The ongoing protests in Ukraine have a Ball State professor and Ukrainian native feeling isolated and removed from his homeland. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators continue to fight against the Ukrainian government after Tuesday’s repeal of anti-protest laws.
The Student Government Association denied a nominee to join Senate after members said the candidate was trying to be elected as pro tempore. During the vote Wednesday afternoon, Bryan Kubel recommended SGA Senate not approve sophomore political science major Daqavise Winston’s application. Though Kubel is chair of the credentials board, he made the recommendation as a senator.
The harsh winter in Indiana has affected more than campus — decreasing blood donations, nearly wiping out the state’s winter funding and increasing hospital visits. And the season isn’t over yet. David Call, a Ball State associate professor of geography and weather expert, said the last time the state experienced weather like this was in 1979. Although temperatures are expected to rise this week, Call said this month will be colder than 90 percent of Indianapolis’ recorded winters.
Jenna Barkley, a Ball State sophomore, picked up a diet last month that did more than help her lose weight — she also can get drunk faster. She started a diet consisting of only meats, nuts, vegetables and fruits. She lost 8 pounds in the first week and said the loss lowered her tolerance to alcohol.
Fire alarms have caused students to evacuate campus residence halls 30 times since the beginning of the 2013-14 academic year. None of them were a result of a fire that needed to be extinguished.
Despite jobs, large course loads and making rent, a few Ball State students are devoting as many as 10 hours a week calling strangers to oppose HJR-3. At 5 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday, as well as during several impromptu sessions in the week, Sam Itkin calls Indiana residents. The sophomore creative writing major urges them to contact state representatives in their area to oppose the HJR-3 amendment. Armed with laptops and smart phones Itkin and 34 others prepared for a last ditch effort to make an impact on Indiana legislators, before today’s deciding vote. They hope to stop the amendment, which could strip away benefits for same sex couples, from continuing past Indiana’s House of Representatives and onto a statewide referendum this November.
Tyler Sparkman never got the opportunity to get to know his great grandmother. She was always physically present, but Alzheimer’s rendered her unable to recognize the freshman telecommunication major’s face. “I just remember every time I would go to visit her, she wouldn’t know who I was,” he said. “She would call me mean names and stuff, because she thought I was there to hurt her.”
After Ball State announced one-day weekends to make up snow days, some students took to Twitter and asked, “#isthisajoke?” Makeup classes will fall on two Fridays and two Saturdays, and many students took to Twitter to say they aren’t happy. Ball State announced Wednesday that students will make up the two days missed because of inclement weather on Jan.
Ball State donated almost 20 tons of food last year, but this is considered an insignificant number. Director of Campus Dining Services Jon Lewis said the size of the group of people the university serves allows for more surplus, which can be donated. “We’re going to have a more considerable amount of food because we are the biggest food service in Delaware County,” Lewis said. “A restaurant like McDonald’s is not going to be able to provide like we do.”
Student Government Association voted to approve some of the changes to the elections code addressing issues and concerns from the previous election. Campaign season will last only two weeks this year, versus last year’s three week election season duration. SGA vice president Alyssa France said candidates last year expressed that three weeks was too long.
The search for Ball State’s next president continues as 250-300 potential candidates will receive information about the university and presidency. Baker and Associates, the search firm conducting the search, released the candidate specifications detailing hopes of a visionary candidate with bold dreams for Ball State.
The Student Government Association executive board debuted a new scholarship for summer study abroad to keep in line with its platform points. The $500 scholarship’s application went live last week, said SGA Vice President Alyssa France. France said changing her major sophomore year derailed her desire to study abroad, but she hopes the scholarship will help make the opportunity possible for another Ball State student.
As Ball State senior Harper Creo got ready for a first date with a man she met on the Internet, she went through the typical routine: shave, put on makeup, paint her nails and struggle to decide what to wear. It would be a standard first date; the two would get to know each other and figure out what the other person wants from the relationship. The only difference is that Creo is being paid.
Ball State’s recent rankings for online courses show a disparity between resources and engagement in a classroom and learning on a computer. The U.S. News and World Report ranked the university’s business, education and nursing programs in the top 20 of their respective categories. Ball State was ranked No. 29 for best online bachelor’s program.
Ball State has played host for the last 11 years of a breakfast to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy in Muncie.
A Ball State bus is on fire on the side of Interstate 69 South. The bus is fully on fire, blocking traffic for nearly two miles near the 208-mile marker, north of Indianapolis. Heavy black smoke is rolling east across the highway.
Ball State may be required to compensate for the two days lost to the snowstorm at the start of the semester, administrators said.
The Student Government Association presented changes to the elections code that aim to combat some of the problems that occurred in last year’s election season.
A recent state bill could require state universities to offer free classes for some students in order to improve four-year graduation rates. Under House Bill 1348, Ball State would have to provide students a class without charge when they are unable to register for the class needed to graduate in four years. There are stipulations for the opportunity of a free class, however. The class in question must be offered at the same time as another class required under the degree plan, already full or not offered.
A total of seven students seized the opportunity to offer opinions Wednesday regarding the search for a new university president. The students spoke to the Board of Trustees and school administrators during the one-hour meeting, sharing their opinions as a representation of the student body. Wayne Estopinal, leader of Ball State’s search committee and a board member, said they received good feedback despite the low numbers.
