Depending on how tonight's football game goes, come halftime, paying attention to what happens on the field might become a bit of a challenge, but you might want to stick around.
Don't hesitate to make that mad dash for the restrooms because you couldn't pry yourself away from the game, but if you decide to stay and watch the halftime show, you'll see some people stroll across the turf who aren't in football or marching band uniforms.
Along with the routine, midgame festivities, Ball State University officials will update the crowd on the Ball State Bold fundraising campaign, which is aiming to raise about $200 million for the university by 2012.
Ben Hancock, vice president of university advancement, said although the fundraising campaign began in 2007, President Jo Ann Gora began collecting donations soon after she arrived in 2004.
The amount raised so far won't be known until halftime tonight, but the fruits of Gora's fundraising efforts and marketing abilities are already apparent.
A large chunk of the money raised by the campaign will go toward Gora's strategic plan, including a certain baby of her's we're all familiar with - immersive learning.
Whether you're a fan of immersive learning or not, there's one thing you can't deny - it has become a powerful marketing tool for the university. If you're picking up a brochure, driving by a billboard or watching a TV commercial for Ball State, it is virtually impossible to avoid seeing "immersive learning" plastered bold and center.
Hearing these words might be like listening to a broken record, but the philosophy seems to be working.
Four or five years ago, Ball State's reputation was, well, different than what it is today.
Since then, the university's appeal has become more favorable, and more students are enrolling (a few freshmen who found themselves sleeping in study lounges when they arrived can attest to that fact.)
No matter how the money affects the university in the long run, since Gora has been here, she's been raking it in. With the funds she's been able to pull together for the strategic plan - in particular the growth of immersive learning - we can begin considering ourselves a far more respectable institution as a whole.
So when Ball State's leaders walk onto the field tonight, you might want to think twice about heading to the concession stand for a walking taco. The money figure they tell you could mean a lot for our university.
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