Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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IN the continuing tradition of avant-garde headwear, fashion insures an answer to thirst. This style offered dual cup holders containing Wendy’s refreshments at- tached to a plastic baseball cap of the wearer’s choice. ] 1 6-Watermelon Bust ee te ee oo ™ Sw fae SS Ray Shepard From behind their shades, the in- famous Bob and Tom of Indianapolis Q95 watch one heat of the games with an escort from the queen’s court. The emcees enjoyed their infrequent break from the day’s non-stop hilari- ty. For each Bust, hundreds of students create new looks to celebrate the festival in style. The latest fashion in hats featured a clear hose clamped to a funnel secured under the chin with masking tape. eRobert Li Ray Sheparc

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Mark R. Smith | Triumphant team | members celebrate their finish in Watermelon Bust. Bust was the most attended student- sponsored event of the year. Ray Shepard Watermelon Buste | 5

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Melon bustin’ continued because they’re more popular, but they’re worth it.” The duo was an- nounced as “the infamous, indecent Bob and Tom from Q-95,” and spec- tators laughed knowingly. Next, a few brief minutes were taken to announce the Watermelon Bust queen. Each of five finalists, chosen by penny voting throughout the week, stepped across the platform as she was announced, looking hopeful but composed on her escort’s arm. After a tense moment, Kim Buckman of Chi Omega was crown- ed. With the preliminaries over, game time had arrived. “Go to your lanes,” an amplified voice insisted repeatedly. “If you're not there in three minutes, we're starting without you.” Par- ticipants hurried into place. The first event was the between-the- Balloons sai high as the Watermel- on Bust crowd engages in drinking, eating, playing and listening to the “Rods Cones’’ on stage. Hundreds of students gathered on LaFollette Field for the annual celebration on the third weekend of Fall Quarter. legs relay. “Ready...get set,” the an- nouncer said and paused. “Go!” Almost immediately, watermelons rolled in every direction. Steps were retraced; watermelons were reposition- ed. Shouts of encouragement mixed with moans of exasperation as each team tried to do two things: finish first and show the most spirit. Those who didn’t succeed at the former tried for the latter by grabbing watermelons and “busting” them over teammates’ heads. The rest of the games, including a watermelon toss and a chest watermelon pass, went similarly with participants and spectators alike demonstrating their enthusiasm and desire “to have a good time,” as Matt Eckert and Jim Petre, both freshmen from Huntington, said in unison with matching grins. With the contests concluding and the craziness ebbing, Delta Zeta cap- tured first place in the sorority divi- sion, and the Theta Xi Stallions won in the fraternity division. Not to be outdone, Brayton Busters triumphed in the women’s residence hall category, while Clevenger 1 overtook the other men’s residence hall teams for first place. The Palace prevailed in the independent division. To top off the day, three bands per- formed. “Rods Cones” entertained the day crowd; “Why On Earth” and “10:01” took the stage at night. As a finishing touch to all the mayhem and madness, fireworks burst through the night air, ac- companied by the sweep of a sear- chlight. The display was an ap- propriate one; it brought a bit of Fourth of July to the end of the sum- mer, which in a way is what Watermelon Bust seems to celebrate. Robert Ling eRay Shepard ItS pink, juicy flesh exposed to the after- noon sun, the celebrated fruit of the Bust lies smashed on the grass. Not one of the hundreds of watermelons remain- ed intact at the end of a day of eating and games. Watermelon Buste | 7