BSU Holds Community Event on Strategic Plan
10.17.2024 / News / Rick Yencer
The university-community relationship between Muncie and Ball State University has evolved over the last half century. As Muncie’s industrial base faded, the teacher’s college of the last century grew and is now the largest employer along with the hospital run by IU Health. Ball President Geoffrey Means, a former federal prosecutor, hosted a gathering Wednesday with the community to help with the mext strategic plan for Ball State.
About 75 people showed up at Central High and offered plenty of ideas about how to get people to attend events, create new immersive learning programs and get more faculty and staff to actually live in Delaware County. There were few government officials and business leaders in the crowd dominated by Ball State leaders, academics and students. The gathering also gave Mearns and other academics the way to show off the latest growth in the University Village besides what the university already does for the community.
The construction site at University and McKinley across from the Pittenget Student Center is a new hotel and performing arts center for theatre, music and dance. The hotel and restraurant is a Hilton brand called The Cantio with a roof top bar and lounge. Means estimated about 160 performances a year at the new venue attracting 35,000 people to the village. There is also a new Innovation Connector being built next to the venue, which will create business and industrial growth in the community. One question raised was how to get more people to attend events. The response was one word… free.
The university already offers free entertainment to its art museum, planetarium, and some sporting and theatre events. Parking was also raised to get more people on campus, even though BSU has three parking garages on campus currently. Ideas for new immersive learning projects include study of rental housing, addiction treatment, and improving local media. Some talked about fading newspapers and radio and the lack of communication about what’s going on in the community. Other ideas included revamping websites to list events and happenings besides using technology like AI and geo tracking to get more people involved.
One of the biggest university events is the upcoming Homecoming Parade on Oct. 26th, where Ball State’s football team will be playing Northern Illinois that afternoon. Literally thousands are involved, going to the game, and watching the parade featuring bands, dancers, musicians, and a host of others.
Rick Yencer is a veteran newsman and author of “Muncie in 150.”