 93% of accused state officials are men, the league has found, and most targets are women. The partisan split is more even: 52% of those accused are Republicans and 48% are Democrats.

That holds true in Indiana.

The report featured former House Republican Speaker Brian Bosma, who was accused of sexual harassment by a former intern in 2018, and Republican former Attorney General Curtis Hill.

Hill was added to the report for the first time as part of an expansion beyond state lawmakers to all statewide officials. Three female staffers and a lawmakeraccused him of unwanted touchingduring a post-legislative session celebration in 2018.

Two Democrats are also included: Rep. David Niezgodski of South Bend, who was accused by a former employee, and Sen. Greg Taylor of Indianapolis, with a whopping six accusers.

The league found that just 30% of accused lawmakers face any formal consequences and 40% resign. Only seven have served jail time.

In Indiana, Bosma didn't seek reelection when his term ended two years later, while Hill was disciplined by the state Supreme Court and lost his reelection bid. Both Democrats remain in office, although Taylorlost his position as caucus leader.

Staffers are about 40% of those targeted for harassment in statehouses.

"Staff are uniquely vulnerable in legislative spaces," said Elise Shrock, an Indiana political strategist who previously spent eight years working for the Senate Democratic Caucus.

"We work in close quarters with those who hold power," added Shrock, who is now on the league's National Advisory Council. "Staffers' livelihoods depend on them; recommendations, future jobs."

She spoke during a virtual news conference on Tuesday.

Although the league has logged more than a decade of data, the report is still likely incomplete, Founding Director Emma Davidson Tribbs told reporters.

"Understand that what we're presenting are conservative, public-facing counts," she said. "The reality is much worse. These numbers understate the harm. They don't deny it."

Davidson Tribbs noted that roughly 70% of people who experience workplace sexual harassment never report it. She also criticized opaque and biased government processes for handling accusations.

Most sexual harassment policies governing state legislatures are in chamber rules or other internal procedures instead of public law, according to the report.

Many states use panels with lawmaker members selected by legislative leadership, which "remain subject to partisan leverage and conflicts of interest."

The league recommended putting policies in state statute, using independent third-party enforcement systems, maintaining transparency without exposing survivors, imposing meaningful consequences on violators and more.

"The stakes are so high for survivors, but the reporting mechanisms fail them at every turn," Shrock said. "These are incredibly talented people, and we've lost them in these workplaces because our leaders and our systems close ranks, and simply lack courage."

Also on Tuesday, the league released its first "Abuse of Power"reportfocused on Congress. Former U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, a Republican who resigned in 2010, was Indiana's only entry.

Souder left Congress after news broke of an extramarital affair with a married staffer. He described the relationship as consensual and the case focused on ethical standards about relations with subordinates.

For decades, Tom Leaird's Underwater Service in Muncie has fostered a thriving community for local scuba (which stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus), divers and students at Ball State University. Leaird's Underwater Service is Muncie's only dive shop and has been a hub for local scuba enthusiasts for over 50 years. Since then, Ball State's scuba program has offered many opportunities for students to explore the underwater world.

Tom, now 86 years old, became an instructor at the Muncie YMCA in 1969, while still working as a full-time photographer.

"Tom loved scuba diving so much that he figured out how to open a small store," Leaird's store manager, Brooke Speedy, said. "Then he turned that small store into a bigger one."

Leaird's Underwater Service provides scuba equipment and training to individuals interested in diving and various underwater tools like dive cylinders and dive computers. The dive shop also offers a seven-week course for individuals ages 12 and up who are interested in getting an Open Water Diver certification. Participants do not have to be advanced swimmers in order to apply.

The dive shop does not just serve the general public; it also has a large presence among the local public safety community. Brooke explained that Leaird's sells diving gear and helps train public safety divers who rescue people. Leaird's has also collaborated with Anderson University and local high schools in Delaware County to teach scuba courses and provide equipment. Similarly, the shop has a strong connection to the Delaware Divers Club, which has existed longer than the dive shop itself. Members of the club hold various community events and fundraisers. They meet monthly and dive at Phillips Outdoor Center, a local dive facility and quarry owned by Tom.

In the early 1990s, as interest in scuba diving grew in Muncie, Ball State's swim coach at the time, Bob Thomas, became interested in launching a scuba program. Brooke explained that after purchasing scuba equipment from Leaird's, Bob connected with Tom, and together they began building a scuba program at Ball State. Currently, Ball State offers minors in both scuba diving and aquatics.

Leaird's provides Ball State's scuba program with all its scuba and snorkeling equipment. After classes, the shop sanitizes the regulators and refills the air tanks. Leaird's instructors assist Ball State scuba classes with certification exams and training that require additional instructors.

According to Ball State University's website, the scuba minor consists of 18 credits and includes courses in open water scuba, pool management, and aquatics. Students learn how to use specialty equipment, including air tanks, buoyancy control devices, and breathing regulators to complete underwater dives. When the program first began, it was taught by Carole Reed, who received her training from Leaird's. Carole taught scuba for 26 years. Sheli Plummer, the current instructor of the course, graduated from Ball State and also trained at Leaird's while she was a student.

"The minute my head is underwater, and all I can hear are bubbles, all stressors are gone," Sheli said.

Sheli got her first scuba job working as an instructor at a resort in Key Largo, Florida. She explained that Tom referred her for the job, and she worked there for five years. After moving back to Indiana, she eventually began teaching Physical Fitness and Wellness courses at Ball State. After Carole retired in 2018, Sheli began teaching the scuba courses. Sheli said scuba minors can receive three different certifications: Open Water, Advanced Diving, and Scuba Rescue.

Open Water Scuba is the program's first class, where students can dive down to roughly 60 feet. The advanced diving and rescue certifications focus on scuba rescue, allowing students to obtain CPR certifications for situations with distressed divers. Sheli said that to complete their certifications, students must also complete open-water training dives. Students take their certification tests in the quarry at Phillips Outdoor Center.

The highest certification you can get as a scuba diver is a divemaster, though it is not required to complete the minor at Ball State. Sheli explained that a divemaster certification is what divers need in order to work at a resort or teach recreational scuba. The scuba minor at Ball State also requires that students complete an internship. Brooke was an intern at Leaird's while in college and said the dive shop hires at least two interns each semester.

Leaird's mission statement reads, "Scuba students are the foundation of our business. Providing services for their continuing needs is the foundation of our success."

The impact on scuba students is measurable by the success stories of former Ball State students, such as Sheli, Brooke, and Carole, who all began their diving careers at the shop. More recently, Leaird's has influenced the life of Mar Nester, a third-year media production student working toward a scuba minor. Mar learned about the Ball State scuba minor through a promotional flyer they saw during freshman orientation.

"I think it takes a certain person to be a diver, especially in an inland state like this, because you kind of have to see beauty where other people don't necessarily," Mar said.

After taking an Aqua Fitness course as a first-year student to fulfill their Physical Fitness and Wellness credit, Sheli informed Mar about the scuba minor.

"Sheli showed me her passion for the ocean and her love for underwater life, and it was just really intoxicating. It was very contagious," Mar said.

Mar began interning at Leaird's during the spring semester of their second year and credits their experience at Leaird's with helping shape their future career. They hope to be a documentarian and science communicator. Mar has received many opportunities as a result of their scuba minor and connection with the Leairds. They have earned three awards from the Women Divers Hall of Fame, including the Bonnie Cardone Memorial Scholarship and the Underwater Photography Equipment Award. Mar said that they have received over $3,000 worth of scholarships from the organization.

Mar explained that the organization also provided them with camera equipment and a trip to New Jersey for a dive conference. Mar learned about the organization through Sheli, and Brooke wrote Mar a letter of recommendation for the scholarship.

"Scuba mentors show you their love for the water, and they show you how it's changed their life, and they show you a way that it relates to you and your life," Mar said.

The efforts of Leaird's Underwater Service have helped to establish a long-lasting culture of mentorship and unity among the Muncie scuba community. Sheli describes Tom and the other Leaird's employees as "real, down-to-earth people" who are not just there to make money.

As the dive shop approaches its 56th anniversary this year, Brooke credits the shop's multifaceted nature as the reason for its longevity. Brooke explained that diverse services, including selling and repairing gear, training students, and hosting scuba trips, have helped it thrive. Brooke said the shop has been very active in the Muncie area. Several times a year, Leaird's hosts an event called "I Tried Scuba," where individuals can get a free introduction to the world of diving.

Brooke also stated she was excited about the opportunity to host trips that are more eco-focused and involve sustainability initiatives so that divers can give back to the marine life. While Leaird's Underwater Service has inspired and supported the local scuba community for decades, its story is far from over. Brooke, who will one day take over the shop, hopes that in five to ten years, the impact will continue to expand to other communities.

"I hope to see our community grow even bigger and stretch into other parts of not just Indiana, but the world," Brooke said.

As the scuba community continues to grow and evolve, Leaird's Underwater Service remains a reminder of how support and mentorship can inspire generations.

This article is a part of Ball Bearings Spring 2026 magazine: Waves. Read more stories online at cardinalmediabsu.com and pick up the print edition of the magazine across Ball State's campus now.

Women in Business Unlimited supports businesses, new or old, through their monthly luncheons. WIBU provides women with networking opportunities and a chance to showcase their services. Watasha Barnes-Griffin, WIBU president, says she looks forward to the monthly luncheons because of the resources they provide to members.

"We want to make sure that women have resources, are in power, have connections, opportunity, and visibility, and I think that we really strive to do that with WIBU," Griffin said.

In addition to providing the resources women in business need, the luncheons include keynote speakers, presenting sponsors, and tables set up for vendors. WIBU encourages its members to take pride in their businesses in and outside of the organization.

"One of the things we do at the beginning, you'll see people stand up, and we'll have them say their name and where they're from. A lot of people are nervous when it comes to doing that so being able to tell them, 'Hey, it's ok. Just tell us who you are," and it really helps them build that confidence talking about themselves and how awesome they are," said Cheyenne Reed, vice president of WIBU.

Some members take advantage of WIBU and excel, joining executive boards. Kelly Kendall began as a member at WIBU and recently joined the executive board this past January after five years of being a member. She brought her business from Tipton, OH, to Muncie, IN.

"The Yorktown Chamber president, her name is Kat B. She's a realtor, and she helped find this space for me. And she said you need to go to WIBU,"

Five years later, she is a business owner and board member of WIBU. Kendall is the owner of Kolby Wellness Center, where she specializes in holistic spa. Now, she focuses on body therapy. Before, she planned to build a business as a makeup artist. That plan took a sudden turn after the loss of her baby, 48 hours after birth.

"Being able to like, move through grief versus grief overcoming me. That's where that deep sense of loving women came from," Kendall explained.

She turned her grief into something positive and interactive through her entrepreneurship. Her services include massages, facials, and body treatments. She strives to make women feel relaxed, safe, and beautiful. With the help of WIBU, she has been able to expand her business in various ways.

Contact Kahmara Munn with comments at kahmara.munn@bsu.edu.

Indiana's sales tax on gasoline is poised to jump by 6.1 cents per gallon in May if Gov. Mike Braun doesn't extend histemporary suspensionof the tax.

The amount charged for the 7% state sales tax on gasoline is determined monthly by the state Department of Revenue based on the statewide retail gas cost average.

The agencyannouncedMonday that the rate which stood at 17.2 cents per gallon when Braun announced its suspension April 8 would increase to 23.3 cents for May.

Braun's suspension continues until May 8, which is when he said he would consider whether to extend hisexecutive order.

Indiana's statewide average for a gallon of regular gas stood at $4.14 when Braun suspended the sales tax.

That average had fallen to $3.76 as of Monday,according to AAA, after costing $2.68 in late February before President Donald Trumplaunched the war with Iranthat prompted a worldwide spike in oil prices.

Taxes on fuel in Indiana are made up of the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, the state excise tax of 36 cents per gallon and the 7% state sales tax.

State Rep. Greg Porter, the top Democrat on the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, called Monday on Braun to also suspend the excise tax.

Suspending both state taxes would increase the savings on a 16 gallon fill up from $2.75 to $8.51, he said.

"I support the sales tax suspension, but Hoosiers need more than a couple of dollars," Porter said in astatement. "Prices have started to fall. But gas is expected to stay above $3 a gallon for the rest of the year. Prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather."

Braun said in his initial announcement that he would need legislative permission, but Porter contends there is nothing in the law differentiating between the two taxes - only past precedent.

This small group makes difficult decisions as they plan an entire music festival together. Since the fall, this group has met periodically to put together an event for students to enjoy near the end of the school year.

Beginning in 2022, students have had the opportunity to watch local bands perform at Equinox Music Festival. Located outside Botsford/Swinford Hall, the one-day event is the result of the hard work done by the team that organizes it.

The festival is arranged by the College of Communication, Information, and Media living-learning community (CCIM LLC), a group of student volunteers and Ball State Housing and Residence Life. After all the behind-the-scenes planning, the bands get to display the effort they put into making an entertaining show. After a year off in 2024, the festival was revived in April 2025 and returned in 2026.

Aaron Hicks, an Academic Peer Mentor (APM) for the CCIM LLC, led the student team of organizers. He ran each meeting and acted as a bridge between the students and faculty involved with the event.

He's guided the team through any barriers they have faced, such as working with less time than in past years. Instead of a full day, the event was changed to four hours in the evening.

"Dwindling the list down from upwards of 20 bands down to something more like five, it was a big challenge for us," he said. "I think we worked through it pretty well and picked a really strong selection of bands that we're really excited to hear."

While the APM plans and creates student events for each month, Equinox is a much longer process. It involves working with the City of Muncie, reserving all equipment and connecting with the bands.

Since beginning work on this project in September, Aaron believes he's learned new skills from collaborating with the group he led.

"I think this experience with Equinox has really helped me to lead a team of people, [it's] not something that I've had the most experience in in the past," Aaron said.

On March 26, 2022, the first Equinox Music Festival occurred, featuring seven bands. The following year, the festival took place inside the Botsford/Swinford multi-purpose room instead of on the dorm's patio.

In 2025, the festival was back outside, happening in April without snow or rain.

Morgan Jones worked on the team for the 2025 festival during her first year. Guided by APM Madelyn Bracken, Morgan enjoyed the experience she gained in a field that she was studying. She got the opportunity to interview bands and help decide what was best for the festival.

"It felt like I was never able to interview someone and write about someone, and this was a good opportunity for that," she said.

Morgan believes that events like Equinox are important to have on campus for students to see and for local bands to showcase their talents.

"Equinox specifically was really cool because local music is very underappreciated, especially in places like Muncie," she said. "We're a college town, so there [are] lots of young people who are doing crazy things."

This year, the festival stayed in the same place but had some changes. Because the festival was just four hours, only five bands were featured. But the group hoped this change would encourage more people to stay for the entire festival and see all the bands.
To make the festival come to life, the group of students decided on plans for possible live streams, social media and technical needs. They worked with CCIM LLC faculty to get opinions and approval on ideas they had.

First-year student Charley Isaacs was a part of the group and remembers the barriers they faced during the year. He recalled that they had to overcome disagreements and were "trying to work together and decide fully what we all want."

For all of the planning they did, they worked on one piece at a time. Starting with smaller things and working their way up to larger decisions.

"We figure out how long it's gonna be and the date, and we get that figured out. Then it's 'Okay, now we actually have the bands ... now it's 'Okay, we have concrete stuff, let's get the ball rolling,'" Charley said.

Joining the Equinox planning group was open to CCIM students wanting to help out. At the beginning of his journey at Ball State, Charley was looking to get involved on campus in any way. When he learned about the opportunity to join Equinox, he felt like it matched his interests.

"I love music, and I thought putting this together would be a really good, fun opportunity," Charley said. "I was interested in live stream and all the technical stuff because I've ran a lot of really long live streams before."

The final task of organizing was posting promotional content on Instagram on the day of the festival. Then in April, the group was able to see the product of their hard work.

Not only did they get to enjoy the performances of each band, but they also watched their peers have fun.

For Aaron, not only has he gained valuable experience from planning this event, but he has also enjoyed working with the students involved. He was most excited to see them and the bands enjoy and experience the festival.

"We have such a really passionate team here, and a really amazing group of bands, who were all so excited to be there," he said. "Just seeing all that passion in one place, putting this whole thing together for everybody to watch, I'm just really excited for that."

Looking back on Taylor Swift's 12th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD),the album never got the appreciation it deserved during its initial release. Getting to look inside Swift's personal life during The Eras Tour felt so intimate and special, making for a deeply emotional and detailed album. With all of the easter eggs pointing to the number two as well as the double album of TTPD and The Anthology, it feels fitting to revisit the album on its second anniversary.

An Album of Depth

The best thing about the album is the depth to which Swift goes to explain her feelings. Although listeners will never know the full story of the album-adding some mystery to Swift's personal life-her songwriting makes for a detailed and descriptive retelling of the crash and burn of a long-burning relationship, as well as an intense and passionate short-term relationship that was destined to fail.

On all physical versions of Swift's albums, she writes a prologue to introduce the album to the listener, and TTPD is one of the most beautifully written prologues in her discography. The metaphors within the writing are very clever. A personal favorite line of mine is, "and so I was out of the oven and into the microwave." Swift explains both relationships she experienced through this album with such a simple line as comparing an oven and a microwave. Both appliances are made to cook whatever's inside, but one does it by slowly heating up over a long period of time until it's done, while the other takes less time, but does it in an intense and radioactive way. "He never even scratched the surface of me. None of them did," is one of the most Taylor Swift lines to be written by her, and it came 18 years into her career, not even on an album track. The prologue to the album is some of her best writing, and I urge anyone who skipped it to go back and read it. It's a perfect look inside her brain during her writing process.

The writing on the album itself is hauntingly beautiful. The metaphors are so rich and make songs come to life with their description. "Down Bad" is a great example of Swift's storytelling through writing. She describes the feeling of a short-lived relationship as if she got abducted by aliens and is expected to move on as if nothing ever happened after it ends. It's so bizarre, but surprisingly it works really well. When I listen to an album for the first time, it's a very intimate experience, because I want to digest the production and writing at the same time.TTPD was one of the first times both the sound and the storytelling went so well together that I was able to understand a lot of the metaphors and intended feelings on the first go around. Swift has always been a strong storyteller and the fantasy aspect of TTPD really shined through.

Addicting Sound

Swift has been known to experiment with sound, especially synth pop, and TTPD does it in such an addictive and unique way that it feels different from any of her other projects. This album sparked a lot of debate from fans about whether or not longtime friend and producer of Swift, Jack Antonoff, is making her music sound too similar to each other; but I'd argue that her past works with him aren't that related. Reputation as an album sounds a lot different than folklore or Midnights. TTPD does use synth pop throughout the album, but in a way that felt new and refreshing. Antonoff has also produced music for other artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Lorde, and Kendrick Lamar, showing his range as a producer, meaning Swift's sound could be a personal choice when working with him.

Swift is also no stranger to mimicking the sounds of the people who inspire her, and TTPD has The 1975 written all over it. Matty Healy-being a strong factor in the writing of the album-severely influenced her sound. "Guilty as Sin?" and "About You" work so well together that it seems as though they were made to be played back to back. "Guilty as Sin?" is about fantasizing about someone else while in a relationship, and with "About You" being about still thinking about the one who got away, they fit each other thematically and sonically. "Guilty as Sin?" also references the song "The Downtown Lights" by The Blue Nile, which pairs very well against the song as well.

The Eras Tour Set

It's an impressive feat to say you went on a massive two-year-long tour, created an album on the tour-about your life while being on said tour-and were able to add the songs to your setlist on the same tour. The Tortured PoetsDepartmentset on tour was so creative, it really brought the album to life. With such a dramatic album, it deserves dramatic production and the entire set does it justice. From sitting on the bleachers during "So High School" to the alien abduction of "Down Bad," and even the theatrical showgirl rendition of "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" (which may have inspired The Life of a Showgirl), it felt really immersive to experience TTPD live. Having only a few months of break in between her 2023 leg and the release of the album, Swift and her team put on a spectacular show that mirrored the album's visuals very well.

My Critique

Although I find the album very well rounded, the cohesion is a bit dodgy when it comes to The Anthology portion of the album. Swift is someone who knows how to make her albums flow together, and the standard version of TTPD was put together in a way that made sense. However, when the second half of the album was announced at 2 a.m. of release night, it seemed loosely thrown together. The surprise drop added to the chaos of the album, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the order of the tracks.

Swift has described TTPD as an album that she needed to write, using it as a form of therapy, making a 31 track album was unsurprising considering how hectic her life was during the time of writing the album. Unfortunately, the tracklist order of the second half really highlights the fact that the album was kind of thrown together out of desperation, and it misses the mark for me. The songs work really well for the album as a whole, but the execution on the tracklisting ruined it slightly for me.

Two Years Removed

Two years have passed since the release of this album, and even though Swift has released another album-The Life of a Showgirl-since, I can't help but find myself stuck on this album. The surprise announcement at the 2024 Grammy's was a perfect way to start the album cycle, and I was instantly captured by the essence of the album since then. The marketing of the album and the lead-up to the release night is something I'll never forget. While most of TTPD is near perfect to me, "Fortnight (Featuring Post Malone)," "Down Bad," and "imgonnagetyouback" have become personal favorites of not only the album itself, but Swift's entire discography.

Although it didn't get the audience reaction that it deserved, the album has grown on many people and is slowly being recognized as some of her best work. Swift using music as her own personal diary is something I will always idolize, and The Tortured Poets Department is an album that's so personal everyone should appreciate it for what it is.

Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or on Instagram @sjasionowski.

Learn more about Grace's story here.

Losing a loved one can separate your life into "before" and "after" stages. It can feel as though your entire world has stopped while everyone else's keeps moving.

Grieving is often described as "moving on," but you never move on; you move through it. As you continue to live in the "after," you carry grief with you, each step lighter with passing time. Healing is not linear, and grief is love with no place to go.

Right now, I am a junior at Ball State University, with the proud role of the News Director of NewsLink Indiana, the student-run broadcast television news program on campus. In my newsroom, I not only lead my staff, but I also carry on the legacy of one of my best friends.

Words do not have enough depth for me to properly demonstrate who Grace Bentkowski was. I know this is a concept many people say after losing a loved one, but she truly was everything and more. Knowing and loving Grace made me a better person.

Being part of her life made the people around her glow. She could make a boring room into the place you wanted to be.

Grace started at Ball State University in the fall of 2020, where she joined NewsLink Indiana. Over her years spent in the organization, she worked her way up the ranks, ending her senior year as News Director in 2024.

While reporting, anchoring, producing, and holding multiple executive roles, Grace also worked for Great News Life in Valparaiso. Her schedule was always pushing at the seams, but she made it look like the bare minimum. I remember always asking her how she did it all. Her answer was that she knew what she wanted her life to look like and that she would make it happen.

The newsroom is not where I met Grace, although it is where we bonded even closer than before. I grew up with my sister, Lena, who is three years older than I am. She always went through the important stages of life first and then reported back to me the advice she had.

Lena was my first sister. In middle school, Lena met Grace, one of the only people who stood up for her. I always knew who Grace was through her younger brother, Adian Bentkowski, who was in my grade. Adian and I began to date in 2020, and over the course of my three years before college, Grace and I became sisters. This connection was clear and independent from any other aspect of my life. No matter what, we were each other's sisters.

We were both members of our high school's publications program, with her in Lake Central Television and me in the yearbook and magazine groups. As we got closer as friends, we bonded over our shared passion for news.

She influenced me to not only choose Ball State for the journalism program, but also to join NewsLink Indiana. I came to college planning to become a travel writer, but her influence altered the trajectory of my entire life. Now, because she told me to just give producing newscasts a try, I have spent my college career training to become a broadcast producer.

We only bonded even more in NewsLink because we added co-leaders, students, and fellow journalists to our list of how we were compatible.

On July 25, 2024, Grace was on her way home from work when she was struck by a South Shore train at the Hegewisch, Illinois, station. She was walking across the tracks on the indicated pedestrian path. Her phone and headphones were in her purse.

We had been texting all day about the outfits she was planning to wear at Lollapalooza, and I was waiting for her to get home so we could talk more.

Around 10 p.m., I answered a phone call from Adian telling me that she had been hit by a train. My first reaction was that he was joking, because he had to be, right? I remember running downstairs to tell my parents the news. The memory is a mix of gasps and cries, muffled echoes of my own thoughts.

We sat outside on our back porch in Alabama, and I stared at the river in our backyard. My blank gaze into the water must have scared all the fish away because there was a calm blur of water.

I can still recall the way the moon reflected onto it, casting itself as a glowing image. It felt like a reflection of the greater universe outside of just my own life, reminding me that there is an entire world out there. Grace felt a universe away from me in that moment.

All I wanted to do was be with her. My soul was broken at the thought of her being alone and scared.

She was transported to the University of Chicago hospital with fatal injuries. Her family was informed that she was in surgery, where she passed away after hours of doctors trying to save her.

When I got the text that she didn't make it, I went numb. The July breeze rolled across my arms, and it was the only thing that I could feel.

My backyard felt still, as if it knew that the world was no longer the same.

When I opened my phone again, I saw her Snapchat story from hours before. A photo of the Chicago River, where she was planning to move the following month. It felt like the universe was mocking what could have been. I would no longer see the life she was supposed to live and the person she was meant to become.

I think some part of me knew what was going to happen all day. Throughout my shift at work, I kept getting the urge to text her. Something in my soul kept telling me to talk to her as much as I could. Since then, she has never left my thoughts.

Grace was not just a journalism mentor to me, but a sister by heart, as the keychain she gave to me says. Our friendship looked like annual summer movie trips, endless photoshoots, and helping each other pick outfits.

When it came time, one of the hardest aspects of her memorial was picking out an outfit by myself. Grace was the one who always helped me decide what to wear. I chose a Barbie pink dress, in remembrance of when we saw the Barbie Movie together the previous summer.

You cannot reason your way out of grief. It is a constant, stubborn weight that will only hold on tighter the more you try to shake it. There will be a hole where the person once filled, and it is up to you how you refill that void. It sounds condescendingly simpler than it actually is, but you will make it through.

I was not broken; I was adjusting to the new life I was forced into. I wasn't showing up as well as I had in the "before" part of my life. Things fell through the cracks, I ignored text messages, and I often spaced out. Parts of my life began to falter because nothing felt as important as grieving Grace.

What many people didn't see was how I processed this great loss. For about a year, I rarely slept, averaging about three hours a night. I would find myself seeing her in my dreams, and waking back up to the reality that she is never coming back. I hated being alone with such a heavy and dark reality.

My phone became my distraction. I would burrow myself in anything that wasn't my own life. Death is such a strange concept: it is confusing how an entire person can be gone in the blink of an eye. It felt like one day I would wake up from these nightmares to a phone call from her, asking to go get McDonald's.

To avoid the bottomless pit of grief, I kept my schedule packed, just like Grace used to. I drove my car around Muncie until I ran out of gas. I blasted music until my ears rang. I leaned on my friends, talking about her until my throat was hoarse.

My neck would snap at the sight of any short, blonde girl walking by, thinking it might be Grace. It was as if I were waiting for her to come back. I utilized various therapeutic resources, from a therapist to campus counseling. Talking out my emotions has helped me grasp the absolute oddity that is one of the closest people to my heart being killed by a train.

After her passing, her family asked me to take anything of hers that I wanted. When I left with nearly half of her stuff, I found myself checking my phone, waiting for her to ask for the things I "stole." Instead, I reread our old texts, laughing at her jokes and crying at her advice.

Every time something big happens, I want to tell her. Although I can hear what she would say, it is never enough.

Her mom, Erin Bentkowski, has shared a beautiful analogy of how signs from the beyond work. She said, "Believe whatever you will, but souls can communicate after death." Erin describes it like tuning into the correct radio station. If you are on the wrong station, like ignoring and pushing away the grief, the radio waves cannot communicate with you.

Every time I run away from the pain, I lose the signs she sends me. When I sit with the grief, I hear and see her everywhere.

One of the greatest examples I have is when Grace's mom did a medium reading this past summer. In the video, the medium says my name and that Grace is saying she loves me to the moon and back. She goes on to thank me for putting together her memorial video and carrying on her legacy. Some may see this as "woo-woo," but to me, it is from Grace.

Now, in the "after," I honor her. Everything that I do and push myself for is to make Grace proud. Although she is gone, I see a lot of her in me. Her work ethic and drive were unstoppable, which I feel has been transferred to me after her passing. Even when it felt like I couldn't even fill my lungs with air, I was able to run a newsroom with passion in my heart. I think to myself: What would Grace do?

Grace's memory lives on in me, her family, her friends, and in the newsroom. Ball State worked with Nexstar Media Group, Grace's post-graduation employer, to create the Grace Bentkowski Memorial Scholarship. This money is meant to provide support to fellow media majors who also devote their time to the field of journalism.

The Media Department at Ball State University also made a plaque in her honor that hangs in the Unified Media Lab, where Newslink Indiana runs their live shows. It reads, "Her Light Shines On."

Everyone's grieving process looks different. It can feel as though others are moving on when you are "stuck" in the deepest parts of it. You never know what someone is going through, which is why it is crucial to treat everyone with kindness.

My personal experience is not a guideline or a reflection of anyone else's journey. Here in Muncie, there are many resources you can use, from therapists to grief groups and campus counseling. Do not isolate yourself because grief already makes you feel so alone. Taking advantage of these tools does not make you weak; it makes you stronger for accepting when you need help.

Losing Grace will never negate the immense gratitude I feel for knowing and loving her. She changed my life for the better and left an impact I, and so many others, will never forget.

Grief may break your life into "before" and "after," but there is beauty in both. In the "after," life is not as serious. Suddenly, the small things you used to stress about are as minuscule as stubbing your toe. Remember that life is meant to be spent loving and not worrying. Do not spend your life avoiding your emotions, for that is the breath of purpose.

My biggest pieces of advice for grief are to understand that it is not linear, there is no correct way to grieve, and that you are not alone.

I am not an expert, and I surely am not done grieving, but are we ever done? In a positive, loving way, I hope that it doesn't go away. She will be with me forever, as will any passed loved one.

Death is as permanent as the impact Grace Bentkowski had on my life.

Learn more about Grace's story here.

This article is a part of Ball Bearings Spring 2026 magazine: Waves. Read more stories online at cardinalmediabsu.com and pick up the print edition of the magazine across Ball State's campus now.

Muncie Arbor Day Celebration

Join Minnetrista, Muncie's Urban Forestry Committee, and their community partners for the Muncie Arbor Day celebration, featuring a sapling giveaway. Participate in informative tree and sapling planting demonstrations that provide practical insights on effective tree care. Express your creativity at craft stations, where families and children can explore artistic activities. Whether you need help planting a sapling, advice on selecting the ideal tree for your space, or wish to take part in a free raffle for trees, gardening tools, and other exciting prizes, you are sure to have an enjoyable and informative experience!

• Price: Free
• Location: Center Building. Minnetrista Museum and Gardens
• Date and Time: Saturday, April 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

A Salute to Video Game Music with the Ball State Jazz Ensembles

Love jazz and video games? Enjoy a concert of video game tracks with the Ball State Jazz Ensembles!

• Price: General Public: $8 in advance, $10 at the door, BSU Faculty/Staff/Seniors: $5 in advance, $7 at the door, Students: Free in advance, $5 at the door
• Location: Sursa Performance Hall
• Date and Time: Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Torchworking Workshop: Basic Beads

Experience the power of heat and glass as you explore the art of handmade bead-making in this beginner-friendly workshop. Learn the basics of torchworking as you shape and color molten glass into unique beads. All tools, supplies, and safety gear will be provided. Glass workshops are open to participants ages 13 and up. Preregistration is preferred; limited walk-in tickets may be available-please call ahead.

• Price: $55, Member Discounts Apply
• Location: Education Center, Minnetrista Museum and Gardens
• Date and Time: Friday, April 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 25, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Digital Audio Fundamentals Workshop Presented by Allen and Heath

Ready to take your sound to the next level? Join industry expert and Allen and Heath Rep. Steve Gridsby for an immersive workshop on the fundamentals of mixing on today's latest Digital Audio consoles by Allen & Heath! This course is designed for beginners and aspiring engineers alike.

• Price: Free, Call to RSVP your seat
• Location: Sight and Sound Music Center
• Date and Time: Tuesday, April 21, at 6:00 p.m.

"The overall cost of living has increased, [and] the struggle with finding an affordable house or apartment has never been harder," Muncie Mission Ministries Inc. Vice President of Community EngagementLeigh Edwards said.

Edwards has been on Muncie Mission's staff for three and a half years, with prior volunteer experience with the organization, and explained that the cost of living in Muncie has been "extremely" high.

According to the website Hoosiers by the Numbers, Delaware County's median household income in 2024 was $55,462, with per capita personal income in 2023 at $47,626.

At least 4,860 people in Indiana experienced homelessness by January 2025, according to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in a 2025 State of Homelessness for the Indiana Balance of State.

This statistic includes 3,659 people in sheltered locations, such as emergency shelters, transitional housing or safe havens for veterans, and 1,201 people in unsheltered locations, such as any place not meant for human habitation, according to the IHCDA.

In Delaware County specifically, the poverty rate in 2024 was 20.5 percent, according to the Hoosiers by the Numbers website, with the poverty rate among children under 18 years old being 21.9 percent.

According to the website, the poverty rate in Delaware County was ranked first in the state in 2024.

Director of community development in the city of Muncie, Gretchen Cheesman, said via email that the housing cost burden in Muncie is a combination of "relatively low incomes and a large renter population, resulting in significant affordability pressure."

Cheesman said that nearly half of the housing units in Muncie are renter-occupied, and local incomes are below state and national averages, which "increases the likelihood that low-income households will pay more than 30 percent of income toward housing costs."

She explained that while cost burden among homeowners exists, it is at "lower levels" and is typically tied to fixed incomes, aging housing stock and maintenance costs.

The number of people in emergency shelters has increased by 18.4 percent in Indiana between 2019 and 2025, according to the IHCDA.

Muncie Mission is a faith-based organization that provides an emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness, along with meals and other recovery services for individuals experiencing homelessness in East Central Indiana. Edwards said the organization wants to provide "compassionate relief" that "loves people where they are."

"The long-term goal of helping them find a transformative situation where they're able to sustain themselves and they do not need us anymore," she said.

According to the Muncie Mission's website, the organization has multiple "ministry locations" that serve individuals with different needs, along with other various resources to help them.

These include resources such as the Muncie HUB, a service that provides necessities to persons who are experiencing homelessness and provides contacts with shelter providers; Attic Window Thrift Store, a store that sells second-hand items where all proceeds support Muncie Mission; and Beauty For Ashes, a "safe place" for women with or without children who are experiencing homelessness.

Along with providing these resources, Edwards said that Muncie Mission owns 50 properties that are within walking distance of the organization. She said these properties have either been abandoned or were"trap" houses, which they rehabilitate to create "healthy, good, affordable" housing, she said.

"That has been a real[ly] cool thing for us, where we have been able to kind of transition into housing support for our guests as they finish our programs and go out into the world," Edwards said.

Chief Executive Officer WaTasha Barnes Griffin of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), a local emergency shelter for women and children in Muncie, voiced similar sentiments to Edwards about rising housing costs contributing to the housing crisis in Muncie.

Griffin explained that homelessness in Delaware County is being "driven" by a combination of rising housing costs, stagnant wages and a "significant" shortage of affordable housing. She said more individuals and families are "one unexpected expense away from being unhoused."

These families are considered "ALICE families," which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, Griffin said, meaning these families are working, but their income is still not enough to "take care of all of the things that they need."

38 percent of households in Indiana were below the ALICE threshold in 2023, according to United For ALICE. Households below the threshold are "forced to make impossible choices - like deciding whether to pay for utilities or a car repair, whether to buy food or fill a prescription," according to the website.

"What's concerning for us is we're seeing more people experiencing homelessness for the first time," Griffen said. "These are again working families. These are senior women on fixed incomes and individuals who have never needed assistance before."

While Edwards said the cost of living is going up, she also said grocery prices are increasing.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in a 2026 food price outlook summary, the all-items index under the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of economy-wide inflation, increased 0.5 percent from January to February 2026.

Along with that, CPI for all food increased 0.4 percent from January to February 2026, with food prices in February 2026 being 3.1 percent higher than in February 2025, according to the USDA's website.

With food prices rising, many individuals in the county are feeling the effects.

In Delaware County, 13,837 individuals were food stamp recipients in 2025, and 8,423 were free and reduced-price lunch recipients in 2024 to 2025, according to the Hoosiers By The Numbers website.

Griffin said the YWCA has seen a "noticeable" increase in demand for emergency shelter and housing services. She also said she has seen seniors utilize these resources as they work low-wage jobs, along with women and children, and individuals who are "navigating mental health or substance abuse challenges."

"It's all about us being able to be a resource for those who need housing and housing supports," Griffin said.

She said that researching what housing options and resources are available is a "wonderful" way to stay informed about what is happening across the "housing landscape."

"Really keep abreast of what's trending across not just our state, but across the country," she said.

Edwards urges individuals to understand the "complexities" of homelessness, saying many are uninformed and hold "simplistic" ideas about how to solve the problem of homelessness.

"I think that is the best way to educate the community. It's just for them to get involved in some way," Edwards said.

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

Their combined efforts of activism led to 8,330 acres of land being outlined as protected space, with later expansions increasing that number to 15,000 acres of protected land and water. Alongside the protected land, steel mills, which helped contribute materials during the construction of Chicago and provided World War II munitions, add to the Indiana Dunes culture.

But the work done by Henry, Paul, and Dorothy, and the dunes culture itself, are at risk of being swept away by Lake Michigan due to coastal erosion.

Erosional Damages

According to the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, coastal erosion is a natural process along the shoreline of bodies of water that washes away sand and sediments from the coast. Since 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been working to preserve national parks.

Tim Koenning, the Midwest Program Manager of NPCA, has lived in the Lake Michigan region for much of his life. He said his connection to the Indiana Dunes gives him a unique perspective on some of the factors weighing in on coastal erosion.

"You run into issues where these man-made barriers are built in," Tim said. "Since man-made structures protrude so far into the lake, it takes a lot of sand to build up in order for sand to move around them."

Tim said man-made structures are a core agitator for the shore's natural movement of sand. With man-made structures, sand is unable to form normally along the coast. This disruption in the natural shoreline causes an imbalance within the sediment, as sand is only being pulled out and not brought back in. As sand levels decrease, problems for boats arise.

With shallower areas along the shoreline and ports, boats are cut off from spots that are too shallow to access. In order to fix this, a process known as dredging must happen. Dredging is the process of removing sediments and debris from the bottom of a lake, river, or body of water.

For the Indiana Dunes, though, the dredging process primarily aims to relocate sand from one part of the shoreline and patch up weaker areas that may be too shallow for boats. Once the dredging process is complete and weaker areas of the shoreline are patched up, there can often be excess sand.

One organization that works with dredging around the Indiana Dunes is the Army Corps. The Corps mainly handles dredging around the dunes, but without specific federal funding, the Army Corps is not able to help.

"We didn't have a response in place to replenish sand, and we had to rely on moving legislative processes and administrative processes that just take too much time, when the lake is not waiting on us," Tim said.

Lake Michigan has been known to experience periods of higher water levels, which is where Indiana's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has stepped in. Joseph Exl is the Coastal Resources Coordinator at the DNR and has been working on a coastal monitoring program, which tracks changes in the shoreline due to lake levels, waves, and other factors.

This program started collecting shoreline imaging in the mid-80s, with the data they collect being compiled into the shoreline monitoring program. One recent development made in their data collection comes from light detection and ranging, or LIDAR, imaging. This uses light to measure distances either from drones or satellites, according to the National Ocean Service.

"The program is in a state of evolution," Joseph said. "We'll get there eventually, but the program itself has been talked about since the mid-80s."

Last year, the DNR launched a cooperative program due to a lack of internal resources, in which they have partnered with local universities.

"We have a few grants right now; one at Purdue University as well as Valparaiso University," Joseph said. "Those two universities have done topographical surveys for us to get high-quality GPS scans of the beach."

Purdue has also started collecting bathymetry data, which Joseph said is one of the key missing pieces for their program. Bathymetry data studies the depth and shape of underwater surfaces, according to the National Ocean Service.

While some structures do expedite coastal erosion, Joseph said that there is less to worry about in the Indiana Dunes State Park than in other areas. In fact, one building within the park has become quite an important piece of the park's history.

Between the Michigan City Harbor and the Port of Indiana at Burns Harbor is the Park Pavilion. The area between the two ports is known as a Littoral Cell, which is where larger deposits of sand are stuck most of the time. Joseph said the Pavilion is a historic structure in the park and has never shown any reason to be concerned about the effects of coastal erosion. Joseph noted that the Littoral Cell diminishes the effects of erosion but causes worry in other areas.

One concern that Joseph has for the shoreline of the Indiana Dunes is the high period of erosion rates starting in mid-to-late fall and lasting through spring. During this season of higher erosion rates, winter storms play one of the biggest roles in the erosion of the Indiana Dunes.

Frozen in time

Sarah Peterson serves as the Coastal Engineering and Community Resilience Specialist at the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Through her work on the coastline, Sarah has found that during the colder months, the dunes develop a phenomenon known as ice shelves. These ice shelves create a protective shield for shorelines and come with a wide range of variables, which makes them less predictable.

"When you have high ice coverage in the colder winter months, that can create a sort of buffer to intercept and absorb some of that wave energy," Sarah said. "This way, the harsher winter waves do not directly interact with the shoreline."

Grounded shelf ice is one of the most effective types of shelf ice along the Lake Michigan shoreline. These variant ice shelves connect more deeply beneath the water, closer to the lakebed. The strength of grounded shelf ice allows it to absorb the greatest amount of wave energy.

Sarah added that some research has shown that ice shelves are not just absorbing wave energy, but redirecting it back into the lake. This movement of energy leads to erosion within the lake below the water's surface, almost invisible to the naked eye.

While ice shelves relieve some of the burden of intense winter waves, the increase in warmer winters has caused ice shelves to become less reliable, raising the direct risk that winter storms pose to Lake Michigan's Indiana shoreline. As temperatures fluctuate in the winter months, patterns appear of thawing and freezing. These patterns create spots of higher vulnerability for the base of the shoreline and risk higher rates of erosion.

Joseph said that data from previous years shows that as the ice disappears, strong waves and wind move in to create a strong period of shoreline erosion. With the DNR's data, he is worried that strong erosion is possible in coming months.

Another issue that causes erosion, which Sarah has seen increase recently, is soil saturation. This occurs when areas of sand and sediment become extremely dense through large amounts of water, and as they freeze and expand, they can crack. These cracks create a vulnerable shoreline in the warmer seasons.

"The more ice there is, the more that gets evaporated, which may lead to increased lake levels during warmer months," Sarah said.

With a change in lake levels, the waves of Lake Michigan grow more unpredictable. The wave patterns have a large spatial variety and depend heavily on the season. Areas along the southern fetch of Lake Michigan, near the Indiana Dunes, are the most unidirectional. This makes it much more difficult to create a prediction on wave patterns, and there is no exact consensus on how waves have changed.

"There have been studies showing that different climatic factors have influenced the frequency and intensity of storms," Sarah said. "With more storms coming in, that might lead to greater wave heights and greater wave energies compared to more natural scenarios."

While the DNR and other organizations work to study wave patterns and their correlation with storms, it has become increasingly difficult to highlight specific trends. What the data does show is that coastal erosion is posing a possible threat to existing infrastructure in the area.

"I'd be hesitant to say there's a long-term trend in one specific wave characteristic, just because it has been shown to vary," Sarah said.

With storms moving in alongside the warmer season, wind activity increases. Joseph found data proving that as the fall-to-spring erosional period ends, summer winds take shoreline sand and move it back onto beaches.

In the summer, shorelines are affected by both water and wind, and the high summer winds create a phenomenon known as walk dunes. These dunes show consistent movement back into the land over several years; a more well-known walk dune is called Mount Baldy.

Mount Baldy is located near Washington Park beach and is the largest "living" dune in the park, which means the dune has slowly been eating away at a local visitor parking lot for years, Sarah said. Strong winds coming off the lake often pick up sand found in dunes and move it away from the lakefront. In addition, if there is little or no vegetation to catch the sand, some dunes move greater distances at a quicker speed.

Solutions on the shoreline

Marram grass is a natural dune grass that helps with the natural order of dunes. It catches sand carried by wind and settles those particles closer to the shoreline than a dune without marram grass.

Local communities are one of the biggest stressors when it comes to coastal erosion, as many have lived near the dunes long before they were recognized as a National Lakeshore. These communities sit outside of park jurisdiction and have invested in stone revetments for coastal erosion protection.

While it may work for local communities, the NPCA is opposed to the use of stone revetments and finds them unfavorable. The revetments do not necessarily fix the problem of erosion; they delay it by moving the effects of erosion down the shoreline to areas that do not have revetments. Stone revetments also armor the normally sandy beaches by covering them in layers of large stones. This is something Tim believes might not be appealing to anyone visiting the beach.

"I'd rather see the problem solved than moved down the shore," he said.

Alongside the NPCA, Tim said that the mission is to ensure a thriving shoreline for the parks as well as the local landowners.

"The dunes are for everyone, that's what they're there for," Tim said. "But it has to be a balance of the people who live feet from the park."

When it comes to fixing the coastal erosion and preventing further shoreline losses, there have been multiple proposed fixes. Tim believes the best way to fix the erosion would be through a study done by the Army Corps, funded half by a non-federal party and half by the federal government.

"The state of Indiana has already set aside one million dollars, and they've said we want to be a part of this study," Tim said.

This fix can also come from the work done by the DNR, as they work on their coastal monitoring program. Their website houses current data and resources, like their coastal atlas, which will evolve to have more information more readily available for people.

"We hope that long term, we'll be able to come up with these erosional and depositional rates along our coastlines that local decision-makers can utilize to form decisions within their towns," Joseph said.

When it comes to the coastal erosion of the Indiana Dunes, it is important to stay informed. Sarah and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant have been working on a video series about nature-driven protectors for the shorelines and hybrid solutions as well. This works alongside their Coastal Resilience Program for local communities. The importance of being able to adapt has increased in recent years as wave patterns become more variable.

"It's important to be aware of extreme wave conditions," Sarah said. "We might have calm waves, but we are also prone to very high wave energies."

With uncertainty on the horizon and the winds of change approaching, one thing is certain: just like in the early '60s, people passionate about the preservation of the Indiana Dunes are working non-stop to find a solution for the coastal erosion.

"We need to get this long-term fix into place before the lake levels rise again, because they will," Tim said. "I don't know when that's going to happen, but the lake levels fluctuate on a multi-year level. It'll shift back to being high at some point, and I'm worried about what's going to happen to the park and parts of northwest Indiana."

Time slips away to find a solution just as the coastline slips into Lake Michigan. The search for a permanent solution continues.

This article is a part of Ball Bearings Spring 2026 magazine: Waves. Read more stories online at cardinalmediabsu.com and pick up the print edition of the magazine across Ball State's campus now.

Ball State entered the tournament with a 22-4 record and the number one seed and hosts of the MIVA tournament. Doing all this underneath first year head coach Mike Iandolo and this is when teams should be playing their best volleyball.

In a game that has all the stakes involved, Iandolo said the message was not much different from what the team has preached all season.

"It was mostly about us and things we need to get better at," Iandolo said. "Especially with our serve and deep block. We didn't get to Northern Kentucky until yesterday and this morning did the full scout."

In order for the Cardinals to go deep in this tournament Iandolo knows that the team needs to control what they can in front of them.

"It's just about taking care of business and being a little bit better," Iandolo said. "There are a lot of other tournaments going on and already seen teams that were supposed to win and lose. Don't treat it like a game that's just a walkover. It's a real game and they are gonna come in and give us everything they got so we gotta be ready for that."

Improvements have been incremental for the Cardinals all season and Iandolo see a clear need of improvement if the Cardinals hope to claim MIVA glory.

"It's mainly the blocking stuff that we are still working on," Iandolo said. "Just being a little bit cleaner with, like some of the junk balls that are tight around the net and the other team is just pushing or swiping the block and we are not as strong as we need to with our hands."

Patrick Rogers led the Cardinals with 12 kills and his impact each game has been a tremendous asset for the Cardinals success this season. The team's willingness to dig deep when sets get tight is what Rogers said is what makes the team stay together.

"We left them in the game in [set 2] and didn't take advantage of that start we had," Rogers said. "We stayed together and didn't drop that set which was a huge momentum builder for us."

The Cardinals had faced the Norse two previous times with success, winning both times. Rogers knows that the team couldn't let up and actually saw the benefits of it going into the game.

"Yeah, they have film on us, but the good thing is that we played them and felt them out," Rogers said. "I think it's an advantage playing them twice because we know what to expect and just play to our standard. I think that's what we did well."

Junior setter Lucas Machado has been leading the Cardinals with his playmaking abilities. Machado tallied up 23 assists and the growth and chemistry that has been seen throughout the season showed up against the Norse.

"We just stay together and have fun together," Machado said. "Hang out together and go out to dinner together or a walk so that helps a lot to just be together outside practice and games."

Machado knows that chemistry has led to the success the Cardinals have had. For him, just recognizing his teammates' spots makes it easier for him to play his game.

"It's that chemistry and the guys just helping me a lot with some of the passes I give," Machado said. "I could see what their blocker was doing and just tried to take what they were giving me."

The Cardinals will be back in action April 22 at Worthen Arena with a matchup between either Ohio State or McKendree.

Contact Zachary Kendall with questions via email at zacharykendall@bsu.edu or on X @ZacharyKendall_.

"We'll focus on them two weeks before we play them, but for right now we haven't really given any thought to them or any other team in conference play because it's spring, you're not preparing for a game. We're just trying to get better", stated head coach Mike Uremovich

Redshirt junior quarterback Keldric Luster gave his thoughts on the matchup "This offseason coach has worked us really hard, pushed us to our limits and helped us get better by making sure we're treating our body's right, and just really whatever we can to make ourselves one percent better everyday. We're not worried about outside noise. We know what we got, we know what we can display on the field. It's going to be exciting to put that together in week one."

When it comes to going up against Ohio State's receivers Jeremiah Smith and Chris Henry Jr., junior defensive back Willizhuan Yates said, "It doesn't get any better than this, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Just working on getting better everyday, coming to practice and working on all the little things to get us ready for that matchup."

Heading into the 2026 season, the Cardinals welcomed 26 new transfers.

RELATED: Ball State Football gears up for next season with new transfers welcomed in

When asked about how this has affected the team's chemistry and bond, Luster, who transferred from Texas State this past offseason, stated, "It's pretty cool. They've shown nothing but good and positive vibes, telling me the truth. The bond has built quickly for me in my first few weeks here. The guys made it even easier for me coming in here."

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Donovan Hamilton, who transferred from Purdue going into this past season said, "It's really just checking in on the guys, making sure they're good physically and mentally on the field. Working on building that brotherhood with those new guys."

The Cardinals are looking forward to making a change with their last winning season coming in 2020.

This marks coach Uremovich's second season with Ball State and he said, "I don't care about any other year except this year. None of that matters to me." Uremovich added, "This is a brand new football team, and with the portal and roster change, we're really a new roster"

I'd consider separating this quote into two with a transition sentence to keep it from becoming a block of text.

"Our approach this offseason was to have the guys get to know each other, they've really come together as a team and they've gotten to know our schemes and learn how to practice. I feel like we did good on that," Uremovich said.

Yates added, "We're taking all the little things and putting it all into one. Taking everything day-by-day, step-by-step. Just working on our craft and getting it perfect everyday. We've got a lot of new faces and I can't wait to see what they can do."

The Cardinals' opening matchup against the Buckeyes is Sept. 5.

Contact Bryce Pennell with any questions @bryce.pennell@bsu.edu or on X @bryceBSUDN.

I decided to major in journalism in the fall of my third year of high school. Previously, I had toyed with the idea of a variety of other fields that would all lead to no further than teaching in a high school classroom or a future entrenched in the mercenary work that is academia.

However, once exposed to the brutality and beauty that is encoded into every word of journalistic truth, I could not see myself anywhere else. Not even the rigid rules and regulations of the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook could deter me from my new passion.

Then, just a few short weeks before my first semester at Ball State University, I decided to add another major to my course load: psychological science.

As a journalism student, I look upon a shrinking industry that continues to ask more and more of its professionals, and I am faced with one of my worst fears: my future and the laws that protect it have become malleable.

The inception of my career panic began when Stephen Colbert announced that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" was ending its last season and would conclude in May 2026 due to decreased ad revenue, a claim backed by an October 2025 article by The Free Speech Project.

However, Colbert's show was the most-watched late-night show in America, prompting speculation that the cancellation resulted from Colbert's criticism of Paramount's settlement with President Trump, as stated in a July 2025 article by the Free Speech Center.

Since the show's cancellation, Colbert has not been the only late-night show host to face removal from broadcast television regarding remarks or opinions deemed offensive by the powers that be.

Sep. 17, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel was faced with indefinite suspension due to comments he made regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel's comments stated his personal belief that "the MAGA gang [was] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and [was] doing everything they [could] to score political points."

Regardless of the debates over the assassin's political affiliation, the fact remains that a man stated his opinion, a nonpartisan right protected by the First Amendment, and was removed from the air for it.

Sep. 18, 2025, the Directors Guild of America released a Hollywood Labor Joint statement on the incident, stating, "When a private citizen, business, or television network bows to government intimidation, it strikes at the heart of our First Amendment rights. Creative artists must be free to do their work without fear that their careers or their family's livelihoods will be disrupted simply for their opinions."

The trend of censoring late-night talk shows peaked Feb. 16, 2026, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blocked CBS from airing Colbert's interview segment with Texas politician James Talarico ahead of the Texas Senate primaries.

The FCC cited the equal-time rule, which requires news organizations to provide all candidates with the same level of visibility. This rule has not been enforced on any talk show or used against a talk show host since the 1960s, according to a February 2026 article by Forbes.

Stretching a regulation due to pressure from higher-ups is highly concerning to me, as it sets a precedent that laws concerning our media can be flexible for those who wish it to be. This past year has also demonstrated that opinions and interviews for entertainment media are no longer 100 percent protected on broadcast television talk shows.

These are rights explicitly protected under the First Amendment, including freedom of the press. Therefore, if one clause is under attack, who is to say that the one protecting my industry will not be the next to get manipulated to the detriment of the American people?

When I decided to double major, many people judged me for being slightly hasty in creating a backup plan. After all, it appeared as if press and media freedoms were not going to be touched, and in theory, they are not supposed to be. Unfortunately, that did not last.

On Oct. 3, 2025, an international journalist, Mario Guevara, was deported to El Salvador after he was arrested and charged for attending a protest in June earlier that year. Guevara was wearing his PRESS vest, identifying himself as the media and livestreaming the protest as part of his coverage of immigration enforcement.

Guevara was charged with minor protest-related violations, and "local law enforcement handed him to agents for deportation proceedings despite having valid authorization to stay in the USA," according to an October 2025 article published by Amnesty International.

The concept of the right to protest, along with other First Amendment freedoms, is covered at a basic level in university journalism classes. We have the right to report; others have the right to free speech and it is our obligation and duty to report what the American people are saying.

Journalism covers the true and notable events that occur within our country, and as a student of that discipline, I can not agree with the removal of a story and the punishment of its creator, such as Guevara, because it does not follow the narrative those in power wish to create.

Due to instances like Guevara's deportation, a new fear is starting to extend beyond the normal anxieties of a shrinking industry. At age 19, I have to ask myself whether I am willing to risk more than just my career stability; I also have to consider my safety after graduation.

Guevara has not been the only journalist affected by a distaste for the stories he told, as the Associated Press was barred from access to the White House due to its refusal to change its stylebook to accommodate Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, according to a March 2025 article by the Associated Press.

Journalists and media professionals from the wire service were denied access to events attended by other news organizations, including a news conference held by Trump with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In February 2025, The Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press filed a friend-of-the-court brief stating that "the AP's exclusion is not just arbitrary and unjustified but viewpoint-based, an 'especially invidious' form of discrimination often described as 'poison' to the free flow of information."

My classes have emphasized the importance of words, but now I am forced to realize that the use of one word over another could cost me my job - a sentiment I feel that we could all find slightly ludicrous.

Additionally, White House press restrictions continue to increase; there are continuous reports of restricted visas for foreign journalists and journalism has now become a dangerous profession both in and outside of conflict areas.

The United Nations found that "journalist imprisonment is at a record high, while online violence - particularly against women journalists - and harassment spurs on self-censorship and, in some cases, physical attacks."

I am in my first year of reporting for a student publication, and I have already been harassed for stating that I am studying journalism. The notion of me pursuing a degree in which I seek out the truth in my reporting causes conflict.

I am also reminded every day of what other conflicts I can face in my career: being cast aside for stating my opinion, imprisonment for the act of being present, losing my job due to my word choice and being a war casualty is now an occupational hazard.

Forgive me if the truth I report is not the one you would prefer to see.

Contact Kyler Effner via email at kyler.effner@bsu.edu.

Eight years ago, Jarrod and Mandy walked away from flipping their car changed, but not unscathed.

Before getting behind the wheel, Jarrod had been drinking. At the time, Mandy's license was suspended, so they decided it would be better if Jarrod drove despite his intoxication. The car flipped twice, totaling it. Jarrod recalled getting out and seeing a line of blood streaming down from the top to the bottom of the car, but, miraculously, neither he nor Mandy were hurt.

Jarrod spent 23 years of his life in active addiction. Mandy spent 17.

"I couldn't go without smoking crack, I felt terrible when I wasn't smoking," Jarrod said. "But when I smoked, I was so paranoid, and I hated it, and I couldn't wait to not be high."

When Jarrod and Mandy were in active addiction, they worked to support themselves and their addiction, often spending much of their income on drugs.

Mandy described the first time she bought makeup as an adult, thinking, "there's no way real people are working jobs and going into Walmart, and buying [a] $12 foundation." When she finally had a full supply of makeup, it felt weird, but it was important. Instead of stealing it in her active addiction, she worked for it.

Jarrod and Mandy's addiction story is just one of many from all across the country.

In 2024, the American Addiction Centers reported that 48.4 million Americans aged 12 and older had substance use disorder. Substance abuse is a disease that affects one's brain and behavior, leading to an inability to control the use of a drug or medicine, according to Mayo Clinic.

Muncie is within the top 10 cities in Indiana with the worst substance abuse problems, according to Indiana Treatment Centers. In 2024, the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Abusereported 1,542 deaths in Indiana due to any drug overdose.

48 of those deaths were in Delaware County.

Jarrod and Mandy escaped this fate. After crashing their car in front of a sheriff's house, Jarrod knew he was going to jail.

"I was there in the jail cell, I didn't even really know, but I cried out to God. I just told him I couldn't do it. I just had to give everything over to him. I had to ask [for] help," Jarrod said.

When Jarrod woke up, he knew that he should not have survived the car wreck and believed that God had saved him from both the wreck and his drug addiction.

"When I woke up, I knew that I wasn't addicted to drugs," Jarrod said. "I also know that God doesn't work that way with everybody, but he worked that way with me, and that's my story."

When Mandy picked him up the next day, he told her that he was no longer going to live the same lifestyle they had been living. Mandy was "unchurched," but felt that God had saved her.

"Eight minutes ago [before the crash], I was a crackhead, and I was a terrible person. Eight minutes later, I was a believer, and I had worth. I knew that God had a purpose for my life," Mandy said.

Jarrod and Mandy's story of substance abuse and recovery is not the only one in Muncie. The two are now over eight years sober, and they serve as leaders at the RU Recovery Program, a faith-based recovery organization, at Grace Baptist Church in Muncie.

Jarrod was first introduced to the program when Grace Baptist Church brought members to a jail, part of RU's program to help those incarcerated. Jarrod and Mandy attended RU's meetings a few times before the car accident, but they began going faithfully after.

One of the biggest challenges Mandy faced was how she was going to make a life for her kids that glorified God while making sure that they "don't go down the same path [of drugs and addiction]." Mandy struggled with the shame and guilt of the things she had done during her addiction.

For Jarrod, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups felt "self-defeating." He hated returning after he would relapse and admitting it to everyone, so he quit going out of shame. As Jarrod grew in his faith, he began to understand that he did not "have to remember the last time he made a mistake," instead, "remembering the day that he was saved."

One of the first things that people from Grace Baptist Church did was bring Jarrod and Mandy to church and ask if they had food.

He recalled a member of the church telling him, "You help people meet their basic necessities. Because if they're not going to have their basic necessities met, they're not going to focus on getting recovered."

RU Recovery Program meets every Friday night, and is open to "anyone who needs support." The group's meetings include prayer requests, testimonials, weekly challenges and workbook exercises. Challenges can include memorizing Bible verses, service work, writing essays, attending church and more. In the middle of the evening, the group splits off into men's and women's challenge groups, where they have character development challenges. Mandy is the women's beginner's leader, meeting with new members to explain the program and challenges.

"We bring people along with us," Mandy said. "If you're having the worst day... you're bummed out and you're sad, but you still have real joy and peace, and can share that with another human. That's what this program is."

As substance abuse remains prevalent in Delaware County, efforts for awareness, prevention and recovery are being made by those in the Muncie community.

Recovery Cafe, a peer support community in Muncie, welcomes "anyone who is recovering from anything." Open four days a week, Executive Director Abby Carpenter said that their main focus is on long-term recovery and stability.

Recovery Cafe models itself in various ways to support long-term recovery, including recovery circles where members meet weekly together. Recovery circles are attendance-based, and members have access to the cafe and resources offered. There is always consistent peer support and accountability, Abby said.

"They're in this intimate setting where they can be seen and be heard and be loved through all their challenges, while also finding these commonalities that every human goes through," Abby said.

Recovery Cafe offers various resources, including a food pantry, clothing closet, school for recovery and workshops, for no cost. These resources help remove barriers such as food and clothing necessities, so members are able to focus on recovery.

Whether a person wants to use medication-assisted treatment, is focused on NA or AA groups or is just looking for a safe community that's striving for sobriety or harm reduction; Abby said that Recovery Cafe is open to any type of recovery pathway an individual may need.

Similar to Recovery Cafe, Kingdom Recovery House, a non-profit sober-living community for men, provides a resource for those seeking recovery.

Brian Blevins and Devin Case opened Kingdom Recovery House in January 2026. In December 2025, Brian and Devin bought and began to renovate an old church. A sign that says "Recovery is possible" welcomes people as they walk in.

Brian was addicted to drugs from the time he was a teenager until he was 42-years-old. His recovery journey began a little over 10 years ago, and he started working various jobs and building his relationship with God.

At the beginning of his journey, he would take those who needed help to 28-day rehabilitation centers and began to ask, "Where do they go once they get out, and what do they do?"

Brian currently works in Grant County at a free healthcare clinic and has been a sober living house supervisor for five years.

"So then I'm like, 'What resources does Muncie have?' and when they say there's nothing … well, there's only one way to fix it. We['ve] got to start it," Brian said.

People reach out to Brian, and based on house availability, Brian and his wife, Jamie, conduct background checks on potential residents. Residents are required to pay rent, attend two meetings weekly and attend church service on Sundays. Kingdom Recovery is a year-long commitment, but residents have the option to leave earlier.

Brian said he tries to go "above and beyond" and meet residents "where they're at." He helps with building resumes and finding jobs, obtaining food stamps, expungements and more.

According to the American Bar Association, expungement is the legal process of destroying or sealing a state or federal record, and it removes certain criminal convictions from a person's record. This helps individuals pass background checks and build new careers.

Awareness and volunteer efforts are being made on Ball State University's campus as well.

Assistant lecturer of English, Mary Lowry, currently teaches Writing for Change, an immersive learning course where students partner with Muncie community to meet the specific needs of their community partner, while teaching students English 103 and 104 basics.

Mary's class is paired with theMuncie Mission Ministries, a clinic that offers faith-based homeless shelter, family services and addiction recovery. Students help with volunteer work, and this year, have been focusing on helping with Muncie Mission's social media.

In the spring semester, the class focus shifts to fundraising and Walk a Mile in My Shoes, Muncie Mission's biggest event of the year. Walk a Mile raises money and builds hope for those battling poverty, homelessness and addiction. This year, Mary's class of 11 students was the team that raised the most money at Ball State, amassing over $2,200.

"It has been so great to see so many people who genuinely care about the community," Mary said. "When you get into the community, you realize there are so many people here who are working so hard to take care of other people and genuinely care."

Assistant teaching professor of English, Kathryn Ludwig, is working with her students on their third year of partnering with the Recovery Cafe. Students build connections with those at the Cafe, and have done "facing projects" for the last two years.

This year, students sat one-on-one with members who were willing to tell their story, and those stories were crafted into a book. The book, "Facing Recovery," explores individuals' experiences with substance abuse and recovery.

"The more we normalize the issue, the more that we talk about how substance use is a reality in our community, it's a significant problem in our community, and that we have the power to change it," Professor of Health Science at Ball State University, Jean Marie Place, said.

Jean Marie is also Director of Community Research and Administration of the Addictions Coalition of Delaware County (ACDC), a partnership that serves as a resource for grant funding to initiate evidence-based programs for prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery in Delaware County. The ACDC collaborates with various Muncie organizations, such as Meridian Health Services, IU Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center and Centerstone Health Services.

"I think it's a misconception that people just wake up one day and they have their first hit [of a drug], and are hopelessly gone," Jean Marie said.

Today, Mandy and Jarrod let their "lived experiences" guide them through life. The two do work with DCS, child welfare organizations and family advocacy.

Jarrod does not say he is an addict or alcoholic. Now, he views his life as an example of recovery and what recovery can look like. Mandy views her life as being in recovery "from the world."

Jarrod encourages people not to give up on others and to be there for them.

"To me, it doesn't mean that it's an ongoing struggle against drugs and alcohol, but it's a life where I live by my morals and values. I live by the truth," he said.

This article is a part of Ball Bearings Spring 2026 magazine: Waves. Read more stories online at ballbearingsmag.com and pick up the print edition of the magazine across Ball State's campus now.