The city of Muncie is working to pop the Ball State bubble and bring new and returning students across campus borders and into the Muncie community.
Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler said the city wants to “promote that we’re all in this together." Tyler created the One Muncie campaign to encourage city residents and Ball State students to unite.
“It is a way for us to improve a better quality of place and a quality of life for everybody that is living in the community," the mayor said.
One Muncie started at the same time the Muncie Community school board voted to consolidated its high schools into one school back in November 2013, he said.
“There was a lot of conversation and discontent back and forth between the south side and north side of Muncie,” he said.
He said he tweeted that it is time to move on, focus on the students to become one Muncie.
He's open to whatever students want to do to get involved in their community, whether they be college, middle school or high school students, he said.
“I’m always looking to sit down and talk to students about what ideas they have,” Tyler said.
Tyler said he has seen many Ball State student-athletes immersing themselves in Muncie by doing community service work.
Ball State football coach Pete Lembo encourages players to help out with their community and they have volunteered at places like the Boys & Girls Club and Muncie Civic Theater.
Cheryl Crowder, event director for the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, said the organization works to make students aware of what is happening in the community and make sure they know they are invited.
One event that draws a variety of students into Muncie is the Artswalk, a community art gallery held on the streets of downtown Muncie, Crowder said. This year, Artswalk will be held on Oct. 1.
“[Artswalk] is an awesome way to meet other people outside of campus and expand what is available to enjoy outside of campus,” she said.
In the spring, Muncie Gras attracts a large amount of students to downtown Muncie Crowder said. Several students organization help promote the event .
"It is a 21 and up event, so it has kind of become a right of passage," Crowder said.
Muncie Civic Theater and Cornerstone Center for the Arts also have a major student base. She said many of the tickets at Muncie Civic are discounted and students are involved on and off the stage.
Tyler said there are some hard feelings between Muncie residents and students because those who have made their home in Muncie feel like students don't care about the city because their stay is only temporary.
But although most students will only be living in Muncie for a short time, Tyler said they should still take pride in their community by doing simple things, like taking care of their yards or volunteering for organizations outside the university.
While it may be hard for some students to get off campus to explore Muncie, many are still making the trip downtown or to the Village to experience off-campus life.
Frank Reber, owner of the Caffeinery, a downtown coffee shop, said the return of students has brought his business up 10 percent.
And along the same lines, Brian Burk, franchise owner of Greek's Pizzeria, said he's also seen an increase in students coming to the Village, where his restaurant is located.
"It's definitely more business than we had last year at this time," Burk said.
Sarah Lehman, a sophomore telecommunications major, said Muncie and Ball State have a strong relationship, noting how events such as homecoming involve the city.
Every student will have to go off campus at some point, Lehman said, and should know what's going on in the community and what's available in Muncie.
“This is our town,” Lehman said. “This is where we are living the next couple years of our lives.”
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