[Editor's Note: Kay Bales is no longer the adviser to Student Government Association. She left the position when she was promoted to Ball State's dean of Division of Student Affairs. Agnes Niemiec now serves as the adviser to SGA.]
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the Feb. 9 Daily News article "SGA Removes Election Board." My understanding is that William Garvey was entrusted with the responsibility to compile a board to oversee the upcoming Student Senate elections at Ball State University. He was afforded this responsibility due to his history with the senate elections and the fact that he has strong character and the ability to comprehend the rules and ensure that those rules are followed.
He put together a board of familiar individuals and others with whom he has an acquaintance and who were said to also have necessary interest and skills to assist with the elections. Ask yourselves, who would you choose to assist you if you were given this responsibility? Individuals much like you, who have relevance to each other so the group can function in a cohesive manner.
In this case, the board was made up of a majority of members of Theta Chi fraternity.
I attended Ball State from 1974 to 1978 and was familiar with the Theta Chi fraternity. It was housed in a dilapidated red house at the corner of New York and Riverside avenues. There were few members of Theta Chi, and their focus often appeared only social with parties that rivaled those in the movie "Animal House." In fact, at one of those parties, many of us were exposed to Hepatitis B and later escorted to the health center. Imagine my joy when my son, William Garvey, told me he was pledging Theta Chi.
In the past five years, I have learned that Theta Chi continues to be a typical fraternity with occasional issues regarding parties and booze. What I have also learned is that the Ball State Theta Chi chapter embraced my son - who has been diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities - and helped him find himself. He has grown into a self-reliant, confident, outgoing individual with excellent skills to remain happy, healthy and successful.
The men of Ball State's Theta Chi fraternity challenge themselves to watch out for and care for each other when in need. Most recently, this has included learning about depression and suicide and making the commitment to totally support a member going through a very difficult time in his life.
To remain active in the fraternity, a member must maintain a grade point average of 2.4, and to hold office, he must maintain a grade point average of 2.6. The fraternity has the second-highest grade point average of all campus fraternities. The current group of Theta Chis has moved into a larger house on Riverside Avenue and, with the assistance of the alumni board, is making necessary renovations. My husband and I have been privileged to volunteer with our son and his fellow Theta Chi members. ...
Kay Bales stated the Student Senate had not previously experienced "problems of this magnitude," according to the Daily News article. I feel that she needs to take responsibility for the current dilemma. It is disgraceful that committed Ball State students can be treated with such blatant disrespect. Their enthusiasm and hard work has been discarded based on naivety and distorted thinking. Their integrity was impugned by individuals motivated by a political agenda and not based on any true facts.
The Student Senate voted out a previously approved, functioning board made up of individuals with strong character who were committed to running a fair and unbiased election. As an advisor to the Student Senate, how does Bales expect qualified students to ever want to be involved with any student organization or perform any good works when she condones such treatment as the end result?
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
