Ball State has the opportunity to become a closer community.
It might take a while. It will definitely take a lot of effort. But the results are well worth it.
Students go to school here for many reasons. Some come strictly for the programs, others because of scholarships. Differences aside, it would be impossible to find a student here that does not want to enjoy their time at Ball State.
People at Ball State know how to socialize, a skill they learned in high school and before. However, the university could speed up the process if it helped get the funding to sponsor more weekend events at Ball State.
The University Program Board carnival is an example. While it was a student organization's initiative, the money came from a grant.
Grants like that are just what the university should be shooting for. Ball State should advertise its desire for more donations to help fund large student activities.
They can provide students with safe entertainment and keep them on campus for the weekend, which Ball State sometimes struggles to accomplish. The immediate effect is putting on an event that makes students see Ball State as a place for recreation and education.
These are both important components of the college experience. Students will stay here on the weekends more if they have more to do on campus. By spending more time here out of class, they get the opportunity to build relationships, one of the most important components of the college experience.
Students might take some of what they learn in the classroom and apply it to the real world. They will use their experiences here to boost their resumes and help them get jobs. But they will most likely use their experiences here to forge relationships that go beyond graduation. That bond will be associated with the university, creating a tighter community with a common ground: Ball State pride.
There are additional benefits. Student organizations that are interested in planning and sponsoring more weekend events should make their goals known to the university.
There are donors out there, sometimes they are just looking for the right place for their money.
After graduation, alumni can look back at the great events they participated in at Ball State, creating a bond with the university that cannot be broken. Those memories will come to mind the next time they get the opportunity to give back to their alma mater.
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