Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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SEN. JULIAN BOND, D-Ga., lectures for the Unity Week participants in Emens Auditorium. Bond urged students to vote for Walter Mondale in the 1984 primaries. Photo by Tom Amiot JABBERWOCK gives Tyrone Johnson, Muncie senior, a chance to dance in the line dance competition. Photo by Dave Schild AN ART FAIR, sponsored by the Black Student Association featured student works depicting unity between races. ‘Mr. 10,” Odell Smith, Indianapolis soph- omore; Miss Black Ball State, Sandra Chapman, Fort Wayne sophomore; and Julie Work, In- dianapolis senior, ready the display for viewers. Photo by Brad Sauter THE UNITY WEEK DANCE celebrates the combined efforts of both black and white students and also helped to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Photo by Sue Wilden Black Functions NO

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Established in 1953 Kappa Alpha Psi was the oldest black fraternity on campus. 26 Black Functions Their best foot forward Unity Week highlighted the 1984 social black events he audience sat quietly for the moment, each person too shy to speak first during the program’s ‘‘Open Mike’’ ses- sion. Then Alvin Piers, In- dianapolis junior, stepped for- ward. He leaned toward the microphone, cleared his throat, and spoke softly. “It’s very nice to see all of these people come together to honor a great man like Dr. Mar- tin Luther King, Jr. But we must remember that his fight for civil rights was for everyone, not just for the blacks at the back of the bus. That’s why we’re here, and this is what Unity Week is all about.”’ The group applauded Piers’ comments and then, one by one, other students followed him. Cassandra Allen, Gary senior and chairwoman of Unity Week, said later, ‘‘At first, getting everyone to participate was hard. But suddenly the spirit of unity started to flow.”’ The flowing spirit was typical of the many functions sponsored by and held for black students on campus during the year. Ac- tivities ranging from the solemn to the celebrated gave blacks on campus a chance to display their cultural pride and just have a good time together. Some of the key events of the year included Jabberwock, the Ebony and Ivory Halloween Party, the Miss Black Ball State Pageant and, of course, Unity Week. Phillip Burton, Black Student Association, BSA, president, said black events during the year had been successful. “‘There’s been a little more progress, but apathy is still pret- ty heavy,’ said Burton. “‘We tried to get an earlier start on getting organized, but many students still didn’t want to come out and help.”’ The lack of volunteers didn’t diminish the success of the featured events of the year. The week-long Jabberwock celebra- tion featured pageantry, music and games. Events included a “Family Feud’’ match, dances, and also featured a fashion show. The week concluded with a semi- formal dance on Saturday featuring the spectacular line dances. The men of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity were presented with a trophy for their outstan- ding performance. The Ebony and Ivory Hallo- ween Party was a classic display of unity between blacks and whites. Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity combined with Alpha Tau Omega fraternity to spon- sor the weekend festival. Also participating was Sigma Gam- ma Rho sorority. A convocation with the Rev. Charles Williams was also a feature of the week. Stephon Jones, Indianapolis senior and president of the Alphas, said ‘“‘Since last year we have been able to open the doors of com- munications with white frater- nities and sororities on the cam- pus.”’ Still the highlight of the year once again was Unity Week, held Jan 8-15 in honor of the late Dr. King. It was a week of musical performances, fund- raising events, social gatherings and p rayer. A high point of the week was teh the International Dinner held at the Minority Student Develop- | ment Center. Yezid Diahiou, Senegal, Africa, graduate stu- — dent, noted proudly, ‘“‘It was the | first time in the history of Ball State that these two groups have | joined together for such an ac- | tivity.” Later in the week, the annual © memorial service for Dr. King was held, and Sen. Julian Bond, D-Ga., also gave a lecture. The remainder of Unity Week © concentrated on fund-raising © events, including bowling and basketball tournaments and a candlelight ball. Erich Ward, Richmond so- | phomore and BSA vice president of political affairs, headed the | steering committee that planned Unity Week ’84. Ward noted, ‘‘We sent letters out to all cam- pus organizations to notify them of Unity Week. But no white fraternities or sororities par- ticipated. If they had, that would have made Unity Week ’84 a true success.”’ But success was evident in most all of the events sponsored and organized by black stu- dents, and they were not lacking in social opportunities. | Burton said that there had been improvements made dur- ing the year, despite the apathy and lack of interaction with whites. The year provided black students with several op- portunities to strengthen their - unity and enjoy themselves at | featured events. 1 As Jones noted after the | Ebony and Ivory party, “‘We’re trying to set an example for the | rest of the campus.”’ = by Robin | Mills and Jeff Rodriguez

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A MUD BATH was a new twist but a very popular one at the Theta Xi Tug-O-War. Some of the innocent by-standers were not given a choice of whether of not this so called tub was for them And some were given an extra push into the mud.. Photo by Tom Amiot TUGGIN’ WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT, Jill Brown, Decatur senior, and Kelly Hoffman, Fort Wayne senior, attempt to drag their opponents through the pud- dle of mud, The women were unable to escape the pit as they literally fell victim to the the polluted podge. Photo by Tom Amiot Tug-O-War