Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

Page 21 text:

t was no easy task stack- ing 700 Northern waterme- lons in a broken down, back end of a lumber truck. It took over an hour of work and a good amount of sweat, but the five brothers from Delta Tau Delta fraternity managed to get the job done. The group started home ex- pecting a peaceful journey but soon discovered that their truck was a ‘‘tank,”’ loaded witn am- munition that pelted the wind- shields of passing cars. By the time they reached home, at least 10 melons had splattered a trail of red and green mush between Kendallville and Muncie. On campus the group met with their fraternity brothers and members of Alpha Chi Omega sorority to deliver the vital cargo that made Watermelon Bust ’83 possible. The Bust was held each year during Fall Quarter to raise money for locai and national charities. One of the event’s charity organizations, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, MADD, used their proceeds to help reduce the number of alcohol related traffic fatalities in In- diana. At the Bust the group also promoted the use of common sense to students who drank. During the afternoon ac- tivities, some of the self- proclaimed heavyweaight drin- kers tried to test their blood alcohol levels by taking a breathalyzer test offered by the Indiana State Police and MADD. And while MADD conducted their tests, LaFollette had been transformed into a seed spitting, bee-swarming, queen- crowning party, September 17. With concert stands, informa- tion booths, snack bars and make-shift playing fields, the festival gave the second weekend an atmosphere of good times and all out fun. At 12:30 p.m. teams began ar- riving to psych-up and warm-up for watermelon games, while spectators began by stuffing themselves with all the free melon they could munch. Par- ticipants were treated to the military sounds of the Fort Ben- jamin Harris Jazz Band and danced to the rhythms of Buster’s Jazz Ensemble. As the bands played, the Bust spectators watched as the Bub- ble Butts team, dressed in diapers and plastic shipping bags, took the field while the Melon Helmets attracted more bees than women. Beer carton hats, live snake mascots and female ‘‘crayons’’ also colored the look of the day. The pre-game action was highlighted by the introduction of the six queen candidates and their Delta Tau Delta fraternity escorts. Bust Chairman Dave Schmidt, Selma junior, then in- troduced radio station WFBQ’s “Q-Zoo”’ team of “Tom and Bob’’ as emcees for the day of watermelon high jinks. The watermelon head-rolling contest began the afternoon’s events, while the watermelon relay, toss, buster and eating contests had contestants scrap- ing their knees, soiling their shirts and spoiling their dinner. As the participants rolled, ran, ate and crawled their way to vic- tory, each race became a little sloppier and a little messier than the one before. A concert by the Henry Lee Summer Band and the crowning CONTINUED Delta Tau Delta donated $1600 from Watermelon Bust proceeds to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Alpha Chi Omega earned $1500 for Cystic Fibrosis. Watermelon Bust 17

Page 20 text:

“ALL YOU CAN EAT” was the offer made for Watermelon Bust '83. Kelly Hoffman, Fort Wayne senior, takes advantage of the of- fer and digs into the juicy fruit. Photo by Tom Amiot Ler Natermelon Bust LAFOLLETTE FIELD was filled with 4,200 participants who arrived in everything from diapers to dress slacks. The record at- tendance crowd enjoys bands, games, a queen crowning and watermelon battles during the afternoon and evening. Photo by Tom Amiot INDIANA STATE POLICE offered a ser- vice few would wish to partake in, a breathalyzer test. The booth was sponsored in conjuction with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving. It also helped to promote alcohol awareness on campus. Mike Smith, Indianapolis sophomore, and Barry Blackburn, Greensburg junior, test their alcohol content. Photo by Tom Amiot a] ONE ROAD TRIP to Kendallville began the Watermelon Bust for Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Eric Stoiber, Muncie senior, loads a watermelon onto the stack of more than 700 watermelons. Photo by Damon Brown

Page 22 text:

18 Watermelon Bust of the festival queen added to the activities. Denise Beyers, Mon- ticello sophomore, sponsored by Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, received the crown amid the crowd’s cheers and her tears. “All of the activities were very good. I think the Delts and Alpha Chi’s did a great job of putting on the Bust,’ Dave Willis, Shelbyville junior, said. “The only thing I didn’t like was when the emcees started in- sulting the queen candidates.” The ‘‘Q-Zoo,”’ in addition to in- sulting queen candidates, crack- ed comments over school issues, team names and international relations. At one point Tom warned the audience of the hazards of drinking but was in- terrupted as Bob staggered by and asked him to ‘‘pass down another six-pack.”’ At the end of the day, Schmidt said, ‘‘We tried to have as much entertainment and as many ac- tivities as possible. I feel like there was something for everyone to do, and the crowd seemed to enjoy the festival.”’ Following the day’s final watermelon games, the evening MEN FROM the Alpha Phi Alph fraternity join in the line dance as the Henry Lee Sum- mer Band provides the music. Photo by Sue Wilden concert began. With fruit in their hair, and stains on their clothes, the crowd was treated to an hour of rockin’ and rollin’ from the band,Special Purpose. Afterward Schmidt announced the event winners. Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraterni- ty roared their way to the spirit award, while the attire of the Woodyola Crayolas blotted out opponents to mark up a win for best costumes. In the sorority division the Kappa Alpha Theta No. 2 squad won, while the Theta Xi Naturals squashed their op- ponents in the fraternity com- petition. Williams and Brayton Halls were the victors in the residence hall sections. Stagger Inn, 1982’s No. 1 ‘‘seed,’’ was ousted in the independant com- petition by the Malibu Men. Overall, Williams Hall presided as the king of the melons. Ceremonies completed, the rowdy crowd welcomed the night’s feature band, Malachi, onto the stage. Bics flicked and hands clapped while the au- dience rocked with the band for almost an hour. Malachi, after THEIR HANDS READY for the relay, par- ticipants in the Watermelon Bust are flat on their backs, waiting to pass a melon down the line. Photo by Debbie Ross closing their first set, watched with the crowd as an $800 fire- works display lit the sky. “The groups were great,”’ said Carole Hill, Rochester fresh- man. ‘“‘They had everyone yell- ing and screaming. I guess the fireworks were okay, but the music was super.”’ Malachi performed another half-hour after the fireworks and closed their program about 10 p.m. to the verbal disappoint- ment of many spectators. “They ended the festival too early this year,” said Hill. ‘‘It would be better if the sponsors let it go until midnight.”’ According to Schmidt, the event drew in over 4,200 people. Sponsors Deita Tau Delta and Alpha Chi Omega donated the proceeds to MADD and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As the crowd left Saturday night, the mushy battleground of LaFollette Field was scattered ‘with the remains of once whole watermelons. And on Sunday the cleanup crew removed all traces that Watermelon Bust had taken place. 2 by Damon Brown