Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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Greg Todd, general assignment reporter for WTHR, Channel 6 television, Indianapolis, was one of a multitude of journalists that covered the event for their respec- tive media--photo by William E. Vance Not reaching for the unattainable, 2,544 enthusiastic jumpers attempt to squeeze into a spot in the Guin- ness Book of World Records as well as a film produced by Toyota--photo by William E.

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Ohne Two, Three-- by Susan Sparks and Mark Records ¥ the hundreds they came, grabbing T-shirts and running for the front row spots. The cameras were ready, some on the ground and one in a ‘cherry picker’ high above the arts terrace. The Quad was fenced off, and as the sun finally peeked through the clouds, everything was set. “Fast” Freddy Fever from radio station WNAP in Indianapolis came into command, and with the word from the director, 2,544 Ball Staters jumped in the air. They leaped as high as they could with the hope of setting the world’s record for the most people to jump in the air simultaneously. Sponsored by the Orient, the event turned out to be more spec- tacular than anyone first imagined. Stationed in the Arts Building se- cond story window, Gerry Justice and Flava Galbreath have a good view of the wide range of events happening in the Quad.--photo by William E. Vance In one of the much sought after front row spots, Jana Jordan, a member of the mime group Silent Partners, attracted a great deal of attention with her theatrical gestures--photo by William E. Vance Jump for It | magnyine In a matter of minutes the Quad was packed with people wearing red and orange T-shirts proclaim- ing “Jump For It” slogans. And when the word was given, sudden- ly the air was filled with hundreds of jumpers wearing orange and red, waving to the scores of cameras and dreaming of fame as commercial stars. They leaped in front of TV news cameras from WTHR and WRTV of Indianapolis, Cable News Net- work, WIPB of Muncie, and scores of radio stations and newspaper services from all over Indiana. The big event was also recorded by a film crew from Toyota Motor Sales of America. Toyota filmed the event for promotional pur- poses because of its campaign that used the slogan, “Oh what a feel- ing!” and the commercials of peo- ple jumping in the air. Toyota was Jump For It! also just anxious to be a part of the biggest jump ever. So were the students. Some came as mimes, some arrived dressed as clowns, but most just came as themselves. And everyone wanted to have his face seen in the massive jump. Some classes were cancelled, while others studied it by handing out surveys. The geology classes also measured the quake created when the 5,000 feet hit the ground. The jump was really like being in the movies. Cameras were everywhere, coordinators were be- ing interviewed, and there were producers and directors to get the job done right. Six officials judged the event to verify it for Guinness, and between jumps, the jumpers chanted “Ball-U, Ball-U, Ball-U.” And just like producing a real movie, there were problems and details to be worked out. The Wednesday weather forecast predicted rain, and sure enough Thursday morning it was foggy, gray, gloomy and, of course, rain- ing. The yearbook staff panicked. There could be no rescheduling the event. It was the only time Toyota could be there, and the advertising budget was gone. It was a one-shot deal. Miraculously at about 11 a.m. the sky started to clear. But every time it seemed like the threat of rain was finally over, it would continued =a

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Hours before most of the jumpers arrived, students from the Geology Department were in the Quad placing ground sensors in strategic places. Then as the 5,000 feet hit the ground they measured the quake that shook the area on a seismograph instrument. Although not all the feet landed at the same time, the graph showed con- siderable quivers--photo by Kim Ferrill According to Mark Records, one of the Orient Jump coordinators, one of the strangest aspects of all the Jump planning was requisitioning the Quad and a university cherry picker. Without the height of the cherry picker, though, it would have been impossible to get a com- plete view of the entire spectacle.--photo by Kim Ferrill 5° +P 4. we oh gah ys yy ty . os aah er oe ‘7 TARE ave, Ev, ie » a — ee eee Gi