The Daily from Ball State Unified Media
Smoke billows from the coal plant on Ball State

Ball State to stop using coal next month

By Kanyinsola Ajayi / February 10, 2014

Ball State’s coal-fired steam plant, a stern brick fixture on campus for 90 years, will shut down next month as the university’s groundbreaking geothermal system takes over. The new system, which includes a vast network of pipes that take advantage of the earth’s constant underground temperature across campus, will cut the school’s carbon footprint in half, said Jim Lowe, director of engineering and construction operations. “There will be a $2-million-a-year saving because it is so efficient,” Lowe said.

Ball State recently opened the Unified Media Lab on the second floor of the Arts and Journalism Building. Journalism and telecommuncation majors will be using the facility to produce student media. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
NEWS

Communications students move into new Unified Media Lab

February 10, 2014

Ball State news media students moved into the new Unified Media Lab this weekend. Students from the Daily News, NewsLink Indiana, Ball Bearings and WCRD news will now operate from the lab. Located on the second floor of the Arts and Journalism building, the room contains 46 computers. Juli Metzger, coordinator of unified media, said the room was built as a part of an ongoing initiative to give journalism and telecommunications students experience in all branches of the field.

Student employees could lose local jobs if minimum wage goes up to $10.10.
NEWS

Rise in minimum wage could mean fewer jobs for students

February 10, 2014

President Barack Obama’s call for a raise in minimum wage has left one Ball State professor doubtful and local businesses in varying degrees of concern. During Obama’s annual state of the union address on Jan. 28 he asked Congress to “give America a raise” by increasing minimum wage. He promised to raise it to $10.10 for federal workers by executive order,, which he will follow by pressuring congress to pass a bill that would increase wages for non-federal workers over the next three years.

NEWS

SGA slate campaigning begins tonight

By Rachel Podnar / February 10, 2014

Tonight starts the two-week campaign season that Student Government president Chloe Anagnos called “the best of times, the worst of times.” Candidates for the SGA election will declare their candidacy and slate members at SGA’s nominating convention at 7 p.m. in the Arts and Journalism building room 175. The even the kicks-off the campaign season.

Senior creative writing major Rachael Heffner shows the bruises on her arm after donating plasma Jan. 7. Two weeks ago, she developed hematoma after donating at BioLife, where an employee had accidentally nicked her vein. Hematoma occurs when there is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel and causes the skin to swell as well as causes bruises. PHOTO PROVIDED BY RACHAEL HEFFNER
NEWS

Students donate plasma for cash

February 6, 2014

When one fraternity pledge realized he didn’t have the money to pay some unexpected dues, he decided to draw from another source — his blood. Quinn Reuter, a sophomore construction major, went with two of his fraternity members to BioLife, where people can donate plasma for $20 during the first visit and $30 the second time each week. Donating typically lasts an hour.

Students walk down the sidewalk on McKinley Avenue on Feb. 5. Classes were canceled until noon Feb. 5 because of the winter storm. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
NEWS

University planning prevents campus problems

By Lauren Chapman / February 6, 2014

The advanced notice of Tuesday night’s snow gave the university and the hospital enough time to plan ahead and prevent a shutdown of services. Tony Proudfoot, a university spokesperson, said the university was monitoring the weather last night and eventually decided to delay classes until noon Wednesday.

NEWS

Ball State releases campus master plan

By Rachel Podnar / February 6, 2014

Walkability, sustainability and preservation will be guiding principles for Ball State’s future. After feedback from open forum sessions and hundreds of online suggestions, the steering committee released the master plan’s guiding principles. The plan is now in the third of five stages, which is idea generation, said Gregory Graham, director of facilities planning.

NEWS

SGA considers more gender-neutral restrooms

By Rachel Podnar / February 6, 2014

Gender-neutral bathrooms could be part of all future buildings or remodeling on campus if a Student Government Association resolution passes. “Transgender and other non-conforming students are often victims of discrimination, discomfort and violence when using a gender-specific restroom,” the resolution reads.

Students pose at the Indianapolis International Airport before boarding a plane Feb. 4 to Sochi, Russia. The students left a day early because of the winter storm. PHOTO PROVIDED BY BSU AT THE GAMES
NEWS

Students heading to Russia differ in level of fear of terrorism

By Kara Berg / February 4, 2014

Before heading to Russia on Tuesday to cover the 2014 Winter Olympics, an adviser warned 24 Ball State students not to act like Americans. They were told to keep to themselves. Although recent suspicions of terrorist attacks in Sochi have dominated Olympic coverage, some of the students traveling to Sochi for BSU at the Games said they aren’t scared to go. Drew Bogs, a senior telecommunications major, said he was more concerned about the 27-hour journey there than a terrorist attack.

NEWS

Steering committee releases campus master plan guiding principles

By Rachel Podnar / February 4, 2014

Walkability, sustainability and preservation will be guiding principles for Ball State’s future. After feedback from open forum sessions and hundreds of online suggestions, the steering committee released the master plan’s guiding principles. The plan is now in the third of five stages, which is idea generation, said Gregory Graham, director of facilities planning.

Sophomore environmental science major Derek Tepe reaches for a candle to light during the vigil as a part of a nationwide movement to protest the Keystone XL Pipeline. Senior psychology major Ariana Brown lights a candle next to Tepe during the vigil at Frog Baby on Monday. Around 10 students participated in the vigil and they walked around campus to pass out fliers. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
NEWS

Students protest against Keystone XL oil pipeline

By Lauren Chapman / February 4, 2014

Several of Ball State’s conservation groups came together Monday night to join a nationwide protest against the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The U.S. State Department released its report Friday about the pipeline, a proposed construction project to drill oil through Canada and the U.S.

PROVIDED BY NOAA
NEWS

Salt shortage comes day before winter storm warning

By Christopher Stephens / February 4, 2014

• Ball State ran out of salt to combat ice on campus and asked students and faculty to be careful on campus. • The shortage came a day before another winter storm warning for Central Indiana. • Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of facilities, said the shortage came from a lack of materials, not a lack of funds. As Central Indiana prepares for more extreme snowfall, Ball State announced it is running low on salt used to clear roadways and sidewalks. The university sent an email to students Monday warning them to take extra precaution while walking or driving on campus because facilities personnel will not be able to treat all areas of campus.

Eric Dewell, music media production and industry major, pops popcorn during the
NEWS

Late Nite uses more than quarter million dollar budget for less than 5 percent of students

By Kara Berg / February 2, 2014

Late Nite, the campus entertainment series each Saturday night in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, receives $355,952 each year, almost entirely paid for by student fees. Each week the event sees an average of about 1,000 of Ball State’s about 21,000 students. Bianca Polk, a student who is finance coordinator for Late Nite, said she thinks one of the main reasons few students attend is a lack of promotion.

NEWS

Differing views on LGBT issues may pose challenges in dorms

February 2, 2014

When the president of Spectrum, an LGBT ally group, used Ball State’s roommate match up, he made sure to mention he is gay to avoid an uncomfortable living situation. Ball State does not have a designated LGBT floor or dorm on campus, Jaime Goebel wanted to be sure there weren’t any potential issues between him and his roommate. Goebel said most problems for LGBT students come from the roommate and not just other individuals on the floors, since typically those with opposing beliefs just stay away.

The Purdue University community gathers at the candlelight vigil in memory of Andrew Boldt. The senior electrical engineering major died Tuesday afternoon after being shot in the Electrical Engineering Building. PHOTO COURTESY OF Marshall Farthing
NEWS

Researcher calls rise of campus crime "hype"

By Rachel Podnar / February 2, 2014

In the wake of the death of one student at Purdue University Jan. 21, there were more incidents of violence on campus: one death at South Carolina State, a student non-fatally shot at Widener University in Philadelphia and a false alarm at the University of Oklahoma. The hashtag #PurdueShooting accompanied cries to end gun violence on school campuses, but one researcher argues that school shootings are not on the rise.

NEWS

University program helps students mix with American families

By Kara Berg / February 2, 2014

For one international student at Ball State, coming to a new country didn’t mean going without a family. Three years ago junior architecture major Sasha Mballa joined the program after coming to the United States from Africa, which connects international students with local families, when he came to Ball State. Mballa said he stumbled upon the program by accident and decided to try it out. Since many international students come to school without any established friends, the program can provide support while they adjust to an American lifestyle. Of the more than 800 international students who attend Ball State each year, only 131 take part in the program.

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