Category: Events

DeHority Has Talent Debrief: Bringing Death Drops, Pokémon, and Gloria Gaynor Together

9/26/2017

By Cailon Nicoson

This semester’s DeHority Has Talent was an eclectic mix of impromptu stand-up, piano covers of Radiohead, and a death drop. Cailon Nicoson brings you all the highlights below.

Last Friday night was DeHority Complex's annual variety show, "DeHority Has Talent," and if you weren't there, then you definitely missed out.

Not only was this event an opportunity for free food, which every college student is on the search for, but it was also a chance for students living in DeHority to showcase their talents.

The night featured musical talents such as guitar, ukulele and piano playing, as well as singing. There was a very memorable, soulful rendition of “I Will Survive” which everyone was extremely hyped for. Dancing, slam poetry, and even comedy were brought into the acts as well. Throughout the night there was a steady stream of karaoke, which many people joined in jamming along to. Some highlights included the Pokémon theme song and “All Star” by Smash Mouth.

The night was definitely a good way to end a stressful week of classes and allowed everyone involved to appreciate the talents of those around us. Plus, everyone knows that it's really karaoke that makes the world go round after all.

Families Flock to the Backyard Bash

9/16/2017

By Noah Patterson

This weekend marks Ball State's 2017 Family Weekend, which means the Honors House's annual Backyard Bash is back again. If you missed the festivities, don't worry: News & Notes has got you covered.

Awards and accolades given to graduating seniors at Honors College Senior Recognition Ceremony

5/4/2017

By Kayla D'Alessandro

In the Student Center Ballroom, on April 26, 2017, the second ever Honors College Student Recognition Ceremony took place. The night began at 6 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge, where students to be recognized and their guests socialized for an hour until 7 p.m., when the ceremony began. I spoke with Katherine Emberton, a graduating English education major before people started to take their seats. Emberton and her guest were happy that the ceremony gives recognition to all of the hard work the seniors have done through their undergraduate career. When asked what her stand-out experience at the Honors College was, she told me the colloquium on Planet of the Apes, taught by Jason Powell, was her favorite. The ceremony honored students receiving special awards the following awards:

Provost Prize for Outstanding Senior
Joe and Carol Trimmer Awards for Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis or Project
Academic Honors in Writing
C. Warren Vander Hill Award
Medallion Honors
Peer Mentors
International Scholarships

After these accolades were handed out, red and white rope cords were presented to every Honors College senior graduating in May, December, and June. All-in-all, it was a night for guests to see what their loved ones have achieved over the past four years.

Marching Was an Honor

2/3/2017

By Mary Cox

Editor's Note: News & Notes and the Honors College do not necessarily share the views of the interviewees of this article.

For these three students Honors means getting involved in the political process.

In the first week of President Trump’s new administration, demonstrations and dissenters have been at the top of the headlines. Whether fans or foes of our nation’s new leadership, thousands across the country, and even more worldwide, have begun to mobilize. Perhaps the most notable was the global rally the day following Trump’s inauguration - The Women’s March on Washington held Saturday, Jan 21. From 30 people in Stanley, Id. (half the town’s population) to around half a million in Washington D.C., Sister Marches in over 600 U.S. cities saw an estimated attendance of 4.2 million people. This in addition to 300,000 people internationally.* At least three of those people were Ball State Honors students.

Roommates Madeleine Robling and Margo Morton, both Honors College sophomores, were presented with tickets to the march in the capital through a friend’s mother and both eagerly jumped at the opportunity to attend.

“I felt really comfortable attending after I found out the official platform. They made a point to make sure the official platform of the event was more intersectional and covered things like police brutality and criminal justice reform and different issues you might not instinctively put as a women’s issue,” Robling said.

After a ten hour car ride the pair were excited to find themselves surrounded by an electric camaraderie and enthusiastic crowd. The prospect of sharing such an amazing experience was moving for the two young women.

“Even before we got to the main part of the march, we were surrounded by people who were attending, and it was cool to see everyone so excited about it,” Morton said. “I think it was a really cool experience to be there with two of my best friends. It made me feel good to know that these important people in my life are also passionate about the things I feel strongly about.”

Anna McAtee, another Honors college sophomore, also made the journey to Washington, D.C. She recalls being packed in the D.C. Metro station with hundreds of women, men, and children, many of whom she made quick friends with, chanting and singing together as one of the highlights of the day.

“I wanted to make a voice for myself. Usually, I am very passive-aggressive and do not voice my opinion. The Women’s March on D.C. was a perfect way for me to have a positive voice in this country,” McAtee said on why she decided to attend. Like Morton and Robling, she described the crowd as electric, positive, and upbeat, once again emphasizing the magic of seeing so many people from so many different backgrounds coming together for a common cause.

“I’ve never been around so much positive energy in my life. It was one big party of love.” McAtee said.

The march started with a large cast of speakers: Congresswomen, celebrities, and movement leaders - such as the mothers of the Black Lives Matter movement. For Robling the most powerful was Kamala Harris, a senator from California. Senator Harris, who is the second black women and first ever Indian American to be elected to the United States senate, spoke on the diversity of issues that affect women. She discussed the fact that everything from education reform to the economy are women’s issues.

“It’s not just reproductive justice, it goes so much beyond that,” Robling said .

However, after nearly four hours of speakers, all three women noted that there was a tangible sense of restlessness throughout the crowd. Some ansty demonstrators in the area around Robling and Morton even began chanting “Let’s march now!” during a few of the less mainstream presenters, a disappointing moment that Robling described as callous and insensitive.

“We were listening to speeches for hours on end and where we were standing, there wasn't even a speaker, so we could barely hear,” Morton said. “I understood why people were annoyed, but they started to ignore the people talking — and those people were spreading really important messages, and I thought that was what we were all there to support.”

The march also received public backlash and negative coverage from some media outlets. Some of the criticisms cited, which came from Republicans and Democrats alike, included a singularity of issues with the right to choose being the sole focus, a lack of inclusivity—especially towards trans-women and the non-able bodied—and that the protestors were simply ‘whining’ about the results of the election. While Robling concedes that the crowd was predominantly white and there was a lot of work to be done to make the march more inclusive of other identities, she said that to boil it down to just pro-abortion and anti-Trump does the march and the momentum it created a huge disservice.

Morton emphasized again the plurality of women’s issues and the importance of leveraging her privilege as white women, saying, “Even if someone feels that they face no issues of inequality here in America, they are just one person — and there are people in this country and all over the world who are facing problems we can barely imagine. When I was at that march, I was doing it for a lot of people, across a lot of social groups.”

Robling agreed, saying, “Even though we might all be going through a slightly different form of oppression because of the new administration, we’re all there together to make sure no one was left behind.”

McAtee stressed that this wasn’t a negative or hateful march, but rather a moment of unity and solidarity.

“This was a peaceful march to show that women and men of all races still have a voice in this country,” McAtee said. “It was women and men coming together to say, ‘We are here. We welcome anyone. We care for anyone. You are not alone.’”

Overall, all three women had an amazing experience and plan to attend more marches in the future. They all also plan to remain involved locally through various forms of activism, such as calling their congressional representatives and attending local town hall events. For example, Morton is hoping to keep up with the Women’s March “10 actions for the first 100 days” campaign**, and Robling hopes to leverage her position as president of Ball State Democrats to organize students and educate others on how to continue being involved in the political process.

“It’s important to understand that a march shouldn’t be your end goal,” Robling said. “I think part of the reason that the Democratic party has been struggling in years past is because a lot of people think that marches and protests and petitions are an end goal rather than a tools for organization.”

Morton, Robling, and McAtee all encourage others to attend a march in the future if it’s something they’ve been considering. Morton’s advice would be to bring a friend, wear comfortable shoes, and do research to make sure the march and its organizers align with your goals. Robling suggests getting involved with a political organization on campus*** so that you don’t have to do it all yourself; a group will keep you informed, help you become involved, and keep you accountable she says. Getting involved on campus is also a great way to make a difference right here in Muncie if you want to help up but can’t make it to a march. McAtee says that there are multiple opportunities to connect to the community through Ball State Voluntary Services. This is how the momentum of positive change these women brought home from the march will last through the next four years.

* Crowd size statistics from Vox. Follow the hyper-link above for a more in-depth analysis.
** For more information about the march, including the mission statement and the “10 actions/100 days” plan visit the website here: https://www.womensmarch.com/
*** Some political organizations on campus include Ball State Democrats, Ball State GOP, The Liberty Coalition, and The Progressive Student Alliance.

From Unseen to Unified

2/2/2017

By Mary Cox

Dr. John Emert, Acting Dean of the Honors College, introduced the college’s brand new monthly lecture series as an opportunity to bring together students, faculty, and the larger community. The format of the series champions the Honors philosophy of raising and celebrating voices across academic disciplines and from various backgrounds and life stages. This description, perhaps, enhanced the poignancy of the short story about isolation and disjointment shared by the series’ inaugural speaker.

Beth Dalton, a professor for both the English Department and Honors College, presented an excerpt from a piece titled “Invisible Woman” from her short story collection Women Walking Alone. The collection is one of two, along with a novel, that Dalton completed as part of her Master’s of Fine Arts residency program for creative writing at Spalding University in Louisville, KY.

“Invisible Woman” tells the tale of a woman who has just turned 50 struggling to feel as though she belongs, or is even seen, at a business conference. As she goes through her day, Clara, the main character, has an elevator door closed in her faced, a tray of breakfast food dumped on her, and is snubbed by one of the speakers she attempts to introduce herself to. All are experiences that Dalton pulled from her real life, albeit, she admits, slightly embellished.

“[A colleague] once said the me that once you reach a certain age, if you’re a woman, you disappear. I’ve found that to be very true,” Dalton said.

Beyond Clara’s unfortunate encounters, though, it seemed to be the countless people who looked past her instead of at her that ultimately broke her. It was certainly the aspect of Clara’s story that struck a chord with me. While not everyone knows the invisibility of age, I think everyone can relate to feeling alone in a crowded a room (especially those of us who had an angsty punk rock stage in the eighth grade).

Personally, as someone who has consistently struggled with my weight since 6-years-old, I can definitively say that there is a stark difference between being looked at and being noticed. To combat never being the thinnest person in a room, I always forced myself to be the smartest or the funniest or have the cutest shoes. But when people know you as “the funny girl,” that’s usually all they know about you. The part of me I forced them to notice to distract from the parts I didn’t want them to notice was all they cared to learn about. Maybe I am funny and smart, and maybe I am overweight, but good or bad none of those things are all that I am. Similarly, Clara could be the oldest person in the room, she could be the best at her craft, she could dress in bright colors and, sure, that could get her noticed, but none of those aspects of Clara are Clara - no one noticed her.

That is, in part, why Dalton’s lecture was so compelling. A room full of people all came to listen to a woman who had previously felt invisible. To really, truly, fully learn about her journey. They came to notice.

Editor's’ note: next month’s lecture will be about a project exploring the history of the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Honors House, presented by Dr. Bruce Geelhoed.

REVIEW: Puck and Co. Perform in Pruis

10/19/2016

By Noah Patterson

Last night the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company performed their annual Ball State show in Pruis Hall.

Shakespeare always seems to have a certain appeal to Honors and English students. Last night, in the auditorium of Pruis Hall, there was no exception to that rule. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, an ensemble troupe that performs various Shakespeare plays, among other classics, came to Ball State University to put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an event sponsored by the Honors College, the College of Science and Humanities, the College of Fine Arts, and finally, the English Department.

The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is famous at Ball State for their small casts and minimal set designs: in fact, there were only six performers for a play that consists of eighteen characters, and, instead of a set, several freestanding red curtains served as the backdrop, draped in a sign stating Athens or covered in foliage based on the setting of the scene. And though their troupe be little, the performances are fierce.

Each actor, in order to compensate for the gap in performers to number of characters, took on multiple roles. This was nothing short of remarkable to watch. As each actor seamlessly blended from persona to persona, never mixing up their lines and enduring quick-changes onstage, it was hard to pick a standout performance. In fact, the chemistry this ensemble shares elevates each actor to the same high level of regard.

When analyzing a performance of Shakespeare, it is difficult to critique the plot - instead of attempting to discuss the positive and negative aspects of an iconic and beloved play, it is more productive to investigate what the performers do with the plot to make it unique or relevant to their audience. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company did not disappoint in their rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Practically the only aspect of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that remained true to traditional performances was the dialogue, which was also updated time-to-time with modern references. Most of these opportunities were left for the character of Puck, the notorious fairy whose penchant for mischief and comedy seems particularly well-suited to this experimentation.

Another experiment primarily reserved for Puck and the fairies in this presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the incorporation of music, song, and dance. While many of the music cues illuminated what was going on in the play effectively (such as the fairies controlling the characters with their magic) and the dances were well choreographed, the songs seemed out of place at times. Although Shakespeare is easy to experiment with musically due to its rhythmic prose, the hip-hop inspired renditions of spells and magic felt clunky and at times cliche, an obvious reference to the Hamilton-craze. I typically would not fault a play for Hamilton influences, but these portions of the play were the least impressive for me personally.

Even though the songs did tend to fall flat, the technical aspects did not. Watching the play, it quickly became apparent that the actors were not only performing, but working as their own crew. This rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is typically a part of Cincinnati’s Shakespeare in the Park series, meaning it is performed outdoors, in natural light, just like it would have been in Shakespeare’s day. Therefore, the actors do not have a crew to operate the lights, change the set, or initiate music cues. One actor, at all times, is behind the curtain, ensuring that nothing misses its mark.

The actors truly shined during the drama between Hermia, Demetrius, Lysander, and poor, misguided Helena. Again, the chemistry these actors have with each other is palpable. Their comfort onstage, interpretation of the lines, dedication to their “fight” scenes, and personal gesticulations while delivering their lines heighten the performances and make them a joy to watch. Particularly amazing was watching Aiden Sim’s sweethearted Hermia become enraged at Lysander’s sudden love for Helena - her anger, body language, and movement onstage are beautifully juxtaposed, making her betrayal, confusion, and outrage seem particularly jarring and effective.

The costuming, minimalistic in design, but very effective, was most prominently displayed in the simple but comical donkey mask for Nick Bottom. Accompanied by a hearty “hee-haw!,” Nick’s character became the perfect ass for Titania’s love. The costumes also became a crucial identifier for each character. While the actors only had mere seconds to change onstage, each costume was still distinct and complex enough to allow the audience to differentiate Lysander from Francis Flute.

Overall, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was as compelling to watch as it was fun. They were not afraid to take risks, and while some of them did not pay off as well as others, they were appreciated nonetheless. Having seen Midsummer performed at Shakespeare’s Globe in London just this last summer, I can confidently say that the high expectations set by that performance were met last night in Pruis. The remarkable differences between each performance kept the material fresh, enjoyable, and exciting, and sitting in a comfortable chair in Pruis instead of standing as a Groundling after a day of exploring London may have helped too.

4.5 Willy Shakes out of 5

Editor’s Note: Pictures of the performance were omitted to respect the actors onstage during the show.

Cast:
Kyle Brumley - Demetrius, Nick Bottom
Brandon Joseph Burton - Oberon, Theseus, Snug
William Cary Davenport - Puck, Egeus
Vanessa Sawson - Titania, Helena, Hippolyta, Tom Snout
Aiden Sims - Hermia, Peter Quince, Robin Starvelling, Fairy
Crystian Wiltshire - Lysander, Francis Flute, Fairy

Characters Omitted:
Philostrate, Additional fairies

Backyard Bash!

9/22/2016

Photos by Alex Bravard
Story by Afrah Ali

On Saturday, September 17, Honors students and their families were welcomed to a Backyard Bash from 1 PM to 2 PM as a Family Weekend event hosted by the Student Honors Council.

The family of freshman Maya Reynon, a mathematics education major, enjoyed the clear Honors House backyard with her father, and sisters ages five, eight and eleven. Reynon said she has been enjoying her Honors College experience, especially in the smaller, more personal classrooms. Her sisters were especially excited to utilize the open Recreation Center for endless rock climbing.

Freshman Jill Gralak, a public relations major, agreed saying the Honors Living Learning community within DeHority is an extremely tight-knit community compared to other freshman dorms.

The Gralaks toured the Bell Tower, an annual event only offered family weekend, earlier that morning. It was the family’s first time visiting the Honors House after orientation. Mr. Gralak was delighted to chat and eat cookies at the beloved white house again.

Kicking off a New Year: the Quick Pics

8/19/2016

The annual Honors Freshman Convocation and picnic were held yesterday in Sursa Hall and the Park Multipurpose Room (MPR) , respectively. As in years past, the convocation included a variety of speakers including current and former Honors students; Dr. Barb Stedman, director of national and international scholarships; and Dr. Emert, acting dean of the Honors College.

Fear of inclement weather drove the picnic, traditionally held in the backyard of the Honors House, indoors to the Park MPR. The picnic gave the freshmen opportunity to eat and compete as Student Honors Council sent them on a scavenger hunt around campus after the food was finished with a promise of a prize for the winning team.

Check out some of News & Notes' pictures from the events below!

Graduating seniors honored at the first ever Honors College Senior Recognition Ceremony

4/28/2016

On April 26, the Honors College hosted its first-ever Honors College Senior Recognition Ceremony. The event was created to replace the former all-campus senior recognition ceremony, which was discontinued this year.

By Olivia Power

Student Honors Council officers greeted graduating seniors, their families, professors, mentors, and thesis advisors alike at the doors of the Student Center Ballroom at the first ever Honors College Senior Recognition Ceremony on April 26.

The ceremony honored the 150 graduating seniors, provided them with their red and white Honors College cords worn at commencement, and recognized various scholarship award-winners and academic honorees.

Secretary to the Dean Coralee Young said that she planned the event in response to the university discontinuing the campus-wide senior recognition ceremony.

“They always had a big event in Worthen for all the graduates, and they outgrew the space. So then it would have been a matter of the students coming to pick up their cords and awards on their own, and Dr. Reubel wasn’t going to have that,” Young said. “We just wanted it to be very special for [the seniors].”

The event began with a dessert bar and mingling. The relaxed atmosphere, complete with live piano music, lasted for an hour before the ceremony itself began at 7:30. The ceremony opened with Associate Dean of the Honors College John Emert delivering a note from Dean James Ruebel, who was unable to attend the event. Ball State’s acting President Terry King then delivered welcoming remarks.

Then, the awards and honors began. The first awards presented were the Joe and Carroll Trimmer Awards for Outstanding Senior Projects. There are two winners annually of this award: one winner for research and one for a creative project. The two respective winners, senior Ally Garrett and senior Gabbi Boyd, were recognized and given the opportunity to inform the audience about their senior honors theses.

Dr. Emert and Student Honors Council President Valerie Weingart then presented all of the graduates with their red and white cords. Every student’s name was read, and those who were present walked across the stage in a fashion reminiscent of a graduation or commencement ceremony.

Next, the 2016 Provost’s Prize was presented to Honors senior Shay Stewart. The Provost’s Prize goes to one student, not necessarily from the Honors College, every year, and requires a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, a resume, 2 letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

Director of National and International Scholarships Barb Stedman recognized the recipients of national and international scholarships, of which there were 7. Professor Laurie Lindberg recognized the three integrated studies majors who worked with the Honors College to create their own distinctive area of study, which must be a combination of at least two departments or disciplines.

Finally, academic honors were presented. Students receiving cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude were asked to stand, and Lindberg and Professor Berg recognized the students with departmental honors and academic honors in writing.
Graduating senior Jessica Benz, a human resources management major, said that she enjoyed the ceremony, but didn’t know it was its first year.

Another appreciative graduating senior, psychology major Megan Schott, had some ideas for ways to tweak the ceremony in the future.

“I don’t know if I would have everyone walk across the stage to get their cords, because that took a while,” Schott said. “I liked the scholarship winners and academic honor[ees] more, because you got to hear more about people, and not just their names.”

Commencement this year will take place on May 7, where the 150 Honors College graduates will proudly walk across the steps at the David Owsley art museum, adorned with their white and red cords symbolizing their four years of hard work, critical thinking, completion of a senior thesis, and many memories along the way.

SHC host event for seniors to showcase thesis work

4/21/2016

It's like a mini-academic conference, but with brunch.

by Victoria Ison

Joanna Ziarko

At least six Honors College seniors will present oral and/or visual reports on their thesis projects this Sunday at an event hosted by the Student Honors Council. The Honors Thesis Expo will begin at 1 p.m. in the Honors House.

"There are a lot of really great theses that get done, but we never get to hear about them," said sophomore Maren Orchard, director of online promotions for SHC. "We want this to be a chance for seniors to show off their hard work. We also hope it will give underclassmen an idea about what they'll eventually be expected to do."

To encourage attendance, Orchard said SHC will serve brunch before and during the presentations. Orchard said afternoon start time was established to respect weekend worship and sleeping schedules.

Elementary education major Joanna Ziarko will read excerpts from her thesis project during her presentation. Ziarko, a senior graduating in May, created a children's book about a Polish holiday.

"There are no children’s books in existence about Paczki Day," Ziarko said in an email. "I’m honestly so proud of my thesis."

Stephen Weigel

Music media production major Stephen Weigel will share audio clips and PowerPoint slides in his presentation at the expo. Weigel, a senior graduating in May, studied musical scales.

"[My thesis] is a groundbreaking new application for permutations in music theory.," Weigel said in an email. "This the only number-based music theory I know of that panders to today's set theorists and microtonalists at the same time."

The Honors Thesis Expo is expected to last until 3 p.m. Orchard said the atmosphere of the event should be "chill."