Gerry: Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was a castle where all the king's men and women frolicked and fought. You are probably wondering why these lovely peons, er, people were fighting. Let me tell you something -- it's not pleasant to live in a castle with two smokestacks on the roof. Goodbye, West Quad. Hello, Art and Journalism Building.
Aleshia: Many of us have no idea what Gerry is talking about. That is because he is old. It is also because we are naive. My first year at Ball State was the unveiling of the Art and Journalism Building, and I remember an overwhelming flood of emotions including, "This is nice, but what's with the wicker chairs?" I do not, however, remember even knowing that West Quad existed. I was regrettably unaware of my roots as a journalist, Ball State student, and human being. That is, until I was given a grand tour of where it all began for Gerry, which might as well be where time began.
Gerry: I fondly recall walking all the way from Lafollette to West Quad on those December days at 7:45 in the frickin' morning. The walk was long, frigid, exhausting, and I missed my teddy bear. (Keep that flashback music rolling, maestro.) I also remember sitting through lectures as construction noises invaded my personal ear space.
Aleshia: The sands of time shifted as we walked beyond Burkhart, Ball Gym, and the vast expanses of the imagination to West Quad. Before the moment we entered the newly renovated glass doors, I had always assumed that West Quad was some kind of factory. What Ball State would produce in mass quantities, I do not know. Perhaps the little envelopes that hold parking tickets.
Nonetheless, I learned that the eager little journalists-to-be were on the second, third and fourth floors of West Quad. To put things into a more modern perspective, the Department of Journalism was like the art department of West Quad.
Gerry: I was actually somewhat distressed while grazing through West Quad's renovations. I couldn't figure out where the DAILY NEWS used to be. Many classrooms also had the furniture rearranged. What the heck is up with that? My undergraduate roommate, Wes, and I kept our dorm room in the same configuration for two years.
Change is scary; however, any journalism person who lived through the West Quad debacle can tell you we were more than happy to change buildings. As the Art and Journalism Building took shape, it was the biggest to-do since Aleshia stayed quiet for her personal record of 86 seconds. A new, centrally located building with a food court, bookstore, and spacious classrooms.
Aleshia: I have a new appreciation for the Art and Journalism Building. We, the New Class, cannot truly appreciate an architectural gift from the deity of choice without witnessing firsthand the architectural nightmare from the opposing deity of choice. Sure, wicker chairs may not be the latest in hip decorating trends, but at least we are not plagued by the stress, not to mention paint fumes, of building construction. We'll leave that up to Bracken Library.
Gerry: And it was told, the journalists frolicked merrily in their new castle; a building of jewels, gems, and other assorted riches. The evil castle now only existed in the their memories. And they lived happily ever after.
Write to Aleshia at aahaselden@bsu.edu
Write to Gerry at gappel@bsu.edu
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