Students' complaints are amplified all around campus as they pack up for the summer. Spring is here, internships are lined up, and finals are just around the corner. But for many students, hitting the beach isn't the best part of the summer - just leaving Muncie is.
"I can't wait to get out of this city," they say. "There's nothing to do in Muncie!"
Yeah, we've all said it, but where did the idea originate?
Sure, other universities might be located in more college-friendly towns, but the despair expressed by those temporarily living in Muncie is highly overstated. Why is it that Ball State University students constantly pick on the sights, culture and residents of our university's hometown?
The answer might be that they don't give Muncie enough credit.
There is, in fact, more to this town than Wal Mart. Maybe I've done all the complaining I can do - or maybe I'm just looking on the bright side because I'm staying in Muncie for the summer - but whatever the reason, I've learned to appreciate this town.
Look at campus, for instance. As the weather warms up, students haul their work outdoors to sit alongside the fountains and trees. They sit outside for hours just basking in the sun - and they might even get some studying done, too.
Students have also been utilizing outdoor space such as LaFollette Field to throw Frisbees or play sports.
The spring flowers make campus a little brighter and make the walks to class a little more enjoyable. And, in addition to the tulips planted up and down McKinley Avenue, Christy Woods offers access to exotic species of orchids. The woods, located on Ball State University's campus, offer a few paths that allow students to experience nature. Plus, with the weather warming up, Muncie offers many off-campus places for students to go for outdoor activities.
Minnetrista Cultural Center provides a safe area to have picnics or get together with friends. The beautiful scenery coupled with the walking paths and gardens make it an ideal destination for a sunny afternoon. The Ball family mansions are also a sight to see while wandering through the cultural center.
Prairie Creek Reservoir provides various types of recreation and allows Ball State students a place to have fun without traveling far.
But recreation isn't all Muncie has to offer.
The shops downtown, such as "The Artist Within," are great for local weekend amusement. Or, you can spend a day inside the planetarium and observatory learning something new.
It seems to be that students are too busy overlooking everything that Muncie has to offer to enjoy the time they spend here.
In hopes of not sounding too much like an advertisement trying to sell a Muncie vacation travel package, I'll justify it by saying I wish I had known about some of these places before my third year at Ball State.
There's always some tension between the people of Muncie and the people of Ball State. Quite possibly, the only way to solve the problem is to take responsibility for it. Generally, students have not made an effort to get involved in the Muncie community, and without that involvement, there will always be a gap between the school and the city.
So as you finish another year at Ball State, and you're counting down the days until you get to leave, just open your eyes to the good things Muncie has to offer - it might actually make it harder than you think to move away.
After years of complaining, you could miss Muncie after all.
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