Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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Team spirit dominated the bed race even in those bringing up the rear. Good sportsmanship was evident even among contenders who gave their best and came in last. Weather dampens week’s festivities Mother Nature takes toll on Homecoming 18 -Homecoming by Irene Lydia Stracke The window had been left open all night and the apartment felt like a defrosting refrigerator. Cool, damp air filled the room and thunder could be heard down the street. Thunder? The sun had come up outside but rain loomed on the horizon. Andrew Johnston Winners of a beginning heat have energy to spare at the finish line. An emotion-filled race, the sight of breathless contestants at race’s end showed showed the effects of lost speed more frequently than the ex- cited smiles of victory. The coffee had perked and the newspaper had been retrieved from the mailbox when the cat suddenly dove for security underneath the bed at the sound of trombones. Trom- bones? Outside in bathrobe and slippers and hair to make Phyllis Diller proud, a disoriented graduate student realized that the trombones belonged to the Muncie Central High School Marching Band and that the motorcade pro- ceeding down the street was the Homecoming Parade. Residents and students were treated to a motorcade including Garfield the Cat and his creator, alumnus Jim Davis. An equally memorable appearance was made by the Shriners in their an- nual performance of synchronized maneuvers on tiny yellow beach bug- geys. Homecoming had been easy to withdraw from this year as Mother Nature rained out Friday’s “Day in the Village.” The only competition to sur- vive was the submarine-eating con- test, which was moved at the last minute to the Student Center Ballroom. Ten teams competed in the contest. Last year's champion and current runner-up, Sigma Chi, was out-eaten by a team of six led by Mason, Ohio, senior Curt Stephens. Stephens’ team gave an impressive showing, polishing off the the six-foot sandwich in 17.52 minutes--only one second faster than their experienced com- petitor, Sigma Chi. Homecoming officially began on Tuesday with the staging of the an- nual bed race. Unseasonably cold temperatures caused many to miss the - imaginative costumes and strong show of spirit given by the com- petitors. Muncie graduate student Scott Yarger, a member of the Shively Hall team, said the race wasn’t like “real running at all. We didn’t have a strategy. We just got out there and started running. By the time we got to the finish line, other teams were already getting off the beds.” The race was not without controver- sy, however. Pi Beta Phi protested to the judges that they “had to jump over a guy’--that being Greg Shaver-- who was photographing the event for the Daily News. Pi Phi finished se- cond in the women’s competition when the judges told them they could not rerun the race. The Beach Olympics highlighted Thursday evening’s activities. Hula hooping, limboing and car stuffing dominated the evening's display of the “Surfin’ BSU” theme. Beach ball relays and a bonfire kept students fired up as the pom-pon squad per-

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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

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eAndrew Johnston 1905 Distinguished blunts G taciyn avis Gani Alex De i arin Rocky Rothrock Off with a bang, the bed race sent Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis, was students careening down University the chairman and focal point for a Andrew Johnston Avenue at high speed in search of Homecoming glory. Teams battled ‘frostbite’ as 50 degree weather nip- ped at exposed arms and legs decked out in Hawaiian shirts and shorts. slightly damp Homecoming parade through town. Davis’ success at car- tooning rose with the addition of a new strip, U.S. Acres, a humorous view of life on the farm. Homecoming® 19