The Ball State University Parent Advisory Council is handing out allowance substantial enough--$125,000--to help build a new student center for all Ball State "children."

The council, made up of parents of current university students, supports the university annually through the Parents Fund. The fund provides emergency student financial aid and finances leadership scholarships every year.

The gift shows parental support for Ball State's plan for a new student center.

"It's something all students can benefit from," said Jane Unger, who, with her husband Jon, served as council chair this year. "It's the one thing that would tie all the students together. The parents saw a need for a new student center in the heart of campus."

The Ungers hope the PAC's support of the center will encourage other parents--as well as students, alumni and faculty--to voice their approval of the project.

"If we're doing it, we're hoping other people will do the same thing," Jane Unger said.

She is a first grade teacher at Daleville Elementary who graduated from the university in 1973. Her husband is director of corporate services at Ontario Systems in Muncie. Their daughter Jill graduated in May with an education degree.

"Because we live here (in Muncie), we know what an asset it would be," Unger said.

The new student center will be located between Teachers College and the Art and Journalism Building, now under construction. It will house offices for 30 student organizations and provide a place for entertainment, involvement and achievement, said Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs.

"I sincerely believe there is no more important project for the welfare of our students and the university than the new student center," he said.

Support is strong for the center: The Student Government Association voted unanimously to support the project and has raised $10,000. The student Senate resolution was sponsored by 23 student groups instead of the usual two or three.

The new center is a goal of Above and Beyond: The Campaign to Advance Ball State University. The campaign will raise $10 million toward construction of the facility.