Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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The year was like mmy others in many ways but with one important difference. liberalized living cane to BSU in the form of its first co-ed dorm. lt was a you for catching up with the Joneses as we finally ioined the thousands of other college campuses experiencing co-ed living. Monday, September 8, was set as D-Day as the residents of Menk and Hurlbut Halls of Studebaker settled in as the guinea pigs in a nine month experiment dealing with the maturity of college students. Girls had to learn to contend with running into guys in the hall about any time, or o guy knocking on Co-ed living finally made it to campus but then what happened? According to most, not too much at all BY KATHY KIEFFER the door at the most inopportune moment. Guys got to see girls in a different light, complete with hair rollers md bathrobes. Was the experiment a success? The ones best qualified to iudge were the residents themselves - so l asked a few. Marcia Tague, a sophomore inhabitant of Menk llall, commented, l wanted in on a brother - sister relationship with guys, and that coupled with the fact that I had lived here last yew, brought me to co-ed living. She was very happy with the program and saw no serious faults in it. She says she'll tell friends to live here because not only do you have the opportunity to meet other Menk and Hurlbut residents but all those in other Studebaker Halls. As far as the future of co-ed living is concerned Marcia thinks 24 hour visitation fopen visl is okay if confined ordy to the lounge as it now is. She feels it would be interesting to live with guys and gils on the same floor. Greg Hoover, a sophomore and a transfer student, came to co-od Ivlng for a change. He stated, BSU was not as liberal as the school I previously had attended and l was surprised Ball State didn't have a co-ed dorm sooner. A senior, linda Turula wmted to experience co-ed life before she graduated. She felt alittle disappointed in the venture in that it turned out not much different from her previous dorm. She was complimentary of the abundance of enthusiasm from students md directors conceming getting the program off on the right foot. Two iunior girls, Ku-en McClain and Susan Haupert, had lived in the hdl before Page 22 - Co-ed Dorms and were out for a new experience. Both gids had been a little hesitant about the co- ed life style. Karen said, l feared that there might be a lot of 'messing around' going on in rooms, but there has not been. They stated that they wouIdn't like to have guys living on the same floor because they wanted some privacy. However, they would be in favor of 24 hour open vis. A couple of former Trane Hall residents, Dave Schurick and Raleigh White, were in the market for a new place to live and decided to go co-ed. They were quite impressed with the better facilities, as well as the nice student from IU extension at Gary, first learned of co-ed life during orientation. He w told there was a shortage of men in the co-ed dorm so he signed up. The only faults he saw were the restrictions the university placed on the dorm such as not permitting 24 hour visitation and not dlowing alcoholic beverages within the hall. He would advise friends that if they wcmted to meet girls this was the place to come. Sophomore co-eds Hancy Helling, Sandy Rosenbaum and Sue lautzenheiser came back to Hurlbut Hall after living there last year. They enioyed the brother - sister Sumething neu.: in clnrms at BSU young ladies who live in the dorm. They would advise friends to live here only if they are female, so as to cut down on competition. Garry Ciochina, a sophomore transfer w I-1 IJ lf S.M.O. The hallway turns into a dance fioor as John Steichen and some other Hurlbut residents lake to boogieing during one of the floorlv open house parties. The new co-ed dorm situation didn? seem lo phase anyone too much and no big problems occurred. relationships and the friendly residents, staff and director. One big problem Nancy reported was The hall was starting from scratch with no officers or plans from last year but that cm to be expected in any big change over such as this. Ron Frutig md Jim Garver came to the co-ed dorm because they had lived in Wagoner Hdl for two years. Disappointment was expressed by the two saying We never see girls and it has not turned out to be as sexually enioyable as we had hoped it would. The whole CIIIPUI should go coed, was an opinion voiced by .lim. llon felt that open vis should be enlarged to 24 hours because it's being done myway - regardless of the rules. When Terri Poindexter, the staff on fifth floor of Hurlbut Hall, first learned she had been chosen to staff in the co-ed dorm she was surprised. l didn't thiik they would put a first year staffer in a co-ed situation, she said. She was, however, very happy to be there because the co-ed situation seemed closer to reality md the way it is in the outside world. She hopes in the future to see more co-ed dorms as wellas 24 hour vis. She definitely feels a co-ed dorm has more to offer the maturing college student than a regular dorm because here you get to know the opposite sex as people more so than in the rather phony dating situation. The director of Menk Hall, Ron Gaber's first reaction when he lewned of his new position was fantastic! When I first heard of theco-eddorm I was very interested and hoped to be placed here, he commented. The main difference between

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together with red and white clad cheerleaders, led a hearty student crowd in singing the school song. Excited fans and spirit boosters applauded as football coach Dave McClain assured the crowd of a certain victory the following afternoon. Wrapping up the Activities Night, an all-campus dance was held in the Student Center Ballroom. From 9:00 until midnight, students boogied and bumped to the rhythmic sounds of Nigel. Once more freshmen were given the chance to meet upperclassmen and other students their age. Nigellsperjformance ofa soft 'bldie but goodie sets the mood for one young couple as others take a break from the usual vigorous bumping and fast boogieing. Held in a very crowded Student Center Ballroom. the dance was the final event of the SCGB Activities Night. Avid spirit boosters line the front steps of the Student Center following the Activities Display sessions. Together with the Pn'de of Mid. Americafmarching band and cheerleaders. new freshmen 'fired up for the upcoming game against Toledo. Ambitious disc jockeys and amateur radio buffs participated in the special radio display set up by station WHS T. Experienced student announcer Keith Hart gives tips and broadcasting information to an interested freshman. ll' 4' :Q ,X K, f ' 5 WN Smeared with green makeup from head to toe, speech team member Howard Katz feeds the homemade computer background information on an unbelieving spectator. Because of its color and creativity, the speech and debate booth was one ofthe most popular ones of the evening. fsk. lP'i 'ixfi P 4 X- c vk ,X X Ki J ss li.. ,, We m..mt. ,ee-7-,VV-v--Y --Neff -W --7--Y --Y Deep concentration dwells in the minds of chess club members as they hold a demonstration game as part of their Activities Night display. Interested spectators were also given the chance to compete as part of the club s efforts to recruit new members. Sept. 12 - Page 21

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I ! if F! 1: 3 if J' x Q- ww were sw' A s 2 4' 4 X fngvl .af-43 S es ' -9 MA .1 f P' A 514, Ama 'fiifv 7 , . i ......- 17,1-at -4 H h Q 'saqi',,L?S ' ' I2 f. 5 - Q. f . ' xg X 5 I' LW- AN 5 I Q W ci 'X 2' .R .' 5 .-ix ' I vi 6? I! I ' 1 gf -. as-film l iff. llxlfi 9, S,M.O. Menk and his previous hall, Edwords,- was that he now worked with more women but he dirh't consider that a problem. Ron predicted the demand for eo-ed housing would increase and he hoped that it would grow into more freedoms. Ile noted that in this complex it would he easy to convert the hall into half a floor for gi-ls and halt lor guys because of the way restroom faciities ore set up. But, he's quick to add that co-ed living isn't for everyone. So, there you have it, the guinea pigs' responses. Co-ed living: a new experiment for the school and an experience for those who participated. To date, it seems to be working. llow only time will tell for sure. Discussing some of the ndes in the co-ed dorm, Sandy Rosenbaum, Gary Ottinger, Pete Swenson and Greg Hoover try to had out how the girls and the guys can cooperate to make the co-ed living work best for all involved. S,M.0. Co-ed dorms arenl new to other major campuses but it was a new situation az BSU. Exchanging ideas in a small study group, Janice Schwegman, Pam Gramman. Joe Keppel, Dave Wellman, Tim Bantz and Lewis Pn'ce use the co- ed donns to the best of their advantage at all hours of the day. Feature - Page 23