Free is a great word, especially for penny-pinching college students. And "free" is heard a lot at Ball State University. Free hugs at the Scramble Light. Free shows at Emens Auditorium. Free exhibits at the Art Museum.
Students, staff and faculty have some great resources and events available at Ball State. But not everything is as inexpensive and accessible as it should be. Ball State sponsors and presents dozens of educational events every year, like the Greening of the Campus conference last weekend, but students don't attend. Conferences bring experts here, to Ball State, to the students who can learn from them. But the experts and students don't always meet.
Educational activities need the same attention as fun ones. Not everything college students want is free, but learning opportunities need to be affordable. Free games and activities like Late Nite are great, but we're students and (supposedly) here at Ball State to learn.
There are three problems. First, these opportunities aren't advertised well and frequently occur without most the campus noticing. Not all students regularly check the university's events Web page. But they do check Facebook, read e-mails and notice flyers.
Second, many students don't have $35 to spend on just one day at a conference like Greening of the Campus, no matter how important the topic is. Conferences shouldn't cost $35 a day for students. The university needs to offset that price and help students pay to attend conferences that are done on campus.
Third, the students with extra cash don't want to spend it on "boring" conferences and events they can't relate to. Ball State needs to make them interesting, applicable to students' lives and inexpensive. Ball State should plan games, schedule student-related sessions, give out information that relates topics to students or even provide food. Learning should be fun!
Money should be reallocated to make these conferences and learning events accessible and interesting for students. In return, students need to make an effort to attend as many of these events as possible if Ball State takes the step to make them affordable and fun. Otherwise it's a waste of the university's, and our, money.
Education isn't free, but it's a great goal to strive for.
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