Maybe it was the free cotton candy or kettle corn. It might havebeen the rides, the Student Government Association dunk tank or thegames operated by campus organizations. It could have been theflashing lights or the six tickets free with a student ID.
All these combined, more than 6,000 students turned out for theUniversity Program Board End-of-the-Year Carnival. This means aboutone-third of Ball State students were in one place on a Fridaynight, enjoying a controlled, alcohol-free UPB activity.
The carnival was money well spent. UPB has put on Late-Niteactivities in the past, throwing parties, inviting comedians andholding games with prizes. Maybe it took free food and flashinglights to get students to realize that the university does providefun, safe and alcohol-free activities often.
The carnival should be a wake-up call to administrators, Munciepolice and Muncie residents. Students enjoy activities that arelarge, fun and safe. They do not all need alcohol to have amemorable weekend.
If Ball State put more of its energy into developing activitieslike the carnival, it might keep people on campus and away fromparties. The money used to hype the "Police Yourself" campaigncould be devoted to more constructive means, like planning largerevents. Surely the university could find money elsewhere too, if itwanted to keep the campaign.
Ball State organizations and administrators could pool theirenergy to create events that could become traditions for students.Indiana University has the Little 500; Purdue has the Grand Prix.Maybe Ball State could have an annual event that puts it on themap.
The carnival success showed that Ball State is capable ofpulling off a successful student activity. UPB should be urged tokeep pursuing events like this one.
Maybe not every event will be as large as a carnival. But theuniversity should remind itself of the carnival's success the nexttime it assumes its students are engaging in irresponsiblerecreation.
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