Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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16 Moving In ars jammed the curbs, jockeying for position like horses next to the inside rail. Campus police limited parking time and piles of belongings sprouted next to U-Hauls, pick-up trucks and station wagons. Some took off to find less- restricted parking places, some ' were left to guard the TV, the refrigerator and all the clothes while others headed toward the double doors and the registration table. All of them were moving in. The eager freshman and his parents were the most common arrivals on that first day, but for a few upperclassmen, getting away from home again was worth the hassle. My mother threatened my life when she saw all the stuff I was taking, said Missy Gordon, Fort Wayne senior. It took three carloads to get it all into a single. But it was really a day for the freshmen -- a day for those who had never been farther away from home than Grandma's house, for parents who had never had a child go away to college, for those who acted calm and collected although they had a trillion questions with no nswers in sight. All of these people were com- ing in -- my floor staff, my up- perclassman roommate, my Big Sister -- and I was just trying to get my bearings, said April Neth, Columbus freshman. I wanted my parents to leave so I could get things sorted out. I wanted to do it all myself. I just wanted to be on my own. It was a never-ending cycle. Cars pulling out, leaving heaps of stereos, clothes and milk crates like so many piles of leaves on an autumn lawn, were quickly replaced by others. Keys, rusty from a summer's rest, turned roughly when in- serted in locks and doorhinges opened reluctantly. Room colors and sizes weren't always greeted with a freshman's smile, but Mom was always quick to find the 'ii room's good points. . I Q And behind the scenes, o1l1ng the transition process as best they could, were the squads of student staff and hall directors, not to mention the hall officers. I was locked in the elevator for six hours because no one came to relieve me. I was getting claustrophobic, said Coleen Easterday, Fort Wayne junior. I never wanted to see a freshman again -- this one girl had all the luxuries: stereo, refrigerator, TV. I was jealous. But the smiles would reappear as the upperclassmen thought of the day they'd moved in and the hassle it had been. They could laugh now because it had been worth every minute. Doors were opening and rooms that had been empty during the long days of summer began to have life again. Voices echoed down the hallways and stereos began to shake the walls. And out in front of the hall, a station wagon slipped away from the curb to allow a van a place. It was time to make way for one more student and yet one more roomful of the absolute necessities. Eb y Angie Fullenkamp

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Nancy Meyer Nancy Meyer l. I was kind of scared to start school again somewhere new. You feel lost in a crowd. -Jeannie Wilmot, Marion sophomore he right moves I . Orientation gave freshmen to be ci hecicl stort I Nan My D I or Beneficence, it was just a matter of routine. Summer after summer, they came and stared at her as their fearless leader ex- plained about Benny's sacred lore. But for incoming freshmen, summer orientation was anything but routine. It would be their first taste of residence hall living, registration, and being away from home in the midst of many strangers. I'm not sure what brought me to BSU, said Mark Mikula, Ham- mond freshman, but the first day here was great. I looked at the campus when I got here and decided that I wanted to come here. I think it's the combination of the modern and the old. Although they were new, the orientation group already had a feel for college life. And like the BSU students that they were becoming, they too had com- plaints about the residence halls and their food. They voiced a unanimous Gagl whenever the subject of the University food was mentioned. But for others, the people and the campus location tipped the scales to the University's side. The representatives are very good here, said Jeff Spoljerh, Valparaiso freshman. The SOC leaders are real cheerful, and they really helped me feel at home. The Student Orientation Corps gave campus tours, guided the students through registration, and answered general questions. But for many freshmen, their SOC leaders' most important job was as their first Ball State friend. Still, a few students were nervous Demitrius Skalkotos, Muncie junior, asks Family Feud participants a survey question. Although the majority of the questions dealt with the campus and students, the game ended in a tie. about calling the campus home. 'tl was kind of scared to start school again somewhere new, said transfer student Jeannie Wilmot, Marion sophomore. You feel lost in a crowd. Others were already accustom- ed to Ball State. Jill Pine, Green- wood freshman, laughed and said, Well, I've been here before, but I think that orientation has been very informative. Chris Dorsey, Carmel fresh- man, agreed. The speakers for our majors are either scaring us with the facts or making us laugh at their jokes. But I've real- ly learned a lot. Freshmen weren't the only ones who were a little nervous and scared. Unknown to most of the freshmen, some of their SOC leaders had a case of the jitters as well. Now I know how the leaders feel, said SOC leader Stacie Roeder, Indianapolis junior. You're not quite sure whether they're going to like you or whether you'll do a good job. Freshmen weren't the SOC leaders' only audience. Many students brought their parents, who enjoyed the two-day visit as much as the students becoming familiar with campus life. Orientation is great, said Bill Lhuillier, father from Demotte. It's organized and the parents are well-informed. There weren't any questions that stumped the SOCs. Parents had Dave Willis, orien- tation's parent coordinator, to thank for not only showing them the campus, but also for coaching them when it came time to match wits with students in a game of Family Feud. In true Richard Dawson fashion, Demitrius Skalkotos, Muncie junior, insisted on giving the female participants their good luck kisses. After the formalities, the challenge was on. Students and parents sat behind a panel with bright red lightbulbs facing their peers and emcees. Both teams were asked questions about the popular spots on cam- pus, favorite beers, soap operas and student activities. The tension of the game mounted as the teams racked their brains for answers, fearing their time would be up, giving their opponents a chance to steal the points. With the aid of loud whispers from the audience drifting from the back of the room to the panel in front, team members excitedly shouted the answers. Just when it looked like the students might win, the parents cheered, That's alright, that's okay, if we don't win, we don't pay! But the students weren't so easily swayed. That's alright, that's okay, if we don't win, we don't stay! But the game ended in a tie, and Ball State ushered in yet another enthusiastic freshman class. But the visit was just get- ting off the ground. During the traditional orientation dance, the floor wasn't just filled with students, but their parents and SOC leaders as well. Everyone literally cut Footloose until the wee hours of the next morning, but no one had any regrets. It didn't bother me at all that we stayed up that late, said Janelle Lorenz, Lansing, Ill., freshman. I thought that it was really fun. But even as the group was checking out of the hall later that morning, other students and their families were pulling into the parking lot. And, across campus, Benny waited. She knew the routine by heart.5by Nancy Neff Orientation 15

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Saying goodbye was the hardest part of moving back to school. Some students found it difficult to leave not only family, but hometown sweethearts as well. john S. metzger possessions scattered the sidewalks as parents stood guard while students located room numbers and picked up keys. Flesidence halls weren't home but every effort was made to come as close as possible. Lack of space was a common problem for hall residents. But Muncie mer- chants were quick to remedy the inconvenience by selling lumber on cam- pus for bunk beds. Moving ln