Student Government Association Sen. Olufunmbi Elemo said she was"ready to rally" when secretary Adam Garcia called her name for themeeting's roll call.
And rally she did, along with SGA senators and executivemembers, who grabbed signs and petitions before trekking down tothe parking lot between the Art and Journalism Building and theTeachers College in an effort they called "The Polar BearRally."
Senators held signs touting messages like "FYI: AJ is not aStudent Center" and "Everything you need minus a student center."They recited chants, waved and shouted at passing cars.
"Ho, ho, ho," Sen. Kenny Berg shouted. "Santa wants a studentcenter."
Ittenbach said SGA wanted to show students where a new studentcenter could be built if the project received the funding.
Senators donned rain jackets and carried umbrellas as theyshouted to cars and passers by about the cause.
SGA offered free hot chocolate and Mark Carter, "The Hot DogMan," passed out hot dogs to students who signed the petition insupport of the new student center.
Randy Hyman, dean of students, and Doug McConkey, vice presidentfor Student Affairs and enrollment management, also came along forthe demonstration.
"I told them we were going to rally," Ittenbach said. "They arehere to show support for the students."
President Jayson Manship said he was pleased with the number ofsenators that came out in the rain to get the word out tostudents.
"It's awareness at this point," Manship said.
Ben Tietz, president pro tempore, said he was also impressedwith the senators' efforts. Tietz said that out of all thesenators, he has been in SGA the longest and has never seen theorganization get behind an issue like this. Tietz has been activein SGA for three years
"It's exciting that SGA has taken such a proactive stance ongetting a new student center," Tietz said.
Whether the senators' efforts will pay off depends on theirfellow students. Senators used the rally to gather signatures on apetition supporting the construction of a new student center.
"I've been here since 1989, and this is the first time thestudent senate is actually marching in support of something," KayBales, associate vice president for student life, said. "Icertainly think that bringing the issue out to the students willstart to make a more visible impact."
Sen. Will Garvey said he gathered a page and a half ofsignatures from supporters.
Garvey said students were more likely to sign the petition afterhe explained that the new facility could be placed in the spacethey rallied at, which is more centered on campus.
"They tacked that extra $1,000 to the fee," freshman JesseWright said. "The least they could do is give us a new studentcenter."
Wright said he signed the petition.
Bruce Morgan, director of the Student Center and programs, saidthe university has been looking at building a new facility sincethe end of the 1980s. Morgan said the university needs a newfacility.
"(Ball State) needs a place where students will gather and thatwill build a sense of community," Morgan said.
He said Ball State's Student Center is behind the times comparedto other campuses.
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