For President Paul Ferguson, the class of 2018 is special. Ferguson welcomed the freshmen to campus Sunday afternoon during his first freshman convocation, describing them as “his class.”
“I’m their president and they are my class,” Ferguson said. “It’s a special class for me as a new president, but also as we celebrate the 100th year anniversary [of Ball State in 2018].”
Ferguson recently became Ball State’s 15th president after Jo Ann Gora retired.
During the convocation, Ferguson and the president of the Student Government Association, Nick Wilkey, both spoke to students to inspire them for the school year.
“You’ve come to Ball State from many different backgrounds and many different perspectives,” Ferguson said. “In addition to encouraging you to succeed and graduate on time with minimal student debt, you’re coming to Ball State to find something. We want you to find that and we want to help you get there as quickly as possible.“
Ball State alumnus and associate producer of Super Soul Sunday, Zachary Perlinski, was a speaker at the event. He mentioned all of the success he had at the university and his struggle to become a Resident Assistant.
Jill Robinson, freshman human resources major, said she enjoyed hearing from a former student and likes Ferguson.
“He seems genuinely excited about being with us and going through the same thing that we do,” Robinson said.
Following the convocation, Ferguson led a book discussion group of 20 random students on the freshmen reader, “The Other Wes Moore.”
“I think I really try to take every opportunity early on to get to know the community,” Ferguson said. “The only way you get to be a community is to be a part of it.”
Kiah Beeman, a freshmen deaf education major was surprised, and happy to find herself in the same room as the president.
“I was terrified at first, but it was actually really cool,” Beeman said. “I want to ask him for a picture before I leave.”
Ferguson didn’t offer the incoming freshmen a chance to get lunch with him like his predecessor. However, he did hand out his email address to his book discussion groups and told them to email him at some point in the semester to let him know how each one was adjusting to Ball State.
As each student left, Ferguson shook their hands and took pictures with many of them.
“I like that he actually tries to get to know you on a personal level,” Beeman said. “I don’t know how other university presidents are, but my picture of one was high and mighty, standing up on a podium, looking down at the little folk and taking the job more for the money and the prestige than for helping the students.”
Read More
AP: Biden's upcoming graduation speech roils Morehouse College, a center of Black politics and culture
By The Associated Press / YesterdayWhen he gives the commencement address at Morehouse College, President Joe Biden will have his most direct engagement with college students since the start of the Israel-Hamas war at a center of Black politics and culture.
Indiana Capital Chronicle: Rokita warns Indiana college officials to guard against campus antisemitism
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / 2 days agoAttorney General Todd Rokita on Wednesday issued a warning to postsecondary officials: “Hateful antisemitic acts against Jewish students will not be tolerated.”
Authors of book “Cold Case Muncie" host event at Muncie Public Library
By Ellie Marker / 3 days agoTrue crime journalists and authors Douglas Walker and Keith Roysdon co-wrote a book titled, “Cold Case Muncie.” At the Carnegie Library May 14, the authors shared comments about their findings as well as a Q&A session with the audience.
