July 2003 Nostalgia

In 1949 when I entered Ball State, it was Ball State Teachers College. Having grown up in Muncie and having attended Burris Laboratory School, I was aware of the beautiful campus, Beneficence, and the art building where graduations were conducted, but "campus" was a different place and "college" was a whole new life.

There were about 3,000 students enrolled at that time and you could walk across campus, often seeing many people you knew. Communication through notes took place by putting your note in the alphabetical boxes located in the student room of the Administration Building. (There was no e-mail in those days!)

Classes met four days a week and each class floated one day a week. Because enrollment was rather small, many students with the same major ended up in classes together, so one could get to know some people very well. As a major in elementary education, those of us who entered in 1949 were in many classes together.

Having been on student council in high school, running for Student Executive Council (SEC) seemed O.K. and I served four years, two as president. Therefore, I gave the student response at the dedication of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center in the fall of 1952.

Student centers were new at that time--Dr. John Emens was innovative to have student and faculty committees visit other campuses to see what a student center might bring to a campus. My father had known President Pittenger and I was honored to sit on stage with Dr. Emens, ex-Governor Henry Schricker, and the last surviving Ball brother, George A. Ball. Of course, having my speech notes fall under Mr. Ball's chair when we stood to sing the Alma Mater forced me to speak without notes, but that's part of what I learned at Ball State.

SEC met weekly and sponsored all elections, Homecoming, the leaf rake, and Parent's Day. Through SEC and other activities, my life was significantly touched by wonderful teachers, administrators, mentors--President Emens; Martha Wickham, director of women's activities; Victor Lawhead, SEC sponsor; and Everett Ferrill, Robert Cooper, and Oliver Bumb, teachers--to name a few.

It is nostalgic to walk across campus today and see the names on buildings, which are names of people I knew: Mysch Hall, Lucia Mysch was my art teacher at Burris; Schmidt Hall, Fred Shmidt taught industrial arts to many elementary majors; the Johnson complex, Earl A. Johnson was the principal at Burris; Wilson Hall, Angie Wilson taught social studies at Burris and was my class and student council sponsor.

While classes were important, events may be what we remember best 50 years later. The Homecoming parade each fall had a theme and each group sponsored a float, working hard to prepare the design, the logo, and choose riders to make the trip down University Avenue past waving crowds and the Administration Building, hoping to win "Best" prize.

The leaf rake each year was fun for all. Do you suppose we really helped, or did all that throwing of people into the piles and jumping on leaves just pulverize the leaves? The dances hosted by various groups and music played by big bands of the time (I remember Woody Herman as one) were some of the major social activities. And those talent shows! Much effort was made to have activities on weekends so that Ball State would not be so much a "commuter campus."

Two of our daughters attended Ball State in the early 1980s and I appreciate the effort to keep the friendly atmosphere, though the campus has grown. I had worked on campus for Dr. Johnshoy the summer of 1952 doing a project estimating 20-year enrollment. When it suggested there might be 18,000 people on campus by the 1970s, I was sure I had done the project incorrectly.

New buildings were in place, but situated to preserve the best of the old. The current times and emerging technologies make it imperative to change, but I believe we in the class of 1953 appreciate the setting of goals which respect the past and attempt to carry the best of Ball State's history into the future.

by Alice Myers Arthur

Alice Myers Arthur graduated from Ball State with a degree in elementary education in 1953. She taught and served as a director of guidance and principal in Lafayette, before working as assistant director of admissions for Purdue University from 1990-95. Photos on these pages from Myers Arthur show her with a friend at the Administration Building, with her Clavia group (forerunner to Mortar Board), and at graduation. Other photos are from Ball State's photo archives.

Campus in 1953

In 1953, the Korean War ended, Crick and Watson announced the discovery of DNA, and another senior class left Ball State with college memories.

From their first days on campus, members of the class of 1953 experienced the excitement of moving into dormitories and scheduling classes. Once the quarter began in September, the warmth of summer faded and wool sweaters and long dresses replaced cotton T-shirts and peddle pushers.

The campus welcomed fall with a leaf-raking project in the Quad and celebrated the completion of the Student Center.

October brought a competitive spirit with Homecoming activities. Students participated in the dormitory displays, and "We're Going to Bowl 'Em Over" and "Put 'Em in the Doghouse" were just a few of the themes that raised campus morale before the game against Butler.

The crowning of Homecoming queen Ann Miller of Pi Beta Phi ended a heated campaign among sorority women, and another Homecoming concluded as 7,000 spectators watched the Bulldogs' 28-7 victory over the Cardinals.

Campus activities filled students' weekends as they bought Cokes from the B Club at men's basketball games and attended the Kallista and Delta Phi Delta's first Bohemian Brawl. With the end of quarters and numerous papers and exams, students also passed the time at parties and residence hall activities, where they danced to the music of Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, and Perry Como.

Spotlight Productions contributed to the campus community with performances of The Silver Whistle, Twelfth Night, and Hansel and Gretl. Lambda Chi Alpha encouraged social groups to come together at the second annual spring Bike-A-Thon. The women began their ten-mile ride at 8:30 a.m., and fraternity men followed with a 50-mile race.

After four years, President John Emens left seniors with a parting message in The Orient. "We hope that your college has prepared you to grasp these opportunitiesthese challengesand to face your tasks with eagerness, enthusiasm, and vigor," Emens said. "We believe that your achievements will be many, and they will reflect honor to yourselves and to your Alma Mater, Ball State Teachers College."

by Andrea Paul

Reader responds to Nostalgia column in May issue

Dear Editor:

I only wrote this note because of an interesting article I read in the May issue of your magazine. It was "Social Studies" by Andrea Paul, page 32.

I was a two-year graduate of Ball State in 1930, lived one year at Lucina Hall, and was a member of Sigma Beta Tau.

This article did not mention my favorite eating place, Tune Inn, where you could get well-rounded meals for 15 cents. Rowlettes was a popular snack bar. Both were near campus.

I spent 60 years in the North Webster School--12 years in grade and high school, 36 years teaching second grade, and 15 years substituting.

I was able to raise two sons and was honored to be Grand Marshall of the Webster's Annual Mermaid Festival last summer. I will soon be 93, still driving my car, so I guess I should slow down.

Gladys (Strombeck) Culver, '32
North Webster