When I think Ball State, what symbolically pops in my head?
When I first came to Ball State the answer was simple -- Beneficence. Now, I'm not so sure.
Heading into my fourth year at Ball State, I find myself pondering the things that don't matter all that much, but still confuse me. With the warm summer days in the past few weeks, I've become more willing to walk around campus. In the process, curiosity has overcome me.
While wandering around campus these past weeks I've also noticed the curious but somewhat scared freshmen wondering around. While aimlessly trying to figure out what they've got themselves into, they all walk gripping their orientation bags with more force than the Jaws of Life.
The bags are decorated with an image of Beneficence.
I glance at the bag and wonder -- why a statue that no one sees?
I'm a believer in tradition. Don't get me wrong, I like Benny. However, at the same time I can count on one hand how many times I've physically found myself near the statue. And the majority of those instances were forced upon me during my own orientation.
Thus I find myself searching for an answer. What else could take over the symbolic responsibility for Ball State? There is the obvious - Shafer Tower.
The tower was built for the simple reason that some alumnus named Shafer decided to donate money for it. But now, it has become the focus of the campus. Even off campus the tower can be seen.
And, interestingly enough, in the smoky window toward the top of the tower is an etched image of Benny -- almost a memorial to the forgotten statue. The tower replaced Benny as the primary symbol for Ball State while at the same time keeping her in our thoughts.
There is of course one other answer -- move her.
Pack her pillars up, uproot the ol' girl and move her. I have a couple of spots all ready picked and ready to go for her too.
The University Green between Bracken Library and the Architecture Building would be a good spot. I'm sure Frog Baby would appreciate the company. Not only that, it would relocate Benny to a more centralized location, thus justifying her presence on everything from the side of the shuttle bus to bills we get from the bursar's office.
But to me, that move might create problems. You see then it puts Benny and the bell tower within striking distance of one another. We don't want that. So here's the real answer if Benny is to remain our symbol:
Hoist her up on top of the arena.
Yeah, that's right -- on top of the arena where God and everybody can see her clear as day, every day. It's where all the basketball fans come during games, make them honor the ol' girl too.
All the freshmen will be right across the street in LaFollette and will be able to see her daily. Every student who comes into the commuter lot each morning will be able to exit their car with a smile as Benny greats them.
My best idea -- put massive spot lights on the rim of the arena roof and light her all night long forcing her to become a spectacle rather than a statue covered by pine trees on the least visited side of campus.
It sounds outrageous, I know. Move a statue that has been where it's at for so long and then go to the extreme of putting it on top of one of the largest buildings in this city.
But hey, like I said, I just found myself pondering the things that don't matter all that much. This is what I came up with.
Write to Greg at gmfallon@bsu.edu
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