Rebound.
It's a word often used for a wide variety of things these days:sports, sex...
All right, well it's really just sports and sex.
However, this year that not-so-common seven letter word may playa fine role in the lives of anyone immediately connected with BallState University.
And no, not just because of the sports and sex.
After facing what many would call a horribly dramatic year, BallState has welcomed back its students with hopes of recovering fromthe past.
However, recovering does not mean forgetting.
Instead, we, as a student body, must learn from the triumphs andtribulations of last semester and move on with our normallives.
Those lives start now.
It is a new year, a new start and a new beginning for manypeople.
In fact, it's new for everyone. Take, for example, Ball State'snew President: Jo Ann M. Gora.
It goes without saying that Gora is familiar with the events ofthis past year; yet, how accustomed is she to her students'reactions?
Do we even have reactions? At times last year, I was left inserious doubt about how we express them.
It is certainly time to show off our leadership skills, if fornothing else but for the benefit of our new leader. As they say,actions speak louder than words. (A quote that sounds somewhatironic coming from a columnist, I know.)
This year is an excellent time to change our ways and prove toour fellow students, staff, faculty and surrounding world that wedo care, and that we truly are ready to move on.
This is a rebound year for Ball State, its students, its staffand most importantly: its reputation.
What we, as students, do and how we act could heavily influencethe views that the general public has on this university for yearsto come.
In other words, even more, "Oh... Ball State? How's THAT?" thanone ever could have imagined. Or, we can put forth effort todisprove these thoughts. When it comes down to it, students are incontrol of the respect a school deserves and receives.
And, in my humble opinion, I think Ball State needs a lot moreof it. However, it all starts with this year's students.
Will we be the students and school that sink quietly into thenight while gossip and doubts circle through ears and minds ofcritics?
Will we be looked back upon as the post-drama class of underdogswho walked into the unexpected with our chins up, ready and willingto battle for the integrity of school, of our students and of oureducation?
Will we be looked back upon even at all?
Only time will tell for sure, but there's certainly no harm intrying in the interim.
It's time to run together as a herd, Ball State. No pep rallies,football games or gigantic group dinners needed.
Instead, we're relying on the silent work: the small jobs andthe little things that will get us by from day to day. An overalluplift of spirit and campus morale will do just fine. It's not alot to ask, but certainly something to consider when it comes topeople respecting our school.
If we truly want to enjoy ourselves, we must be comfortable inour surroundings.
And by comfortable, I mean proud.
Make this a positive year. Excuse the past, look forward to thefuture and let's put the respect back into our home that itdeserves.
It's time to rebound Ball State.
Yes, even with the sports and sex.
Write to Dave at heydave@bewilderedsociety.com
visit www.bewilderedsociety.com
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