BSU’s Immersive Learning Project recognized in Errington resolution

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana General Assembly today joined State Representative Sue Errington(D-Muncie) in recognizing Ball State University’s Immersive Learning Project, “Unmasked: The Stigma of Meth.”

This program—led by Terry Heifetz, an instructor of Telecommunications and News Director for Indiana Public Radio; Juli Metzger, instructor of Journalism and Coordinator of Unified Media in the College of Communications; John Osterhoudt, a student at Ball State; Tony Sandleben, a student at Ball State—allowed 26 students to examine the meth epidemic in Delaware County for one semester.

These students were tasked with developing a magazine, producing a documentary, and creating an Internet website that included podcasts, online video stories and a photo essay about their research and experiences.

These students were also able to earn school credit for working with local business, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to help target challenges throughout their community during this project.

“I believe students learned about the importance of in-depth community journalism and how it provides knowledge that can help their community,” said Errington.

“What these students are doing is essential to helping curb the drug epidemic in Indiana,” said Errington. “Their research and knowledge is a key part into understanding why this epidemic is so prominent among Hoosiers.”

There were 148 seized meth labs in Delaware County in 2014. That number rose by almost 40 percent to 235 seized labs in 2015. Two babies every week at Muncie’s IU Ball Memorial Hospital are born drug addicted.