ball bearings | volume 5 issue 3
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BALL BEARINGSvolume 5 // issue 3 // SUMMER 2014
page 32
A COMMUNITY togetherpage 35
love knows noborders
destruction brings
page 39
families extend beyond their dna
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BALL BEARINGS // SUMMER 2014 ISSUE
president goraxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
FEATURES
32 the language of loveTwo international students who found love after coming to America try to find a way to express it in their own words.
24 TAKEN BY CHOICEA mother›s 20-month-long fight to get her son back home
28
THE GUIDE
11 2014 chevy sparkput a little spark in your college life
FOOD
8 EASTER EGG XXXXXXX.
sports
5 just when it felt like homeMAIMEE MORRIS, THE FIRST-EVER ENGLISH ATHLETE TO PLAY FOR BALL STATE, FEELS UNSETTLED AT HOME SINCE HER GRADUATION
22 Home team advantageDespite not being able to travel to Russia, I found a way to cover Olympics
INSIGHTS
14 happy friday guyxxxxxxxx
entertainment
TECHNOLOGY
IN EVERY ISSUE
4 1221
1846
describe your style
editor’s note
Q&A: Graham watson
columns: JOe and miriah
in focus
ENRICH
39 extend beyond our own borderXXXXXX
44 a dream that you wish will come trueball state women bring royal presence to young admirers
35 rising from the ashesAfter flames destroy their home, it takes a community to help a family back on their feet
read. eat. drink. listenstay in the know.16
MIRANDA CARNEYMiranda Carney is a sophomore studying news journalism.
She has worked as an online reporter for two semesters. Cur-
rently, Miranda is training for her third half-marathon.
NEIL HAUSEYNeil Hausey is a senior telecommunications major. He heads
the video team for iPad and online. He is a first generation
American on his mother’s side and was born in Louisiana.
MAGGIE KENWORTHYMaggie Kenworthy is a sophomore double majoring in news
and photojournalism. She works as a photographer for print
and online, and even finds time to report. She is an active
participant in an inter-generational book club with members
ranging from their teens to their 70s.
JOE GROVEMeet Joe Grove: a junior magazine journalism major. Check
out Joe’s debut story, Chevy Spark. He originally attended the
College for Creative Studies in Detroit to design cars and is a
relative of the Wright Brothers.
2 // BALL BEARINGS
contributors // Highlighting a few of our staff
ContributorsErika EspinozaBrooklyn SchumacherNicholas EwingJoe GroveVictoria FairfieldKaty JamisonBrittany OverstreetMiriah BowenCharles WatsonJoseph KnoopRachel BrammerKatie MillerMegan HilaireRick PurthaKaytee LorentzenBrittany WatsonStephanie ReddingMaryBeth SargentEmma RogersKatie LyonHannah DominakMaggie KenworthyRicardo LopezEmily SobeckiDaniel BrountMax Catterson
editor-in-chiefhayli goode
managing editorleeann wood
assistant editor
dominique stewart
assistant editorvictoria davis
assistant editorlauren hughes
photo editorlauren dahlhauser
design editorjennifer prandato
assistant design editorbriee eikenberry
pr directorCrystal allen
advisordavid sumner
managing editor aubrey smith
producerholly demaree
producermallory jordan
copy editorjason conerly
web editorsavannah smith
web editorricardo lopez
photo editorgina portolese
design editoraubrey smith
assistant design editorchris talley
video editorneil hausey
advisormary spillman
BALL BEARINGSvolume 5 // issue 3 // SUMMER 2014
print staff //
online staff //
ball state university // muncie, inD. 47306 printed by // ball state university printing services
3
managing editor joe ruley
photo editorlauren dahlhauser
design editorsarah ellis
ipad staff //
Ican remember my first tour of Ball State University. I was a
high school senior, stressed about the giant decision quickly
approaching and overwhelmed from how large the school was
compared to my 59-student graduating class.
The chairman of the magazine department was giving me a
tour of the Art and Journalism Building. I told him I was inter-
ested in magazine writing, so he took me to the Ball Bearings
office. There, I met the editor-in-chief of the magazine and the
online managing editor. I left with a couple of publications in
my hand and watched them return to their layout.
On the ride home, I remember telling my parents I wanted to
be in that room. I wanted to do what they do – to find stories
and tell them through a publication that impacts the entire
campus and beyond. To lead a staff along stories and challenge
others to challenge themselves. To be a problem solver.
Three years later, I find myself editor-in-chief of that very
same magazine. It’s almost weird for me to write this because I
never thought I would make it here. Not yet at least.
I also never thought I would find myself in a factual problem
with a story. I heard about libelous and slanderous remarks that
made the news, but I thought I was far too paranoid and intelli-
gent to run into the problem. Until I did.
Last issue, I wrote, “Review is in Session.” It was meant to be a
media round-up of the honors college being put under review. Un-
fortunately, in the process of writing the article, I defamed professors.
To those professors, I offer you my sincerest apologies. I never
meant to report incorrect information about the classes you
taught. And I can assure you, although I checked all of my
sources and printed the information that was presented to me,
it is my hope that my first (and hopefully only) journalistic slip
will not affect you or your future endeavors.
But that is what college is about, right? It’s the time we
students can actually see ourselves grow into a person we may
want to be for the rest of our lives. It’s about being confronted
with giant life decisions, and giant life mistakes, and learning
how to make lemonade out of situations. It’s a time to mature.
And that is what this issue is about. From surviving a giant fall
(pg 26), to bringing a new culture to Ball State (pg 16), or study-
ing how to talk to the ladies (pg 20), it’s obvious students at Ball
State are learning from the experiences life hands them. The
students featured in these stories didn’t cave under the stress of
life, but instead used it as a life-altering story. We all have one.
What’s yours?
editor’s note //
hayli goodeEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
advertise with usfor more information, contact us at [email protected].
contact uscomments can be directed to [email protected].
4 // BALL BEARINGS
WHAT’S ONLINEXXXX XXXXX XXXXExplore a day in the lifeof an Army ROTC soldier on Ball State’s campus.
More exciting than your physics class: Learn the angles of a perfect Wallyball spike.
Try these new appetizer and dessert recipes for your next get-together.
The sun beat down on a crowded beach in Nuweiba,
Egypt. Maimee Morris was on vacation with her family
from Worcestershire, England. Her phone buzzed with a
text from her coach, Stuart Wilson.
“What are your grades? Do you want a scholarship to
play in America?”
It was then that Morris’ life changed - a dream she had
nursed from the age of 5 was coming true. She was going
to play soccer in the United States.
She first envisioned this dream when she watched
Michael Owen play on T.V. But in England, soccer is a
male-dominated sport. This made Morris’ dream a diffi-
cult one to achieve.
With no girl’s soccer clubs available, her father, Michal
Morris, introduced her to a boy’s team called Church Hill
Boys FC. But she was turned away on the spot by the
coaches who said only boys could play.
“It was confusing at that age to be told no and my gender
be the reason. It didn’t make sense. All I wanted to do was
play soccer,” Morris says.
That night, Morris remembers sitting in the bathtub,
“completely gutted” by the coaches who turned her away.
She listened to her father on the phone arguing with the
manager of the team. It was the first time she remembers
hearing her father stick up for her.
Desperate to play, she cut her own hair and adopted the
name Owen in honor of her favorite player. She would do
whatever it took to play, even if it meant being a boy.
When they returned to ask again, the coaches let her
join on one condition: to remain her true sex a secret. She
was fully accepted by the coaches after her first game,
where she scored three goals.
“I was literally one of the boys, I didn’t ever feel alienat-
ed. If I needed to be a boy, I would be a boy, people would
call me Owen, and that suited me,” says Morris.
At that same age, Morris told her mother, Honor Keat-
ley, that she would play soccer in America one day. This
was her dream because women’s soccer was not nearly as
popular in England as it was in the United States. But as
she grew up, that started to change.
After three years of playing for Church Hill Boys FC,
more teams for girls started to form. She first joined
Redditch United, then moved to Kidderminster Harries.
At age 13, Morris joined Birmingham City Ladies, a top
women’s team in England, where she stayed until she was
recruited by Ball State.
story // Brooklyn SchumacherPHOTOS // mAGGIE kENWORTHY, Emily Hollingsworth design // charles watson
Just When it Felt Like
Maimee Morris, the first-ever English athlete to play for Ball State, feels unsettled at home since her graduation in December.
Home
5
morris embraces her mother and brother after an away game. Morris’ family came from London to watch one of her games.
After the game-winning goal was scored in the last two minutes of the quarter-final game for the cardinals against, Morris said she felt “utter relief and pride.” photo by emily hollingsworth
6 // BALL BEARINGS
THE GUIDE // SPORTS
In the six years she spent there, her team claimed England’s
championship for the 2009-10 season. She was also selected
as MVP for three consecutive seasons. These stats drew Craig
Roberts, Ball State’s head women’s soccer coach, to Morris.
She’s not the only international student Roberts has re-
cruited. Since 2011, there have been players from Jamaica,
Finland, Czech Republic, England, Canada, and Germany.
Next year players will be welcomed from Paraguay and
Austria. Ariane Struckmeier is from Pattensen, Germany, and
was brought to Ball State in 2012.
Struckmeier says the transition was difficult for the first few
weeks because of the heat and fierce training schedule. Being
European gives she and Morris a different perspective on the
game.
“We both come from countries where soccer is an old part of
our culture,” says Struckmeier.
Joining the Cardinals was also a difficult transition for Mor-
ris. In England, she trained only four hours a week, in addi-
tion to a Sunday game. In America, she had to train 20 hours
every week on top of nearly 30 games in the fall and spring.
“It was massively intense,” Morris says. “They require more
of you in terms of fitness, strength and conditioning.”
At the time, high-level female soccer players didn’t train
more than a few hours a week because there was no way to
generate income from it in Europe. They still had jobs on top
of their soccer career. Morris says this is changing, though, be-
cause women’s soccer is becoming more prevalent in Europe.
Overseas, athletics at the collegiate level are still purely
social.
“You play to meet people, have a game, then go get absolute-
ly hammered afterward. That’s what its all about, culture. No
money, that’s all put into club sports,” Morris says.
This is a difference Struckmeier agrees with. She says that
club sports in Europe are not related to high schools or univer-
sities. Staying with one league for a long period of time is not
unusual.
One thing that made their transitions easier was the way colle-
giate athletes are taken care of in the United States.
“The facilities, the way we’re looked after, it’s incredible,” Mor-
ris says. “We can go see a trainer whenever we want, and they’ll
fix us. We get nutrition plans, gear, a new field, a new locker
room…we had absolutely everything you could dream of.”
Morris’ appreciation of the perks associated with Division 1
athletics is something her head coach admired most about her.
“I think a lot of the players are so used to receiving sweats
and shoes and going on the journeys that we go on and kind of
take it for granted. But with Maimee, she was never exposed
to that and she really appreciated the fact that she was given
anything,” Roberts says. “She always showed complete appre-
ciation and enjoyed the opportunities she was given. I think
that kind of attitude spread through the team very quickly of
people recognizing what the appropriate conduct is.”
Morris and Roberts had a special bond because they are both
from the same area in England. Roberts says they understood
each other well, and “she was good at being the liaison be-
tween player and coach.”
The height of Morris’ career as a Cardinal was in the spring
of 2013 when she scored the game-winning goal against Hai-
7
Midfielder maimee Morris fights a Toledo defender to take the ball during their fall game.
ti’s national team. This was one of Roberts’
favorite memories of Morris.
“Usually, I’ll put the ball down, look up at
the goal and see myself in my head going
through the play and scoring. Putting the ball
exactly where I want it, in the back of the net,”
Morris says. “It happened exactly as I played it
out in my head. That was the best feeling.”
Lindsay Kempf, junior on the soccer team and good friend of Morris,
remembers the game as one of the most difficult they had played all season.
“Late in the second half, Maimee got a free kick from like 30 yards out
and put it in. She just stopped and looked up, and we all just ran to her and
tackled her on the ground,” says Kempf. “We were acting like we won the
MAC championship.”
In December 2013, Morris completed her classes at Ball State and returned
to England. She is currently working for a company who provides learning
development for businesses as her internship, and will formally graduate this
May. She helps with workshops that give businesses “techniques to shift their
behavior by changing their thoughts and feelings.”
She hopes to return to the states next year to work as a sports psychologist.
Her dream is to become a psychologist for the Paralympics.
Struckmeier was on the team from 2012-13, and says her experience has
been amazing. She quit soccer this spring, but is still happy to be at Ball State.
Morris has started playing again for the first time since her last game at Ball
State. She has rejoined the Birmingham City Ladies.
Despite being back in England with her family, Morris says she feels unset-
tled. She feels as though she cannot win, because when she was in America,
she missed her friends and family in England. But now she misses her Ball
State family.
“I feel like my family is still there because it was only me that changed,” says
Morris. “Half of me is still there, so I can’t give what I want to give to a new
team.”
In coach Roberts’ opinion, Ball State women’s soccer team has also been left
with a void since Morris left.
“They had a role model whose shoes haven’t been entirely filled, because
Maimee is Maimee,” Roberts says. “She was so committed to being a positive
influence on the team. She brought players together.”
Kempf says that Morris left the team with high standards to follow, but it’s
time for the team to step up and take her place.
Morris reflects on her time at Ball State as the best years of her life. Her
favorite memories were from their trips as a team.
“You look back, and sometimes you hated the bus ride, or you didn’t want
to be with that roommate, but in hindsight, that was the best time to stay in a
hotel with your absolute best friends and play the sport that you have loved
your entire life,” she says.
Morris wakes up every morning and sees a wall of photos from her time in
America, and says it’s like a dream to have been blessed to have the opportu-
nities and the people she did.
The most important lesson she learned from this journey is to always
be true to who you are.
“No matter where in the world you go or what you experience, there
will always be something drawing you back home,” she says.
10 // BALL BEARINGS
THE GUIDE // FOOD
story // LeeAnn Wood PHOTOS // rachel brammer, lauren Dahlhauser
design // erika espinoza
easter How to hard-boil an egg:
Step 1. Fill a saucepan with water.
Step 2.Add eggs.
Step 3. Turn heat on high and bring water to a boil.
Step 4.Once boiling, time for 5-7 minutes.
Step 5. Remove the eggs from the water.
Step 6. Dry off and let cool.
Easter is approaching fast. The holiday, which falls on Sunday, April 20, brings happy thoughts of spring, children anticipating the arrival of the Easter bunny with some of their favorite
goodies and, possibly the most fun part, decorating Easter eggs. With the invention of Pinterest and various crafting blogs, we now have the capacity and technology to upgrade our measly dye-dipped eggs. Use these tips and
tricks to spruce up this beloved tradition.
Make sure to watch for cracking! Take them out of the
water if they begin to
do so.
eggs
9
Painting can give an egg the look of being dyed, if you paint it one color, or can
be an innovative piece of art your
friends will admire.
Glow-in-the-dark paint. Either paint the whole egg or hide
the eggs and turn off the lights for a glowing Easter egg hunt.
Chalk paint. Spray paint speeds up the process, allows you to paint
more evenly and requires less skill than trying to hold the egg and paint at
the same time. Write a secret message to your family for fun.
painting
Dyeing and painting can sometimes be
messy. Another option is to draw on your design.
Sharpies. They come
in an endless array of colors. Write a message for a friend to give as a
present. Or, write your favorite quote or song lyrics and use it to decorate
your room (until it goes bad, of course).
Metallic paint pens. These work just like Sharpies but give
it the look of being painted. Use stencils or freehand to create all your
favorite designs.
drawing on easter eggs
So you still want to dye your Easter egg. Cool. Old-Fashioned. We’re not judging.
MArvel. For this look, pick out two colors that complement one
another. Dip your egg in the first dye color. The longer you leave it in,
the darker the color will appear. Let dry. This next part is a little tricky.
Pour one tablespoon of vegetable oil into the second dye color. With a
fork, stir the contents (oil will float on top) while dipping your egg into the
dye. The fork creates the swirl effect. Dip the egg multiple times until the
color is the shade you desire. Keep stirring the entire time.
stripes. For a whimsical striped look, pick out two complementary
colors of dye. Drizzle rubber cement glue in straight lines or a wavy
pattern over the egg. Let the glue dry completely, and then roll it over
to do the other side. Once both sides are dry, dye the egg with your first
color. Let dry. Rub off the glue. At this point you can either enjoy your
design or dip it into the second color.
You can decorate your egg with just about anything you can find in the craft aisle,
including mustache stickers. You just need to use a bit of imagination…and some glue.
Glitter. Warning: Wear rubber gloves. This can get messy. Dump
glitter onto a paper plate. Using glue that dries clear, lather the egg with
the glue making sure to cover all areas. Roll the egg around the glitter,
again making sure to cover all areas of the egg. If you missed a spot, paint
on extra glue where needed and roll around again.
Jewels. Bedazzle your entire egg or use just a few to make a fun
design. They come in different shapes and sizes so there are plenty of
options. Glue a couple of jewels at a time, giving them time to dry before
adding more. This keeps them from moving if you bump them while
applying more.
Lace. You can find strips of lace in the sewing aisle at any craft store.
They come in a variety of colors and patterns. Wrap a piece around the
egg and glue the ends down. You can add a flower or another accessory to
cover up where the two ends meet.
accessorizing
dyeing
11
IIf you’re like most college students,
your current car is the first car you’ve
owned. Maybe it’s been an old friend
that has gotten you from point A to
point B for the past few years.
However, those old friends start to
become new enemies and drain you of
whatever money you have left. If this
is you, it’s time to upgrade to a new
car. The Spark fits the bill. At $12,995
the Spark LS is easy to manage with a
college student budget.
The bright colors available for the
exterior help the tiny car stand out on
the road. It’s offered in colors such as
Grape Ice, Salsa Red, Denim, Jalapeño,
Lemonade, and Lime with matching
interior colors. Colored plastic trays and
inserts allow for some customization,
but the amount of hard plastic in the
car can be overwhelming, even for a car
this cheap.
The Spark comes standard with power
windows and locks, 15-inch-alloy wheels,
as well as 10 airbags. Upgrading to the
LT package gains Chevy MyLink in-car
connectivity system, cruise control,
USB ports, and a theft alarm. Chevy’s
MyLink allows you to pair a phone to the
car through Bluetooth and use Pandora,
Sticher, and BringGo Navigation App.
Being able to seat four people in a car
slightly longer than 12 feet gives plenty of
room to comfortably drive around town
with friends. There is also room in the
trunk for some of their gear. If more cargo
space is desired, the second row flips
and folds to a nearly flat load floor which
can hold 31-cubic-feet of cargo. Two
mini-fridges should be able to ride along
comfortably.
The Spark handles well through city
streets and it can maneuver through traf-
fic like a car this size should. However, the
suspension is very tight and it transmits
every bump in the road, so it’s probably
a good thing that you can easily swerve
around potholes. Above 30 mph the steer-
ing becomes very light and responsive,
almost like a go-kart, but it never feels
dangerous or over-boosted.
Power comes from a 1.2 liter, 4 cylinder
that produces 84 horsepower and 83 lb-ft.
of torque to
the front wheels. While not the fastest car
for highway driving and merging, it’s very
adequate for city driving.
When accelerating, the engine noise
can be very loud and intrusive, but fades
quickly as it goes through the gears. A
five-speed manual transmission is stan-
dard, but a CVT [automatic] is an option
for all trim levels.
Some people have fast cars on the
brain, but are they really worth it? The
Spark is fuel-efficient, and it comes with
a three year, 36,000 mile warranty. Plus
it’s cheaper than one year of tuition at
Michigan State.
Put a spark into your college life
story // joe grove | PHOTOS // emily sobecki | Design // katie miller
Base Price: $12,995 (LS)
Engine:1.2 liter,
4 Cylinder 84 horsepower
@ 6300rpm83 lb-ft of torque
Length: 144.7” (12.05’)
Wheelbase: 93.5” (7.79’)
Height: 61” (5.08’)
Width: 62.9” (5.24’)
this small sports car is great for driving in the city. it fits in most places people would fear to put a car.
2014 chevy spark // 5-Door Hatchback
WEIGHT: 2,350-2,400LBS
10 // BALL BEARINGS
THE GUIDE // FOODMEET // CIERRA JACKSON-PITTMAN
How would you describe your style in three words?Different. Colorful. Confident.
What influences the way you dress?I get my inspiration from myself because I form my own
patterns and see what I come up with. And from there I get
inspired to keep going.
What’s your favorite store?I mostly shop at Charlotte Russe. I’m obsessed with their
jewelry.
Is there a piece of clothing you wear the most?Half tops. I love showing off my belly because I’m a belly
dancer. It shows uniqueness to us and it shows off our
confidence.
Which item would you never leave your home without?My cross necklace. I’m very religious, and it brings out
my confidence and radiance out of [me] and into what I’m
wearing.
What’s something you could never get rid of from your closet?I could never get rid of my sundresses. I love how they shape
my body and how the wind flows through. I’m definitely a
dress girl.
A spring must-have accessory?You must have long, dangly and big earrings.
Why do you dress the way you do?I want people to see the type of person I am through the
colors and the bold clothing I wear. Also, [I want] to show
other women that they can wear whatever they want and be
confident in the lesser clothes they wear.
Where did you get that outfit?Necklace, bracelets, earrings,
rings and shoes: Charlotte
Russe; Dress: Pittsexclusive,
her grandmother’s store in
Elkhart, Ind.
Year // JuniorMajor // Psychology
Jackson-Pittman is a firm christian, yet a woman who likes to show-off her body. Though many people challenge her style, she believes anyone can expose skin while staying true to his or her values.
“Crosses are my favorite thing to wear because it makes me feel secure, reminds me of God’s covenant and is a symbol of love that Jesus sacrificed for our sins.”
11
MEET // SEAN CHEN
How would you describe your style in three words?Layers. Colorful. Simple.
What influences the way you dress?It’s a mixture between looking at photos on Pinterest and
Instagram, and getting inspiration from them.
What’s your favorite store?I shop at H&M because it offers a variety of styles that I like
and it fits true to my size.
Is there a piece of clothing you wear the most?Cardigans. They match my T-shirts easily and they come in
all different colors. I love wearing layers, and cardigans make
it possible.
Which item would you never leave your home without?I always wear a watch. I collect them and own eight in
different colors.
What’s something you could never get rid of from your closet?My scarves. They provide warmth and highlight my outfit.
A spring must-have accessory?Bracelets. They are just an extra highlight that adds more
interest [to] the outfit.
Why do you dress the way you do?My fashion style reflects my personality. I’m a very happy
person, and I love to be helpful. The bright colors I wear
describe how I am.
Where did you get that outfit?Shirt and pants: H&M, boots: Forever21, vest and watch:
Macy’s
Year // FRESHMANMajor // VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Sean, born and raised in China, moved to the United States with his family at age 16. Barely knowing any English, he not only learned how to adapt to the American lifestyle, but also excel in a new world of fashion.
“Watches are my favorite accessory because it’s a timepiece that every man should have.”
Story // aubrey smithphotos // nicholas ewingdesign // jennifer prandato
THE GUIDE // entertainment
story // LeAnn Wood | PHOTOS // Lauren dahlhauser | Design // marybeth sargent
Happy Friday Guy III’s reign comes to an end
Farewell Happy Friday guy
Every college campus has unique traditions and our own uni-
versity is no different.
Happy Friday Guy III (HFG III) has spent the last four
years zooming across campus to wish Ball State a happy
Friday.
“I stand for three things: have a happy Friday, have a safe
weekend and go Ball State,” says HFG III.
The practice started in 2004, before HFG III arrived on
campus. Scooter Bob, the original Happy Friday Guy, took
to the sidewalks of campus on his electric scooter to wish
everyone a Happy Friday as a dare from friends.
When he left Ball State, a second Happy Friday Guy took
over for a short period of time, but like his predecessor, he
disappeared.
HFG III heard stories about this character on campus from
his older sibling and friends who also attended Ball State.
After asking what happened to him, a friend of his asked why
he didn’t just do it, to which he replied: “By gum, I think I
will.”
He decided to stand out on campus by wearing an “iconic
blue suit,” which is actually just a blue morph suit.
“The reason I did that when I first started was I wanted
to make sure that who I am outside of Happy Friday Guy,
stayed outside of Happy Friday Guy,” he says. “If he’s this
entity on campus that’s exactly what he should stay. They
shouldn’t associate a face or a person with it.”
But his costume wouldn’t be complete without his red
helmet, goggles, blue cape and, of course, his scooter, which
he rode until Spring 2013, when he hit a pothole and it
crumbled to pieces. He now descrbes them as occupation-
al hazards. Now he skates across campus on roller blades.
Dodging the potholes can be just as tricky on those, he says.
Besides the potholes, and the smell after skating around
campus in his hot suit, he says there really aren’t any disad-
vantages to being HFG III.
“People have gone through their entire week, and some-
times you get so bogged down with what your projects are.
And then here comes some goofball scootering by or in this
year’s case, skating by, and it puts a smile on your face,” he
says. “It reminds you that it’s Friday. Go have some fun.
Take a break. It’s a rewarding feeling. I genuinely wish
everyone could experience something like that.”
But every era must come to an end.
“This is going to be my last semester as being HFG
III,” he says.
The man behind the mask will soon be leaving,
again putting a void in the Ball State community.
Many people wonder, will he reveal his identity?
“After doing this for as long as I have, I had my
explicit reasons as to why I put on the blue suit,”
he says. “I wanted to make sure I was separate from
Happy Friday Guy and I‘ve often wondered if it would be a
good idea or a bad idea as Happy Friday Guy with the mask
down. Just to ride around and have it just be me for a day.
That just may be my last hurrah. I haven’t decided.”
This year, there’s a new character on campus: Sad Monday
Person (SMP).
“I always thought that Monday was a great day and seeing
Friday get all the attention, it’s a little lop-sided,” SMP says.
HFG III admits this is not the first attempt at another char-
acter on campus, but none of the others have stuck. When
SMP remained faithful to coming out every Monday, he decided to
meet up with him for a “Superhero Conference” he says.
“We sat down because, over the years, there have been a number
of people who have taken on a Happy-Friday-Guy-like persona. I
cautioned him and shared a little of my expertise. We just chatted
about the ins and out,” HFG III says.
But HFG III had another dilemma on his mind: Who was going to
replace him when he left?
“I’ve been thinking for a long time because I knew this day would
come. How am I going to pass this on because it was something I just
picked up, something the guy before me just picked up, and the very
first Happy Friday Guy, he did it as a dare? Happy Friday guy has
literally been on campus for a decade,” HFG III says. “Here I’ve got
a student that is already doing this every week on his own out of his
way you know that sounds like someone else, me.”
He mentioned the idea to SMP of taking over and being Happy
Friday Guy IV starting in the fall.
And according to HFGIII, he was up for it.
With all his loose ends tied up, HFG III can move on knowing the
tradition won’t leave with him.
Farewell Happy Friday Guy III. You will be missed.
“I STAND FOR THREE THINGS: HAVE A HAPPY FRIDAY, HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND
AND GO BALL STATE.”- Happy Friday Guy
16 // BALL BEARINGS
THE GUIDE // entertainment
drink //The Mojito is a classic Cuban cocktail that is commonly
associated with bars near a beach or in a tropical location.
Don’t worry, you can drink one in the non-tropical corn-
belt of Muncie, Ind. For a twist on the classic Mojito,
ginger has been tossed into the mix, adding a whole new
flavor that accentuates the limey, minty freshness. Every
ingredient can be tasted and smelled. There’s a perfect
mixture of fresh-squeezed limes and mashed mint leaves
that leave your taste buds craving more. Ginger adds just
enough spice to balance out the sugary concoction and it
covers the bite of the rum, so be sure to drink responsibly.
Start your summer right by bringing the beach to you and
enjoying a Ginger Mojito. Ask for this drink at Outback
Steakhouse or Puerto Vallarta.
Joe Ruley
Read. EAT.Drink. Listen.
17
listen //Hands in the air. Bouncing up and down. Cheering. Fans
can’t seem to get enough of DJ Martin Garrix, a fresh
face to the music scene. Just 17 years old, Garrix was the
youngest DJ to reach No. 1 on Beatport and reached 26 on
Billboard’s Hot 100 for his song “Animal.” Born in Amster-
dam, he began playing guitar when he was 4 years old and
developed an interest in DJ-ing when he was 8 years old,
after seeing DJ Tiesto play at the Athens Olympic Games.
Now, he travels all over the globe to DJ places such as
Germany, Belgium, Mexico and even California for Coach-
ella in April. (Sorry guys, the event is already sold out!) His
latest mix, “Tremor,” will be available on Sound Cloud and
iTunes April 21.
In life, we encounter many events, both good and bad. Winning a championship title in a
major sporting event is a once in a lifetime opportunity and quite exciting. Or when diag-
nosed with a life threatening disease creates heartbreak of the body and soul. Pat Sum-
mitt, the author of “Sum It Up”, has experienced both of these in her life. Pat Summitt,
former Tennessee University Volunteers Women’s basketball head coach, retired from
coaching after 38 years, two years ago. Summitt has been spending her retirement fighting
an early stage of Alzheimer’s and publishing books. Her latest book, titled “Sum It Up”,
is about the all-time most winningest coach in NCAA basketball history. She tells her
story about victory and resilience, but also discusses her challenge with an early stage of
Alzheimer’s disease. She started head coaching at the age of 21, and has a current résumé
with 1,098 victories recorded. She also shares about how she gained her tough personality
and mindset from her strict father. This book is not only a biography and autobiography about the Hall of Fame
basketball coach, but about a woman who has a strong mentality when it comes to any challenge in life. “Sum It
Up” can be found on Amazon.com and at major bookstores like Barnes and Noble for about $12.
Being a vegetarian in the Midwest is rough.
Pork, chicken, turkey and beef make up the
four basic food groups to maintain a healthy
Midwestern’s diet. Vegetarianism is sometimes
viewed as a religion and everyone expects you
to order a salad when dining out. Muncie’s
Downtown Farm Stand’s Spicy Veggie Wrap is
a break from this burden. Sautéed onions, red
and green bell peppers, spinach, and tomato in
a garlic and chili paste can liven up any vege-
tarian blues. BEWARE! The wrap does have
a kick to it, so be prepared to grab one of the
complimentary orange slices to help soothe the
spicy sensation. It looks like a simple meal, but
the organic and locally grown vegetables will
have you asking for more.
Dominique Stewart
LAUREN HUGHES
read //
Leeann wood
eat //
18 // BALL BEARINGS
insights
Illustration // Katie Miller
A Man in abro talk
Joseph Ruley
Major:magazine journalismYear:seniorFun Fact:HGTV is my guilty pleasure when it comes to watching tv.Follow Joseph@JOETRULEY
I find myself constantly surrounded by women.
Literally. Nearly 24/7. I work with almost an entire
staff of women and my roommate is a woman, too.
Most guys would throw their hands up and praise,
“There is a God!” But let me fill you in on some deets
about what it’s like to be constantly with women.
ALL.THE.FREAKING.TIME.
You won’t be living anywhere near the lifestyle of Hugh Hefner.
I always get asked that question. It won’t happen.
Get it off of your mind.
What you will be is the lowly husband.
You are officially the man of the house, therefore,
you are: the fixer, cleaner, killer, furniture mover,
mechanic and broken-heart mender.
I’m like the Dexter of the bug world. I can’t even
begin to tell you how many spiders, ants and other
insects I’ve killed.
You will become acutely aware of how disgusting women are.
(Side note: I love women to death - couldn’t live
without them.)
But you really will realize women have more hair
than the wookiees in Star Wars and will bleed more in
one month than you will in your entire life.
Before I lived with a woman, I lived with three guys.
When it came to clearing shower drains, we maybe
did it once or twice, ever. Toilets, that’s a different
story. Since living with one woman, I’ve had to clear
the drain at least two times to three times a month.
Not to mention during that time period when
they all sync up (seriously, they’ll all have periods
at the same time. It’s mind-blowing) you’ll become
the most hated, vile creature on the Earth who gets
quarantined to your room. It can be bad-news-bears.
You’ll begin to text and talk like them.
The other day I received a picture of a cat. What did
I message back? “Awe that kitty’s totes adorbs!!”
I was walking down McKinley Ave. when I sent
that text. After becoming aware of what I just sent, I
stopped, looked up and said out loud, “I just said totes
adorbs to a kitty…dammit.”
It was at that moment I realized a couple things:
1. I needed to go listen to some V8 engine noises,
chop wood and do other brutish activities to try and
scrape back any ounce of manhood I had.
2. Having guy friends is entirely necessary. Even if
it’s a bromance, though those are kind of weird. But
guys need to be around other guys every once in a
while.
We need to do tough things like shotgun beers at
unnecessary times, have discussions on why Kate
Upton’s hoo-ha’s are better than coffee, eat medium-
rare hamburgers while watching two dudes punch
each other senseless, or construct pointless things like
bar stools.
It’s necessary for our sanity.
Woman’s World
JOSEPH RULEY
Illustration // charles watson
embracing thea single perspective
Major:telecommunications and journalism Year:sophomoreFun Fact:i can rollerblade backwards and dance at the same time like a boss.Follow MIRIAH@miriahbowen
Ladies, raise your hand if you are single.
Don’t worry, my hand is right there with
you. It seems like everyone is in a relationship
besides you. Heck, Honey Boo Boo’s mom has a
man and we don’t.
College pressures us into relationships. After
all, isn’t the order: college, marriage, and then
kids? Why search for “The One” right now
when we have the rest of our lives to look for
him or her.
There are many benefits of being single, but
no one ever takes the time to talk about them.
Let me break down a few perks being single has
for you.
1. Free drinks at the bar.Many of us are on tight budgets while in
college. So slip on your most stylish outfit, be
confident, and embrace not having to pay for
drinks if someone offers. Just be cautious of
spiked drinks.
2. Scope out possible prospects.
When you are out with friends, talk to all
the people you want. Let’s be honest, if you
were in a relationship, how would they feel
if you were talking to some gorgeous person
across the room? That’s just a fight waiting to
happen. And if the opportunity strikes and you
get asked on a date, take advantage of that free
meal. Maybe even buy yourself something cute
with the extra cash you saved.
3. Never having to shave.Save time in the shower and skip shaving for
a couple days. No one is going to know that you
are going around looking like Chewbacca when
you have a pair of jeans on.
4. Binging.If you want to eat a whole pizza or down a
pint of ice cream while watching an entire
season of Toddlers and Tiara’s, go for it! No
one is stopping you. That decision is all yours
to make. So just keep on keeping on.
Ladies, we all know that when we tell guys
we don’t fart or burp, we’re lying. We do it just
as much as they do. We’re just more discrete
about it. When you’re single, you can let it all
out because, well, you can. Just make sure you
keep air freshener on hand.
6. Better looks.When you are single you tend to care more
about your appearance and stay in better shape.
Once you are in a relationship you get comfort-
able with your partner, and looks don’t really
matter. After all, they’re stuck with you.
Yeah, it would be nice to cuddle with
someone once in a while, but that’s why body
pillows and giant teddy bears were invented.
Embrace your singleness and just do what
makes you happy.
5. The “F” and “B” Words.
SINGLE LIFE
Miriah BOWEN
19
21
graham watsonSTORY // victoria fairfield | Design // marybeth sargent | Photo // max catterson
Graham Watson swings on shark hooks - for fun! Watson is a suspension artist with the troupe Sub Culture Suspension
Arts. Watson has been suspended in the air by shark hooks a couple dozen times. His high school friend, Drew Miniear,
introduced him to the idea of suspension when he formed Sub Culture Suspension Arts in 2007. When Miniear offered to
suspend Watson for the first time, Watson said yes without hesitation.
Suspension Performer: he’s hooked
What exactly happens during a suspension performance?
Simply put, I show up and people put hooks
in me and then they move me around a lot.
There’s, of course more to it than that, but
that is the gist of what my job is.
What’s your favorite position to be suspended in?
Back allows for a lot of
possibilities, it’s fun picking
up other people while I’m
suspended, which is really only
easy if you’re suspended from
your back. Knees are actually
really fun too. You have a lot of
freedom of movement. So I’d
say a tie between knees and a
teeter totter rig.
What do your family and friends think of suspension?
The friends that I have that
also do it, think it’s cool. What
little of my family knows about
it, I think they’re generally kind
of horrified about it and try to
avoid the subject in conversation.
It makes sense that people can’t
relate to the experience or
wanting to have the experience.
Are you getting hung by your skin or skin and muscle?
Only skin. It’s really important that the
hooks not go through, or go under, anything
other than stuff that can’t be stretched
like skin or fat.
What is the longest amount of time
you’ve been suspended in the air?
Maybe just short of an
hour.
Why do you do it?
[It’s] the best way
that I’ve found to
develop, to cultivate
willpower, to confront
my own fears and
to confront the basic
instinct to run away
from something that’s
difficult and scary.
Why is it important to have so much
willpower? Well, I think that adult life kind of
requires it.
22 // BALL BEARINGS
insightsTHE GUIDE // technology
W“hen am I leaving?”
“What time?”
“How am I getting there?”
“What time does my flight leave?”
Questions like these filled the classroom, along with some
heavy breathing, stress-induced sweating and potty words.
But what was I doing when this mess was happening? Eating
tacos and taking naps.
When I first found out about the possibility of joining
the BSU at the Games, an immersive learning class reporting
on the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, nobody
had to convince me. I knew I wanted to be a part of a group that
covers the Winter Olympics. It is the dream of many journalists,
and sportswriters in particular, to cover an Olympic Games.
When I found out about the cost, however, I was the one who
had to do some convincing – to my parents.
And when I did, I learned we wouldn’t be able to afford the
cost of going to Sochi.
I am fortunate enough to have my parents pay for my college
education, so I couldn’t do much arguing or fighting when they
wouldn’t be able to pay for a trip to Russia. By the time I found
the true cost and relayed it to them, I believe they were secretly
happy they couldn’t pay for it.
My parents both wanted me to have the experience of going
to the Olympics, but the fact that it was in Russia also worried
them.
My mom doesn’t like me going to Indianapolis for a day, let
alone a foreign country.
My dad was also worried about my safety, with many nearby
countries in turmoil.
Story // mat mckinney | Photos // Taylor Irby | Design // Erika Espinoza
Despite not being able to travel to russia, I still found a way to cover the 2014 olympic games
HOME TEAMADVANTAGE
23
It wasn’t under my control, so I had to not worry
about it. Once settling with the decision that I
wasn’t going, I was feeling OK about it.
I told Ryan Sparrow, the project’s director, that I
wouldn’t be able to make the trip. ,but I would like
to still be involved, if he’d have me.
Fortunately, he accepted me as part of a new
section of BSU at the Games – the Home Team.
The previous group of BSU at the Games went
to London in the summer of 2012. There wasn’t a
home team for that group, and Sparrow wanted to
add one for the Sochi Games. I was included with
a group of copy editors and PR students.
Even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to
Russia, I still was able to go to Utah in the fall to the
Olympic Media Summit. And that was my trip.
As for the Olympics, I would find local stories to
report on from Indiana.
I didn’t have a ton of difficulties in dealing with
not going. One of the hardest part was when
people would ask me if I’m going to Russia. Telling
them no was hard. I basically had to talk about why
I’m not going dozens of times over and over again.
That, and the fact that those who went will be
able to talk about it in job interviews for the rest
of their lives. When an employer asks me about
what I did for BSU at the Games, I’ll have to
say that I wasn’t able to go. I hope I’ll have other
things on my résumé to talk about to make up
for it. But it was something that I was looking
forward to talking about.
I’ve had the amazing privilege of being able to
travel for the Ball State Daily News, where I am
a sports reporter. I’ve traveled all over the coun-
try to cover football games, including Alabama for
the Go Daddy Bowl in January. I didn’t need to go
to Sochi to feel validated as a competent student
journalist. I have been able to do great things and
create awesome work, and not being able to go to
Sochi doesn’t diminish that. That’s no slight on
those who did go, but for me, my college experience
wasn’t hinging on going.
The media summit in October was very fun.
There, I interviewed a lot of different athletes and
had a blast. I treated it as my experience with the
Olympics, giving it my all every day.
Not going to Russia also gave me an advantage
over those who were -- I didn’t have to mess with
passports, visas, travel information and tickets. I
swear, for about two weeks straight, that’s all they
did. It wasn’t worth it for me to go to a class where they
filled out a form for an hour, so I didn’t go those days.
So who really was the lucky one here?
On a related note, afternoon naps are the best.
By far, the best moment of the entire experience
for me was the week the Russia Team was getting
ready to leave.
It was very relaxing to know no matter what was
going on with that group, my future was sealed. I
was staying home.
So I just had to rub it in a little bit. Just to let them
know exactly how I wasn’t stressed.
When a person asked me how I was anytime
before their journey, I made sure to tell them I was
great and not very stressed. Somebody next to me
would be freaking out, and I would put my feet up
next to him or her and sigh loudly.
I knew they were going to be talking about the
Games non-stop for months after they returned, so
I had to enjoy my small victories.
After they finally left, I did what I could from
5,700 miles away from the Games. I made Storifys
-- aggregations of Twitter posts, Instagram posts,
and online photos -- of the Opening Ceremony,
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s (non)expres-
sions and all the selfies of the Olympic Flame.
I tried to find people related to the Olympics at
home for local stories, but was unsuccessful. For ex-
ample, the mayor of Marion, Ind. was a good figure
skater in the 1970s, finishing around tenth place.
I tried to do a neat story on him, but our schedules
never seemed to synch up.
At least the people I was talking to spoke English.
From what I could hear in the classroom, the team
that went wasn’t so lucky. Point - home team.
I watched the Games on NBC, writing small
blog posts when I could. and spent a lot of my time
living vicariously through the team’s adventures.
And I was OK. There will be plenty more oppor-
tunities for that at a later time.
Students can be XXXXxXXXXXXXX
“I DIDN’T NEED TO GO TO
SOCHI TO FEEL VALIDATED AS A COMPETENT
STUDENT JOURNALIST.”
-MaTt Mckinney
24 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
AA mother’s twenty-month long struggle
to bring her son home
Alissa Zagaris lied in the bed of her son, hugging his pillow
as she wept. She had taken down all the pictures and items
around the house that reminded her of him. Distraught, she
says, she spent several nights lying in that bed, crying herself
to sleep and hoping for the return of her son, Leo Zagaris.
Leo leaves for GreeceJune 2, 2011, was just like any other day, full of traveling for
Alissa and Leo. Leo, 10 years old at the time, had made the trip
to Greece to see his father, Nikolaos Zagaris four times before.
He knew the routine.
They would take the same route they always did. They would
leave their home in Nobelsville, Ind., for the Chicago O’Hare
International Airport.
But Leo says he had mixed feelings about leaving for Greece. He
wanted to see his dad, but didn’t want to spend the summer away
from his hometown friends.
His mom kissed him goodbye and said, “I’ll see you soon and I
love you.” Leo then departed for the International terminal.
Alissa would spend the next 20 months fighting for her son’s
return home.
A failed marriage from the startNikolaos and Alissa met in January 2000. Alissa started
managing Hellas Cafe, a Greek restaurant in Indianapolis
where Nikolaos was a part-time server.
“I viewed him as a strong person, but in truth,” she says, “I
realized it was more of a boasting. There was no real strength
there.”
When she began managing the restaurant, Nikolaos and
Alissa hooked up. Within a month, Alissa became pregnant
with Leo.
Nikolaos, a Greek native, is part of a prominent Greek fami-
ly. His brother-in-law, Vagelis Maxis, was the former mayor of
Marathon, Greece; his cousin, Spyros Zagaris, was the mayor
after Vagelis.
At the time, Nikolaos was attending the University of
Indianapolis. He was in the U.S. on a student visa he received
through the student exchange program at the University of
Athens.
by choiceTAKEN
story // CRYSTAL ALLEN PHOTOS // MAX CATTERSON
illustrations // katy jamison
25
when it happenedJune 2, 2011- Leo travels to Greece.
Aug. 11, 2011- Nikolaos calls Alissa
claiming Leo had mumps and needs his
vaccination records. Nikolaos claims a
doctor will not allow Leo to travel and the
doctor was going to quarantine Leo for
a month but he won’t give any proof of
illness.
Aug. 16, 2011- Leo fails to be returned
to the Alissa and she threatens Nikolaos
with Hague abduction charges, kidnapping
charges and media attention if Leo isn’t
returned to her immediately. Nikolaos
refuses.
Sept. 12, 2011- School was scheduled
to begin in Greece. Leo attended. Alissa
begins to heavily research abduction and
unlawful retention laws.
Sept. 29, 2011- Alissa contacts
Consular Affairs with the U.S. State
Department and informs Ann McGahuey
in the office of children’s issues about
the unlawful retention. She begins the
filing process for Hague Civil Parental
Abduction charges.
Oct. 4, 2011- Alissa files kidnapping
charges against the Nikolaos in Henderson
County, Ind., and registers Leo with
Missing and Exploited Children.
Oct. 10, 2011- Alissa intends to
file federal kidnapping charges and
international kidnapping charges against
Nikolas. Nikolaos stopped contact between
the Alissa and Leo.
October 21, 2011- Arrest warrant
issued for interference with custody at a
$100,000 bond.
March 16, 2013- Leo returned home
with Alissa.
Alissa says the news that his visa had ex-
pired came a few months after they started
dating, making Nikolaos desperate to stay
in the country. He convinced her to marry
him in July 2001. Five-months pregnant at
the time, Alissa agreed.
“I’ve never really believed in marriage,
but it was also the first time that I had been
pregnant,” she says. “I kind of heard my
grandfather’s voice in the back of my head
saying, ‘you need to have a commitment
here.’ So we did. We actually got married.”
Leo was born Jan. 2, 2001, in the IU
Health Methodist Hospital in India-
napolis, and since that day, the couple’s
marriage was never the same. Alissa says
Leo was a difficult newborn. He cried all
the time and never slept. Nikolaos couldn’t
handle the crying, so he rarely came home
and began developing a gambling habit.
“I wouldn’t say that he physically aban-
doned us, but he definitely emotionally
abandoned us,” says Alissa.
Nikolaos started acting violent towards
Alissa anytime he felt she wasn’t doing her
duties as a wife. He wanted dinner on the
table every night he came home, Alissa
says, even if it was 2 a.m. When he was
violent, he always went for the throat, she
continued.
At times, Alissa was scared but she says
she was mostly angry that she couldn’t
physically do anything about it. She hated
feeling that he could overpower her at any
time.
In 2007, Alissa filed a protective
order for herself and Leo, and left the
marriage. At the same time, Nikolaos
was arrested by Immigration & Customs
Enforcement and was charged with
unlawful presence.
He left for Greece in February 2008 to
live with his mother.
Alissa started dating Mark Williamson
a few months after her separation with
Nikolaos. They had their daughter, Zoey
Williamson, in July 2009.
After Nikolaos and Alissa’s divorce
was final, the custodial agreement gave
Alissa physical custody of Leo, but Leo
was to visit his dad in Greece 10 weeks
per year. Leo began his visitations at 8
years old.
Leo’s time in GreeceWhen Leo arrived in Greece in June
2011, it was just like his past trips. He
enjoyed swimming in the ocean and hiking
in the mountains, he says. He would ex-
plore Greece with the friends he had made
there, playing soccer in the nearby stadium
and visiting the town square to shop.
Things about the trip didn’t start to
change until a week before Leo was due
home to Noblesville. In August 2011,
Nikolaos called Alissa and told her Leo
had the mumps, so he needed his vaccina-
tion records because the doctor said Leo
couldn’t travel home and would have to be
quarantined.
Alissa became suspicious of Nikolaos’
intentions when he failed to send Leo’s
illness information. She started looking
into international child abduction laws
in the fear that Nikolaos wanted the
vaccination information to enroll Leo in a
Greek school.
A week later, Nikolaos called Alissa to
tell her that Leo wouldn’t be returning as
planned. Alissa threatened Nikolaos with
Hague abduction charges, kidnapping
charges and media attention if Leo didn’t
come home immediately. Nikolaos refused
to return Leo.
The Hague Treaty, a document that
ensures the return of children who have
been abducted from their habitual resi-
dence to international countries, currently
exists between 91 signatory states. Other
countries, however, don’t necessarily have
to comply with U.S. laws.
Soon after, Leo called his mom to ask
if he could live in Greece for a year and
enroll in school to see what it was like.
“Look baby, I don’t agree with this and
I want you to come home, OK? School’s
started here,” says Alissa.
“It’s OK mom. I want to go to school
here,” Leo responds.
Alissa says she felt betrayed at this point.
“I was devastated. I felt so disconnected.
Then when I was literally cut off from
him, I almost killed myself. I wanted to
die,” she says.
People would say to Alissa, at least you
have your daughter.
“But it wasn’t that simple,” she says.
“It’s not like Leo was in some basement
somewhere with a stranger. But it
didn’t matter if he was in Disneyland. I
couldn’t get to him.”
Leo saw it differently. He wanted to
spend the extra time with his dad. He
said he wanted to stay for a little over a
year, then maybe he could come back for
Christmas break.
26 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
A mother’s fightIn September 2011, Alissa contacted
Consular Affairs with the U.S. State
Department and informed the Office of
Children’s Issues about the abduction. She
began the filing process for Hague Civil
Parental Abduction charges.
She also began her search for a private
attorney in Greece. A search that soon
came to a halt when every private attorney
she called refused to help her because of
Nikolaos’ political family.
A month later, Alissa filed kidnapping
charges against Nikolaos in Hamilton
County, Ind. and registered Leo with
Missing and Exploited Children.
Alissa was spending the majority of her
days on the phone with the U.S. State De-
partment. She updated her Facebook to let
the public know what was happening, and
also was trying to find a Hague representa-
tive in Greece for her case.
“It was like fighting in an uphill battle
with my heart literally bleeding out,” she
says. “I couldn’t understand how I was still
alive. I mean I didn’t think it was possible
to feel that much pain.”
Alissa admits she destroyed her relation-
ship with her second husband Mark, and
was barely a mother to Zoey during the
ordeal because she spent all of her days
fighting to get Leo back home.
In December 2012, Alissa flew to Greece
for her first trial thinking that she would
be returning with Leo. Under the Hague
Treaty, she was able to get a representative
free of charge. To Alissa’s disappointment,
the judge decided not to rule that day.
“I was a mess, just a zombified, drained
version of myself,” she says. “I just
thought, ‘Fuck it, when in Rome right?’
And that’s when it hit me. When in Rome,
do as the Romans do. But in my thoughts,
that translated to ‘when dealing with
absurdity, come equally absurd.’”
Two months later, she found out the
judge had denied her ex’s appeal to keep
Leo, and she won him back. However,
the U.S. State Department didn’t help
from there, she says. It was up to her and
her FBI agent to physically get Leo out of
Nikolaos’ hands.
Alissa’s rescue missionAlissa left for Greece once again in
March 2013. U.S. Embassy staff in Athens
and security escorted her the entire way.
Once she landed, it was time to get Leo.
It was Halloween for Leo in Greece –
the country celebrates it in March as a reli-
gious holiday. He was walking home from
school with his dad, dressed in full cowboy
gear. They were about 20 yards from his
house, crossing the street to go home, when
a police car stopped them.
Leo was told his mom was there and
they dragged him and his dad into the car.
When they got to the station in Athens,
they were put in separate rooms.
“Mom, you got me arrested,” Leo said as
Alissa walked in.
Alissa laughed and said, “No, honey,
you’re protected.”
Their last flight landed at the Indianap-
olis International Airport on March 16,
2013, where a media frenzy met them. Leo
says he kind of liked the idea of being on
TV, but he couldn’t understand why they
were there.
A new normalToday, Leo is retaking the sixth grade
since his Greek classes didn’t transfer to
the U.S. He last spoke with his dad a few
weeks ago, and enjoys the time they get
together through Skype.
Leo was told his father committed an ille-
gal act, and that he was a child involved in
an international abduction case. However,
to this day, Leo feels that he could’ve come
home at anytime, but he didn’t want to. He
says he was the one who chose to spend
extra time in Greece with his father.
Because he returned Leo, Nikolaos
wasn’t punished in the Greek courts. How-
ever, in the U.S., there is a warrant for his
arrest on kidnapping and assault charges
from Alissa during their marriage.
As for Alissa, she spends her time advo-
cating for other left-behind parents. She
works with an organization called iStand,
which brings awareness to the topic of
international child abduction, the Sean
and David Goldman International Child
Abduction Prevention and Return Act
being presented to the Senate.
“I can’t let another parent fall victim to
the system,” she says. “What happened
for Leo and I should happen to all parents
with kidnapped children and I want to
make sure that it does.”
Before getting on the plane to visit his dad in greece, Alissa zagaris took this picture of her son leo. She said she was going to use it to remember him by while he was gone. Before getting on the plane, zagaris said she kissed leo and told him she loved him.
Alissa Zagaris says she felt like she was barely a mother to her daughter, zoey, while she fought to get leo home. She spent the majority of 20-month long fight on the phone with the U.S. State Department and constantly updating social media.
28 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
GORA
29
30 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
GORA
31
32 // BALL BEARINGS
FEATURES
Love. It’s one of the hardest things to find, much less express.
With college being one of the most popular places to find a
significant other, it can be difficult when you’re not only new
to campus, but also new to the country.
Mo Eun Chan, from Gwangju, South Korea, enrolled at
Ball State University in 2009. Shortly after, he spent two
years as part of the South Korean military. Working as a
supply sergeant in the 188th Military Police Company ROK
Armed Forces, Mo maintained his company’s equipment,
issuing handcuffs and magazine pouches before returning to
America to study psychology.
Mo initially lived in Shively Hall, a residence hall used pri-
marily for international students. It was there that he noticed
a young woman named Chen He.
“I saw her face at the time, but we didn’t know each other,”
says Mo.
Raised in the city of Dalian, China, Chen attended a school
similar to an international institute. Typically, students from
her school would study abroad in Canada. Chen’s parents
decided to send her to Ball State to study childhood develop-
ment in 2009, thinking she would be safer under the care of
her cousin, who also studied at the university.
“I’m the only child in my family, so my parents kind of had a
hard time about sending me out,” says Chen.
Though Mo and Chen both lived in the international hall,
and recognized each other, they never spoke to one another.
After almost three years, they discovered they had a
Japanese language class together. Mo, recognizing Chen, mes-
saged her, asking if she remembered him from Shively Hall.
“Yeah, I know you! I have your Facebook,” said Chen.
“Then we start to talk when we’re back home. I ask him
‘Where are you living?’”
“I’m living in Anthony Apartments,” he told her.
“Oh, really? Me too,” said Chen. “Which number?”
Mo told her he lived in apartment 52, and Chen just so hap-
pened to live in apartment 51. In a twist of fate straight out
of the storybooks, the two had come from entirely different
countries and moved halfway across the earth just to land at
each other’s doorsteps.
The two began dating shortly after, getting to know each
other, growing a stronger bond with every day and then mak-
ing a habit of being late to class together.
Their love story isn’t without its struggles. Since the two
come from different countries, communication became a
story // jOSEPH KNOOP | PHOTOS // LAUREN DAHLHaUSER | design // stephanie redding
LOVETwo international students found love in the fall of 2013. Now they’re trying
to find a way to express it in their own words.
THE LANGUAGE OF
33
constant source of frustration. Though both
learned a considerable amount of English,
their native languages are entirely different.
Mo speaks Korean and Chen speaks Chinese
Mandarin.
“We’re communicating with each other
kind of using the third language,” says Mo.
“It’s not even English sometimes. It’s a dou-
ble-translating process.”
“It is so significant that the two can
sometimes understand each other’s broken
English better than the proper pronuncia-
tions,” Chen says.
The two love to poke fun at one another’s
mistakes.
“Say ‘turtle’,” Chen says, looking at Mo.
“She cannot pronounce ‘zero’,” he playfully
replies. “She pronounces it ‘day-ra.’”
This confusion often causes dissonance
between what they want to say and what the
other potentially hears.
“Sometimes we are trying to explain our
love for each other, but the English word
is just ‘love’,” says Chen. “In Chinese or
Korean, they have different types of words to
describe love.”
The Chinese character for love, or “Ai” was
born from the mind of Chinese philosopher
Mozi, in an effort to distance the concept of
love from family and clans, to a more univer-
sal affection.
Not only is communication between them
a challenge, speaking with each other’s
parents is almost impossible.
“I already met her parents,” says Mo. “They
are coming here for [Chen’s graduation], but I
cannot communicate with her parents.”
The two have made great efforts to better
understand each other’s language and cul-
ture. They plan to take additional language
courses and seem determined to adapt to the
other’s native culture. Even if one of them
were to earn their degree, living in the other’s
country would result in very few job opportu-
nities. Neither possesses a green card though,
meaning they cannot reside in the U.S. after
earning their degrees.
It’s not just the language they’re learning.
Both have learned what makes a person the
way they are goes beyond just the words they
use.
“The more time we spend together, the
more we know about each other,” says Mo.
“Sometimes we realize we are not only
culturally [different], but man and woman.
It’s different, you know, right?”
In many Asian cultures, marrying within
the same race and territory is often expected
of youth.
“[Sometimes], in his opinion I’m this kind of
person,” says Chen. “But, as time goes by, he
can tell, ‘Oh, I’m not this kind of person.’ For
me, personally, I never [thought] I could fall
in love with a foreigner.”
For now, the couple plans to stay in the
U.S. as long as possible to capitalize on the
career opportunities available. Though their
road ahead will be more difficult than most,
the two continue to demonstrate their love
through their concerted efforts to learn about
and support each other.
“The other typical couple, just American
to American, South Korean to South Korean,
you guys are more similar to each other than
us,” says Mo. “But, try to understand, every-
thing is possible.”
Mo Eun Chen and Chen He poke fun at each other when the other mispronounce words in English.
“FOR ME, PERSONALLY,
I NEVER [THOUGHT] I
COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH A FOREIGNER.”
- CHEN HE
For the ipad & Android
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ON APRIL 16thGet it at the
ipad app store and the
android marketplace
What’s on the iPad?Roller Derby
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Rachael Smith turned her desire for an aggressive women’s sport into the only renegade league in Indiana.
One senior is preparing to live out his dream by means of his Ford Cargo van.
F35
After flames destroy everything, it takes a community to help a family back to their feet.
RISINGstory and photos // Rick Purtha
photos // megan kingerydesign // Hannah Dominiak
ebruary 27, 2014, started as a normal Thursday
morning for Louise Castle and her family.
4:30 a.m.: Louise woke up and got ready to
leave for work, as she does most mornings. She left
not too long after to go to the Speedway gas station
in Hagerstown, Ind., where she is the manager.
6:30 a.m.: Louise’s husband, David, woke their
kids and helped them get ready to leave for school.
After getting ready, David took his four kids to the
babysitter where they would be picked up by the
school bus.
9:40 a.m.: Louise was going about her duties
at work when she received a phone call from her
husband, which caused her to drop everything and
leave without telling her cashier.
David called to tell her their home had caught
fire. She made the 15-minute drive back to their
home in Cambridge City, Ind., in what she said
‘felt like five minutes.’ Louise looked down and
noticed she was driving about 90 mph in a 55 mph
zone, but she didn’t let off the pedal.
9:50 a.m.: Louise arrived back at their home
to find that it was engulfed in flames. She talked
with the firefighters on scene to ascertain if they
were able to save their three dogs, two boxers
named Krista and Patches and their pug named
Bear. The dogs were only ones in the house when
it caught fire and did not survive.
The four kids were devastated when they were
told that all of their belongings were destroyed,
but not as much as when they found out their dogs
were gone as well. The Castle family lost more
than just their belongings; they lost an important
part of their family.
“I just thank God that we weren’t home. If we
were home, it started in our bedroom and so we
probably would have been dead, and the kids
wouldn’t have had either of us.” Says Louise. “It
makes you really realize what’s important. I know
the material things aren’t as important as having
family.”
Shortly after the fire, she called friends to let
them know what happened.
Not too long after Louise made those calls, the
community jumped into action to help the family.
The first few people to act were Staci Eales and
Sue Chandler.
Both women posted to Facebook about the fami-
ly’s loss and asked the community to help the fam-
ily. Shortly after their posts went up on Facebook,
they had people sending them offers for donations
and questions about what had happened.
10:10 a.m.: One of Louise’s friends, Sue Chan-
dler, received a call from a woman in Hagerstown,
FROM THE ASHES
36 // BALL BEARINGS
ENRICH
Ind., named Jennifer Bowman. Jennifer was curious as
to whether the Castle family had found a place to stay.
Since they had not, Jennifer had a short-term solution.
Jennifer offered to let the Castle family live in a house
for a month that her and husband, Trent, own in a
nearby town.
1:30 p.m.: The Castle family began cleaning up the
house and getting it ready to be moved in to.
The donations didn’t stop there. People in both Hag-
erstown and Cambridge City began donating every-
thing possible to help the Castle family out.
Louise was really surprised when they started
receiving donations of brand new clothes. Some of
the items that have been donated include gift cards,
clothes, money, furniture and even time to help them
get the donated house cleaned. By Saturday, March. 1,
the house was cleaned, fully furnished, and ready to be
moved into.
It wasn’t only the people in the community that were
donating to help the family. Many businesses in the area
decided to help them as well including The Boot Box.
After hearing about the fire, the people at The Boot
Box contacted the Castle family and brought them into
the store. They gave every member of the family a new
pair of shoes for free. One woman that Louise works
with also worked with a local bank in Hagerstown to
open up an account to accept monetary donations.
Another thing that many businesses in Hagerstown
and Cambridge City were doing was setting up dona-
tion collections located in various locations. Louise was
getting help from Sue Chandler as they were trying to
sift through all the donations to separate them between
the six members of the family.
“Everybody’s generosity, I think, has really changed
the way David and Louise have looked at the commu-
nity. Sometimes things are meant extremely well for
the people that the community is doing it for, but it can
be very overwhelming,” says Sue Chandler. “There’s
When the castle family’s house burnt down on feb. 27, the community of Hagerstown, Ind. joined together to provide the family with food, clothes and even a house to temporarly live in. Although you cannot see the destruction from all sides of the house, everything inside was destroyed and the family pets died in the fire.
35
39
Michael Clark, senior accounting major, and Emily Case, senior family and consumer science major, spent spring break planning for their May wedding.
Decorations were made, the invitations were printed and programs were completed. All that’s left is the reading of the vows.
Clark and Case have been engaged since April 2013, and both agreed that before they thought seriously about marriage, it was important to discuss goals they hope to accomplish. After a conversation over a dinner Michael made for Emily, they both
discovered they hope to adopt a child. “It’s just something we both had in common. We
thought we might like to do (it) later on,” Clark says. “Just seeing what you can do for other children halfway around the world. It’s impacting lives.”
Case was serious enough to talk to members of her home church, Community Church of Columbus in Columbus, Ind., who have adopted children.
“It was just really cool to hear their stories. We have friends who adopted from Ethiopia and it was interesting talking to them, verses those who
story // HAYLI GOODE | PHOTOS // Provided | DESIGN and illustrations // Ricardo Lopez
extendAs a Ball State couple prepares for marriage, two families in their home
church have inspired them to consider adoption.
beyond our own borderextend
40 // BALL BEARINGS
ENRICH
38 %
37%
There are an estimated
153,000,000orphans worldwide.
Of the millions of adoptions each year, there were 1,782,000 Adoptions by americans last year
25 %
private domestic adoption
foster care adoption
international
adopted from Russia because of the way the orphanages are set up,” Case says. “It’s really good to learn from them and how they handled those experiences.”
One of the families Case and Clark talked to was Mark Foster, owner of Hoosier Tool & Die in Columbus, Ind., and Wendy Foster, a stay at home mom. In January of 2010, the Fosters-Mark and Wendy and their three sons Jacob, Jordan and Jonathon-decided to adopt two little girls from St. Petersburg, Russia.
“Just being around other families who had decided they would extend their own families in the same way. Watching those results in those kids lives…had a huge impact on our desire to extend beyond our own border and welcome other kids in,” Wendy said.
Wendy and Mark started by looking at domestic adoption, but realized the process was lengthy and not guaranteed. They also did not want to take an infant from a family who could not have any more children. But because they already had three children, they decided to narrow their search down to 2-year-old children through 6-year-old children and look into international adoption.
They partnered with the American World Adoption Agency that presented them with four countries: China, Ethiopia, Russia and Ukraine. They took 2-weeks to 3-weeks to pray about it, narrowing
the search down to either Ukraine or Russia.A week later, Mark and Wendy sat down with their three boys, and
the family decided they would adopt from Russia. “We genuinely like raising kids. And we do it pretty well together. We
think God has given us that and also stirred that desire in us to make that kind of offering to a couple more [children],” Mark says.
When the family was having the discussion about where to go, Mark and Wendy put in their dossier, an application that shares the families financial and personal history, that they would like two sibling girls, newborn to 6-years-old, but would prefer 2-years-old to 4-years-old.
“We were just sitting there and I made the comment, ‘You know, if we’re going to go to Russia, I would love to get a chance to go to St. Petersburg. Because St. Petersburg is the old, historic, cultural part of Russia and it would be neat to be able to do that,’” Mark says. “At this point, we didn’t even know how it was all going to work, but we had to get paperwork done.”
And since they didn’t know when they were going to travel, the Fosters put October as a temporary travel date on their dossier.
Right after they decided to adopt from Russia and found out it would be a 2.5-year process, Mark underwent back surgery that left him with a foot and ankle that didn’t heal properly.
41
ADOPTION EXPENSES
FaMILY Structure breakdown
Foster
PRIVATE
INTERNATIONAL 93%5%
33%33% 13%22%
56% 29% 6% 9%
70.2 %
22.7 %
1.6 %5.5 %
Source: Adoption USA : National Survey of Adoptive Parents, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
$10,000+
$5,000 - $10,000
$1,000 - $5,000
no cost
single male
single female
married
unmarried couple
choosing to adopting inter-nationally is more expensive than choosing to becoming foster parents. The majority of americans who adopt children are married.
“We thought maybe we ought not try to pursue adoption. We hit a rough time in our business and money wasn’t real strong. And so we were going to withdrawal totally from the process,” Wendy says. “We (dropped) our adoption agency and all kinds of things had happened.”
Just a couple days following their decision, Wendy found herself in her bedroom, on her knees, praying.
“I said ‘God, I feel like we’re running from you in the other direction. And if you want us to adopt, you’re going to have to really make it clear. Because we are deciding we’re not capable anymore.’” Wendy says.
In July, 2010, two days after Wendy’s prayer, she was driving to Nashville, Tenn. when she received a call from an agency they had not worked with before.
The agency told Wendy about Yana, 2, and Dyana, 3, two sisters from St. Petersburg, Russia who were about to be separated in January because Dyana, the oldest, was becoming too old to stay in the baby adoption home.
“In order to keep them together, a wonderful lady who owns an adoption agency made sure that our path was made clear so that we could get there and get the girls out,” Wendy says. “Seeing God’s hand in some things has been amazing.”
The lady that conducted the Foster’s home study submitted their
paperwork to International Assistance Group, the agency that contacted Wendy.
“We were a little skeptical, because we thought someone was running a scam on us,” Mark says. “But we went ahead and listened and talked to the lady on the phone. She told us about the girls and said ‘if we get this moving forward, your first trip will be October of this year.’ It gives me chills every time I get to tell this story.”
Mark and Wendy admitted they had no idea how they were going to pull it off, but agreed God made it clear to them that He was in control.
When the Fosters went to Russia, they met Yana and Dyana within the first 24-hours of their visit.
“The first 24-hours with the child is known as the ‘grace period’,” Salome Lamarche, an executive director for Families Thru International Adoption says.
Lamarche explains adopting parents have this first day with the child to decide if they no longer wish to adopt.
“If it’s not a good fit for the family, it won’t be a good life for the child. We will work with them to do whatever is in our ability and whatever the…officials are willing to do, because it is really up to them. It’s really not something that we want to encourage and it’s something China does not appreciate,” Lamarche says.
42 // BALL BEARINGS
ENRICH
Top Photo Mark and wendy foster outside of the adoption agency. top Left all of the Foster’s children playing in the park. Top right Dyana smiles in a tutu at her birthday party Bottom Left mark meeting the girls in russia. bottom Photo elizabeth in china before coming home with Kim and Dave clark.
The 24-hour grace period was part of the reason why Russia closed off adoption from the US in 2012, Lamarche says.
“The children in orphanages in Russia don’t receive attention that children do in other countries. Some of the issues children face were more severe and families were less prepared, I think. We were seeing more and more issues of children adopted from Russia whose families have them home and say, ‘I can’t do this’ and that became a real problem for Russia,“ Lamarche says. “But the whole process was not clear and organized and it wasn’t setting people up for success. I think Russia ultimately decided we just need to stop.”
But the Fosters say it’s to Russia’s credit.“It’s kind of a confusing thing, honestly, to deal with. But it’s amazing
how the people in Russia, the Department of Education, the agency directors - the judges and the translators - they absolutely want to protect their children with a very jealous passion. It’s very important to them and they are scrutinizing very, very carefully where these children go,” Wendy says. “They are loving their children the best they can with the circumstances they’re under.”
Wendy explained that when she and Mark were on their final visit to Russia to bring the girls home, the girls each clung on to one parent, and resisted relationships with the other parent. Dyana, Wendy says, still remembered her birth mother, so she clung to Mark while Yana clung to her.
In Russia, Mark and Wendy consulted a child counselor and a translator. The four of them sat the girls down and explained they could have two mothers and two fathers.
“(Dyana) seemed to like that idea and understood that there were two of us. At the end of the conversation, she wrapped her little arms around me. They have such a fierce loyalty to their family,” Wendy says.
Michael did not have to go too far to ask for adoption advice. When he was 12-years-old, and his brother Chris was 15, their parents adopted a little girl from Shangrao City in the Jiangxi Province of China. Xu Zhi Ling, now named Elizabeth Kennedy Xu Zhi Clark, as Kim and Dave decided to keep her Chinese name a part of her, came home with the Clarks in December 2009.
“We just felt like we were being led by God to do that, because everywhere we went, there [were] little Asian girls. At Lowe’s, in front of us, literally everywhere,” Kim said. “I don’t know why, I just knew that was where we needed to go. There was no other place I wanted to go.”
The couple partnered with FITA and began the year-and-a-half long adoption process.
Since Michael and Emily have not yet picked a country to adopt from, it was important to them to talk to friends who have adopted from different parts of the world.
“Just the way the orphanages are set up and what the kids remember about their families…is interesting to hear. It’s really good to learn from them and how they handle those situations,” Emily says.
After the couple marries in May, they plan to have their own children before revisiting the topic of adoption, much like Michael’s family.
44 // BALL BEARINGS
ENRICH
FFrom the moment she knocks at the door, the little girls, dressed
in their favorite Disney Princess garb, are captivated by the magic of
having one of their idols attend their party.
“How does every story begin?”
“With ‘Once upon a time?’”
“That’s right,” says the princess, as several bright-eyed, speechless little
girls gather around and the princess’ tale begins.
Happily Ever After Productions is based out of Greenville, Ind.
Despite only existing for less than three-years, their following is quickly
growing. The organization is the sister company of Indianapolis’
Balloongenuity, a company specializing in balloon twisting. It offers
customers party packages and other public appearances, including
hospital visits throughout the year.
“As we were out making balloons, people started asking, ‘Do you
know any magicians, any clowns, any of this and this’…and then
they started asking, ‘Do you know anyone that would come as a
princess?’” says co-owner Chelsea Couture.
Their customers were looking for high quality performers and they
discovered the form of entertainment they wanted was not available in
the area.
“There was nothing to the caliber we wanted, so we figured we would
start doing it ourselves,” says Couture.
They started with a few of the classic Disney Princesses. Now their
cast is made up of seven performers who play 13 different roles and
perform between five events to 10 events each week.
Maddie Deeken, a sophomore acting major and “self-proclaimed
Disney freak,” first heard about the company through a friend who
showed it to her as a joke, saying it was Deeken’s dream job. But Deeken
took the opportunity seriously. She emailed them and ended up getting
the job soon after. She now plays Rapunzel from Disney’s “Tangled”
and has been a part of the cast since May 2013.
New members are added to the cast whenever a new Disney princess
is introduced. Elsa and Anna from the movie “Frozen” are the newest
characters to join the available princess selection.
Those who wish to join must first send an email with a headshot.
The characters are cast much like an audition for a play, but
performers must also go through a background check, because
STORY // brittany watson | PHOTOS // Megan hilaire | DESIGN // DANIEL BROUNT
that you wish will come true
dreamsBSU Women bring royal stardom to young admirers
As disney princesses for Happily ever After Productions, bates, bussell and deeken get to dress the part.
they will be working with young children.
“We’re very selective with our princesses,”
says Couture. “They have to fit the part, they
have to look the part, they have to sound the part.
We’ve been lucky to find the performers we have.
They’re all phenomenal.”
The parents of the children or hosts of the events
are unlikely to expect the organization to be the
quality they claim to be.
“Anybody can put on a costume and say that
they are somebody but until you really get into that
character and become that character you aren’t
believed that you are truly from Disneyworld,” says
senior interior design major Megan Bates.
She has played the role of Cinderella for the majority
of her time with Happily Ever After Productions but
has recently gained the part of Ariel.
In addition to exuding a natural royal persona
and having a clean record, the princesses are also
quizzed on their Disney knowledge.
“They had a packet of questions that they rattle
off,” says Deeken. “One of the questions was ‘What
is Cinderella’s stepmother’s name?’ I didn’t know
then, but I found out it’s Lady Tremaine.”
Knowing the answers to Disney trivia is only the
beginning of the audition process.
“I remember singing ‘Almost There’ for them,”
says senior telecommunications major Azia Bussell,
describing her audition.
They were so impressed by her performance that
they invited her to join the cast as Princess Tiana.
“I remember them saying I’d have to wear my
own makeup and false eyelashes but mine were so
long. I was like ‘these are the eyelashes I have,’ they
were so amazed. I was born to be a Disney Princess,”
says Bussell.
They made her dress soon after.
All of the dresses are handmade by Couture’s
mother, Crystal Rose. If she can’t find a pattern she’s
satisfied with, she makes the dress off of what she
sees in that specific princess movie.
Typical princess attire includes her dress, shoes,
makeup, false lashes, a wig and sometimes an accent.
Being a princess is more than just looking the part.
You have to sound the part. When portraying a
character like Tiana, who is from New Orleans, a
performer must mimic that accent.
Though the girls are each casted as a specific
character, they have the opportunity to play others
if they fit the part. Megan Bates was originally
casted as Cinderella, but has portrayed Belle,
Jasmine and now Ariel.
Regardless of the princess the women of
Happily Ever After Productions are portraying,
the organization is all about giving children happy
memories and putting smiles on their faces.
“It’s the kids who are the most surprised and
[that’s the] rewarding part. It doesn’t matter if
you’re having a bad day and aren’t quite on your
game, what matters is the kids and the experience
they have and the memories that they have,” says
Couture. “We make sure that everyone takes away
only happy memories.”
45
AZIA BUSSELL
MEGAN BATES
MADDIE DEEKEN
BECOMING A PRINCESS: FROM STUDENT TO ROYALTY
before getting ready for each event, the girls lay out their makeup and help each other get ready.
SMOKEARTSmoke art is a photographic technique that captures the flowing designs of
smoke as it rises. Capturing the shapes and forms of smoke is challenging, but possible with the appropriate lighting and camera settings. Our staff
photographers created these images by using incense to produce a constant flow of smoke lit in a dark room from the side. The colors are a result of hue
adjustments in Photoshop.
PHOTO // lauren dahlhauser
IN FOCUS
46 // BALL BEARINGS
PHOTO // NICholas EWING
PHOTO // lauren dahlhauser
PHOTO // brittany overstreet PHOTO // kaytee lorentzen
PHOTO // Brittany overstreet
ILLUSTRATION // RICARDO LOPEZ
What can I eat on campus that’s healthy?From expanding our selection of grab-n-go fruits & veggies to adding whole wheat pastas and lower-cal breads, BSU Dining is committed to making healthy choices easy to find on campus.
Check out NetNutrition for menus, nutrition facts, and allergen information.
www.bsu.edu/dining >> Nutrition Information