Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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YJeH Bond sfMarian Heuman listens to the various speakers ol the day. Heuman was one ofthe many dignitaries present lor the event. vCIear autumn weather helped to in- crease attendance and make the anniver- sary celebration ol Benelicience a suc- cess. An ice-cream social and an outdoor concert followed the speeches. Uiiiiiei-Siiy gives bii-iliiiiiy pai-iy for ii Symbol Beneficence turns 50 by Shelly Johnson he wings of Benefi- cence glittered brilliantly in the hot September sun as the symbol of the Univer- sity celebrated her 50th an- niversary. Time marches on, even for a statue that is more alive in myth than reality. Obviously she cannot be given life, but it is my believe that she has spoken to thousands of' us quite directly. She pro- vides a constant reminder of' one oflife's greatest values, said former Uni- versity President Robert P. Bell during the celebration. He then reminisced about the University, noted its changes and remarked on what Beneficence symbol- ized to the University and the community. The statue, con- ceived in 1926, was chosen as an appropriate gesture of thanks to the Ball family for their work in the com- munity. In November 1928, Daniel Chester French was commissioned to create the memorial which would recognize the philanthropies of Lucius, William, Edmund, Frank and George Ball. The finished sculp- ture remained in storage for six years until funds were raised to erect the statue in the circular setting de- signed by architect William Henry Dana. On September 6 6 26, 1937, , fte th She provides Znafmiai a constant goals were reminder of eBxggZ5' one Qi lifes dedicated on greatest the Univer- values sity grounds. 99 Fifty years later, over 200 com- munity and University members gathered for the statue's re-dedication. A concert by the Ball State University Ceremonial Band, an ice cream social, and speeches on the governor's behalf' and from former Indiana University president John W. Ryan celebrated the anniversary. Muncie Mayor James Carey and President John Worthen spoke of the new directions the community and the University were taking. Others, like Bell, considered how far things had come. The ceremony was similar to the one held in 1937. The speakers praised the Ball family for their community contributions just as the speakers of 50 years ago had done. The difference in the ceremo- nies-according to those who were present at both of them-was not their for- mats, but their environ- ments. Where once Benny stood surrounded by a small campus of few buildings and only 1,200 students, she now reigned over a state university with an enrollment of over 17,000, Bell said. At the close of the re-dedication ceremony, Frank Bracken, grandson of Frank Ball, took the oppor- tunity to praise and thank the community which had honored his family. When you get down to the basic reasons of the success that the University has had, that Ball corporation has had and that the city of Muncie has had throughout their respective histories, it boils down to the people involved. These are the people I think should be recognized. I think the family should stand as stewards, as beneficiaries of their effort, their hard work and their success, Bracken said. Z ,Li 8.g0frfen anniversary ofhenriy nl Kirk DeBrunner

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5 4:kf!'f funmu' ...a- v Ryan Sohrogham V During the newly instituted fall orienta- tion program, Sondra Oursler and Amy Bass discuss the courses required for theirmajor. The class of1991 was the first to participate in the three day orientation program. vLaura Moorhead, Lesley Stedman and Amy Metz focus their attention as the new advising system is explained during their tour of the journalism department. For orientation, all incoming freshmen were divided by their college classification and then further separated according to their department. 5' e , 4'4'i'Jli - . ,-,f- , . P 7 AP J 5 't ffiflfc GA ...-..,-,-.. 'Y -- Q., N , -..,, , J V Ryan Schrogham faIIjre.sHmen orientation.1 7..-

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5 ..4 vJet1 Bond YAfter 50 years the Beneficence statue receives a face lift. The renovation of Benny cost 528,000 and began two days after the ceremony. Y Dale Westrate vJeff Bond efThe Beneficience statue is a dedication tothe five Ball brothers and the contribua tions they made to Muncie and the Cam- pus. The program featured the University military science department, past presi- dent Robert Bell and Muncie mayor James Carey, V President Worthen addresses a crowd of 250 at the 50th Anniversary celebration of Beneficience. Worthen briefly gave the history behind Benny and mentioned the difficulty that the University had in obtain- ing original funds. lgofafen anniversary qf Eenny-1 Q7