March 26, 2004 New Campaign Urging Students To

March 26, 2004

New campaign urging students to be accountable for behavior

Ball State University is launching a comprehensive educational campaign with a message to students: Police yourself or face severe consequences from the university and the justice system.

The campaign adds a new dimension to the university’s recently stepped-up efforts to make students more accountable for their behavior off campus. In December, Ball State announced it would increase police patrols on weekend nights and would begin sending students cited or arrested by Muncie Police through the same discipline process faced by students cited or arrested by university police.

Key elements of the “Police Yourself” campaign are a targeted community policing initiative by the university’s public safety department, newspaper ads, a Web site, e-mails to students, posters and a letter to parents. The campaign will continue through the end of the academic year and will begin again in the fall.

“We’re doing this because Ball State cares about its students, their health and safety, and their future,” said Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “I believe the vast majority of our students are personally responsible, obey the law, don’t abuse alcohol and drugs, and are good neighbors in the off-campus homes where some of them live.

“But this campaign clearly spells out what the potential consequences are for students who make poor choices,” he said. “This kind of effort is consistent with Ball State’s mission as an educational institution, because it focuses on prevention through education and teaching student responsibility.”

A letter from Acting President Beverley Pitts to parents of current and prospective students will be mailed next week. It provides parents with information about safety measures at Ball State and answers questions raised by the recent off-campus shooting deaths of two Ball State students. Pitts’ letter also outlines the educational campaign and asks parents to support the university’s efforts by talking with students about their expectations for acceptable, lawful behavior.

The ads with the theme “Police Yourself” began running in the March 25 edition of the Ball State Daily News and e-mails carrying the ads will also be sent to all students. The ads amplify the message students received Monday via an e-mail from McConkey saying the university is pleased that the city of Muncie will join Ball State’s efforts to step up enforcement as a way to address problems related to off-campus parties.

Elements of the “Police Yourself” campaign include:

The university is also revising its student code in ways that parallel the city police’s emphasis on arresting students who sell alcohol without a permit or provide alcohol to minors.

“Students arrested for those offenses won’t only go to jail, we will consider suspension or expulsion,” McConkey said.

University Police and Student Affairs staff began meeting with student leaders two weeks ago to discuss a student role in the community policing initiative and in supporting the educational effort.

“This message may be more powerful if it’s spread from student to student,” said Gene Burton, director of public safety. “We will look at all means to get our message across and hopefully prevent students from making decisions or taking risks that land them in jail and begin a record that will follow them through life.”

Since increasing the number of officers on weekend patrols, University Police has cited or arrested significantly more students for alcohol-related violations than in the same period last year.

“We don’t believe this indicates a change in student behavior, but rather reflects that our enhanced enforcement efforts are working,” Burton said.

“The university has also been receiving some names of students from Muncie Police as a result of the information-sharing agreement established last fall. During a meeting last week, the city agreed to enhance those efforts.”

(Note to Editors: For more information on this story, contact McConkey at (765) 285-1444 or [email protected].)

Statement by Douglas McConkey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management

One of the great joys of working in higher education is seeing young men and women pursue their dreams, receive a diploma, and then communicate with us as they progress in their careers. Those are the reasons people tend to work in higher education for many years—because the rewards far outweigh the challenges.

With that in mind, you can understand why it has been a particularly difficult year at Ball State. We’ve had three students die in recent months. Two of them, Mike McKinney and Karl Harford, were killed in tragic incidents near campus that have received intense media coverage. Then, a little over a week ago, there was a nonfatal stabbing that, though not involving Ball State students, took place during an off-campus party at a house rented by some of our students.

These were very different incidents, yet many have tried to find a common thread among them. There are some commonalities. They were all off campus, connected to socializing in an environment where alcohol was served, and involved students taking risks or being in unsafe situations.

Let me emphasize I believe, and so do the other senior leaders at this university, that Karl Harford’s victimization by what appears to be a proven criminal was not his fault, nor was it the fault of his friends. He died trying to do a good deed.

I also want to emphasize that the steps we are announcing today are in no way placing blame on our student body. Most of our students are law-abiding and personally responsible. Most do not abuse drugs or alcohol and are good residents of the off-campus neighborhoods in which some of them live.

But this is a critical time in their lives and in the life of this fine institution. Many are asking what the university can do to increase student safety and create a more positive environment for everyone. As an educational institution, we believe any new initiative should include an educational component, but we are also committed to taking a more proactive policing approach as we move forward.

And so, we are launching a comprehensive educational campaign for our entire campus and a new community policing effort in the neighborhoods surrounding campus.

However, the goal of this campaign is not to inform students of the services we already have available to them. Instead, we are sending a very clear and specific message: Police yourself or face severe consequences from the university and the justice system.

In fact, “Police Yourself” is the theme of our campaign. Here’s what it entails.

• A community policing effort by University Police with weekend patrols starting earlier in the afternoon. Officers will talk to students about drinking responsibly and remind them of the consequences if problems arise or illegal activity takes place at their party. • University Police and Student Affairs staff are working with student leaders who are interested in playing a role in the community policing initiative and in supporting the educational effort in other ways • A series of ads will begin running in tomorrow’s edition of the Ball State Daily News. They will run through the end of the semester and resume at the beginning of the fall semester. These ads outline the consequences students face if they get into trouble with the law, whether through a citation or arrest by Muncie city or University Police, and some of the disciplinary action they may face from the university. • These ads will also be attached to e-mails that will be sent to students each week. • Acting President Beverley Pitts is sending out two different letters: one to parents of current students and one to parents of prospective students. These letters will go out next week. • Posters of the ads will be placed across campus. • A “Police Yourself” Web site is under development at www.bsu.edu/policeyourself.

In December we announced the university would increase its weekend patrols in an effort to curb alcohol-related problems in the neighborhoods around campus and in the Village. We also announced that we had reached an agreement with Muncie City Police whereby they would provide information to us when they cite or arrest our students, so that we can put those students through our disciplinary process. Those efforts have been effective, and promise to get even better. We appreciate the willingness of the city of Muncie to join us in addressing problems within the areas over which they have jurisdiction, and they have agreed to enhance the information-sharing agreement already in effect.

Muncie Police Chief Joe Winkle calls his department’s efforts a crackdown. Call it what you want, we welcome and support their assistance in this effort. But our goal is to have very few students caught up in that coming crackdown.

Both the university and the Muncie police are interested in focusing on deterring students who are serving alcohol without a permit or providing alcohol to minors. Chief Winkle has said that these students will be arrested and taken to jail. For our part, we will move directly to considering suspension or expulsion as the first disciplinary action in such cases.

Some students are already asking why we are doing this. It gets back to what I said at the beginning of this statement. Because Ball State cares about its students. We want students to take pride in themselves, the university, and the community. We don’t want to see them get hurt, get into trouble, or face legal problems that could negatively affect their educational careers and perhaps their chance at getting a good job upon graduation. We are committed to maintaining a positive living and learning environment. Students policing themselves is vital to achieving these goals.

Steve Bell named to Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame

A Ball State professor will be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame April 10 as the organization honors six outstanding journalists.

Steve Bell, telecommunications professor and former ABC television news anchor and reporter, will be inducted during ceremonies in Greencastle.

The hall of fame, created in 1966 by the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, is located at DePauw University. The hall annually recognizes people with significant Indiana ties who have demonstrated they are journalists of the highest distinction.

“I am especially appreciative to be included in the hall when I am not a native Hoosier and much of my professional career was spent in Washington or abroad,” Bell said. “Since coming to Indiana it has been a privilege to become involved in numerous programs and activities relating to government and journalism.

“But most of all, I have enjoyed the opportunity to teach and mentor students at Ball State and to follow many of them as they practice journalism both in Indiana and elsewhere,” he said.

During his career as a journalist, Bell covered many of the nation’s major stories. He started in 1967 as a correspondent for ABC News, covering the Vietnam War, the White House and Southeast Asia. Later, he became familiar to millions of Americans as news anchorman for ABC's "Good Morning America."

Bell is an endowed chair emeritus in the Department of Telecommunications and a former department chair. He is active as a public speaker, panelist and writer, and in special projects for television and radio. Nancy Carlson, the current chair of Ball State’s telecommunications department, said Bell is one of the most productive professors in the department.

“Many endowed chairs leave when their assignments are up, but Steve liked teaching so much he decided to stay on at Ball State and our department is richer for his decision,” she said. “Steve's being on the faculty at Ball State gives us ‘wow’ power. Many schools of journalism have professionals in the classroom, but few have the fame or clout of Steve Bell. His reputation as a journalist has benefited the whole department, but instead of resting on his ABC laurels, he can be found down in the newsroom working side by side with his students.”

A native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, he has a bachelor’s degree from Central College in Iowa and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. His wife, Joyce, is an accomplished musician and vocalist who taught voice at Ball State.

University Singers celebrate 40th anniversary at April 3 Spectacular

The University Singers will celebrate its 40th anniversary at this year's Spectacular performance at 7:30 p.m. April 3 in Emens Auditorium.

This year’s Spectacular, “Can’t Stop the Beat,” will be jam-packed with performances and surprises such as alumni and current members uniting on stage, as well as video clips of past performers. Planning was crucial to pull off this multifaceted performance that will honor the group's 40 years, said Jeffrey Carter, University Singers director.

“Most every aspect of our show is a tribute to months of planning, scheming, dreaming, tugging, cajoling and finally winning by a talented cast of students,” he said.

Forty years ago, founding director Donald Neuen began auditions and rehearsals for a new Ball State performing group. He instilled in his 27 performers that they must be “completely outstanding, not just acceptable.”

In January 1965, the group's dedication resulted in a debut at Indianapolis' Clowes Memorial Hall to a standing-room-only crowd.

The group performed its first Spectacular in 1966 as a season grand finale of choreography, singing and music that helped raise money for scholarships.

Today, University Singers consists of a 20-member glee club, a 10-piece orchestra, sound and lighting technicians and a support staff. The group performs up to six traveling shows a semester as well as a full-scale concert tour once every four years.

This concert will be the highlight of a 40th anniversary reunion of the group. The reunion will kick off at 8 p.m. April 2 with a casual gathering at the Alumni Center. The reunion will continue Saturday afternoon with a luncheon, informal gatherings, a group photo, rehearsal for the finale and a party at the Alumni Center following the show.

Student employees honored during recognition week Ball State will honor more than 5,500 student employees April 11-17 as part of the National Student Employment Week observance.

Sponsored by the university’s Career Center, the week is designed to bring attention to students who play a role in helping Ball State operate, said Larry Beck, the Career Center’s associate director.

“Student employees make essential contributions to campus offices, enabling faculty and staff to concentrate additional time and efforts on serving students,” he said. “Many campus departments would be hard-pressed to offer the level of customer service they do to students, parents, faculty and visitors if it weren’t for their part-time student employees.”

Students work in a variety of on campus positions, including customer service representatives, computer assistants, Web designers, peer tutors, library assistants, intramural supervisors, newspaper staff, food service workers and facilities and grounds helpers.

In addition to earning a portion of the funds needed for their college education, through campus employment students develop their interpersonal, oral communication, and computer skills and learn more about the university.

A campus job also offers convenience, flexibility, and a way to supplement and enrich a student’s academic experience, said student employment representative Janet Puckett.

“Students can earn money, meet people, establish a work record, develop skills they can use in other jobs and learn how to manage their time,” she said. “They can also develop career contacts and get more involved on campus.”

The Career Center encourages campus departments to take time during National Student Employment Week to let their student employees know how much their hard work is appreciated. Acknowledging their efforts motivates, encourages and thanks student employees while providing incentives for them to continue their hard work, Puckett said.

Additional information about Ball State’s celebration of National Student Employment Week, including a list of effective methods to recognize students, may be found at www.bsu.edu/careers/nsew.

Student wins national award for Daffy Duck-inspired table

Dana Fear thinks her table is just ducky.

So did NICHE, a trade publication for American crafts. The magazine honored the Ball State senior with a 2004 Student Niche Award for her work, “Duck Table.”

The table resembles a nightstand. Instead of having traditional legs, however, Fear carved duck legs made from hard maple. Rather than mimicking a motionless duck, Fear’s table legs appear to be in mid-stride.

The comic effect is enhanced by a bronze handle that looks as if it was plucked from Daffy Duck’s face. And the punch line is delivered when opening the drawer reveals a marker-written “Quack!” Fear, a Fort-Wayne native majoring in art, specializes in metal and jewelry. She enjoys creating pieces with a playful element. Since Duck Table was her first in-depth attempt at woodworking, she wanted to take the same fun approach.

“I enjoy people looking at my table and laughing,” Fear said. “I don’t want to create something that needs to be pondered. The project made woodworking fun.”

Fear spent more than 100 hours blocking, tapering, carving, sanding and painting her table. Her dedication has earned her an on-campus honor as well. Duck Table was selected for the 69th Annual Student Art Show at Ball State.

The show will run through April 30 at the Ball State Museum of Art. This annual exhibition features more than 100 works created in the past year by Ball State art students. For more information about the show, call 5-5838.

The NICHE Awards professional program recognizes the outstanding creative achievements of American craft artists who produce work for craft galleries and retail stores. The student awards program began in 1996.

New book on Sudan covers nation’s bloody history

The U.S. may be the only hope for peace for the Sudan, a country mired in civil war for nearly 50 years, says a Ball State African history expert.

In her new book, “Sudan’s Blood Memory,” Stephanie Beswick analyzes the nation’s history starting with its days as the southern part of ancient Egyptian empires through the current civil war.

In between, the professor explores Sudan’s rich heritage as told by local residents through oral histories.

“The Sudan has a long history of being conquered by outside nations,” said Beswick, who grew up in the Sudan where her father worked for the government. “The ancient Egyptians ruled for centuries and again from 1821 to 1885. Then the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium was created and managed by the British from 1898 to 1956.

"At one point, Osama bin Laden used the country as his headquarters for terrorism,” she said. “Today, the nation is seeking to peaceably end a civil war that only the U.S. has been able to broker.”

Internal conflicts began in 1956 when Sudan became an independent country. Almost immediately, southerners began to fight against the central government in Khartoum. In 1972 the country established an uneasy truce that lasted for 11 years.

The north was once known as Nubia and was heavily influenced by Egypt and its pharaohs. Islamic and Arabic traders later played a role in developing the nation. Today, most northerners speak Arabic and practice Islam.

The majority of southerners practice traditional religions that acknowledge the existence of a supreme God but also worship lesser gods or spirits. An estimated 10 percent of the south consists of Christians. Beswick and her family were forced out of the country in 1963 when the government shifted to an Islamic fundamentalist nature.

“It is very dangerous to do any research in the Sudan,” Beswick said. “I was nearly killed a few times because of land mines in southern Sudan, and I was under house arrest for several weeks.

“Yet, I loved talking to the Sudanese,” she said. “They were telling me their country’s history as well as tribal histories in various languages from broken English to Dinka to Arabic.”

As a result of the civil war, Beswick said the south suffers bloody fights between ethnic-based armies backed by either the Khartoum government or various rebel groups.

“Southern Sudan is a complete war zone, complete with land mines and armed factions,” Beswick said. “Except for the land mines, it is the same poor section of the country it was 100 years ago when the Europeans arrived.

“Yet, there is hope the country can prosper,” she said. “If the north and the south can agree to peace, the West should play a major role in rebuilding Sudan, particularly the southern part of the nation because it has little or no infrastructure as compared to the north. The south also has rich mineral deposits, oil and low-grade diamonds. All the country needs is peace and help from the West.”

Psychadelic ‘60s come alive on stage in ‘A Flea in Her Ear’

A “shagadellic” tale full of mistaken identities, crazy situations and bizarre personalities unfolds in “A Flea in Her Ear,” on stage at 8 p.m. April 1-3 and April 7-10 and at 2:30 p.m. April 4 at University Theatre.

Written by French playwright Georges Feydeau in the late 1800s, “A Flea in Her Ear” is considered by critics to be one of the greatest farces ever produced. Ball State’s production is using Frank Galati’s updated adaptation set in the ‘60s for Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater, said Bill Jenkins, chair of the theatre and dance department.

“Our production will be like Jackie O meets Austin Powers, pillbox-hat-wearing first lady meeting the ‘shagadellic’ spy,” he said. “Nothing about the play is politically correct. It’s absurd situations coupled with absurd personalities.”

In the play, Yvonne DeBoche (J.R. Grass) suspects that her husband Victor (Tim Lueke) is shagging someone else. She calls her friend Lucille Homenides De Histangua (Erin Ordway) to help her write a love letter to Victor. In the letter, she poses as another woman inviting him to a hotel.

Rather than go himself, Victor sends his friend Maurice Blasé (Chris Roe), who just happens to have a crush on Yvonne. More complications arise as Lucille’s husband, Don Carlos, (David J. Mitsch) becomes involved.

“By act two, everyone is trying to be with someone else or attempting to figure out who is with whom. It’s a classic act of everything unraveling,” said Jenkins. Behind the scenes, student designers took on the arduous task of creating two huge sets for the three-act play. Pulling off the massive technical effort is a fitting tribute to the designers, many of whom will graduate in May, said Jenkins.

“The student cast and crew are made up mostly of seniors,” he said. “It’s a great celebration to be a part of these students’ collegiate finale. I’ve worked with these students since they were freshmen, and it’s rewarding to see firsthand just how much they’ve learned and matured.”

Journalism department to present awards March 30

Ball State’s journalism department will induct alumna Nancy Hastings into its hall of fame.

The department’s awards program March 30 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Cardinal Hall also includes the presentation of the 2004 Eugene S. Pulliam National Writing Award to Rinker Buck, staff writer for the Hartford (Conn.) Courant.

Hastings, who has served as director of publications at Munster High School since graduating from Ball State in 1972, is the 31st Hall of Fame inductee.

Other awards to be presented during the luncheon include:

• Joseph Costa Award for Courtroom Photography: Tony Giberson, photographer, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal • Anton Majeri Jr. Award for Innovation and Leadership in Graphic Journalism: Mario Garcia, president, CEO and senior designer, Garcia Media, Inc. • Indiana Scholastic Journalism Award: Indiana Professional Standards Board Journalism Committee (Jack Dvorak, chair) • Indiana Journalism Award: Jack Ronald, editor and publisher, The Commercial Review, Portland, Ind. • Special Citation: Anne Mullin O’Connor, former Indiana public access counselor • Special Citation: Jeff Smulyan, chairman of the board, Emmis Communications, Indianapolis • Outstanding Young Alumnus Award: Rowan Benecke, vice president, Waggener Edstrom, San Bruno, Calif. • Outstanding Young Alumnus Award: Michael Kellams, sports editor, RedEye (an edition of the Chicago Tribune) • Outstanding Alumnus Award: Raymond Begovich, assistant professor of journalism, Franklin College

Hidden treasures on display in Beeman Costume Collection

Western wear, cowboy garb and rhinestone couture are the focus of the Beeman Historic Costume Collection’s current display “How the West Was Worn.”

The exhibit shows how western wear has influenced fashion from the 1870s to today. It highlights features such as fringe, leather, beading and turquoise embellishments. "How the West Was Worn” will be on display until mid-April in room 168 of the Applied Technology Building.

The Beeman Historic Costume Collection contains 3,237 artifacts, including 350 hats, 32 capes and seven hair ornaments. The oldest item is a bed hanging from 1790.

“The collection provides inspiration for apparel design students,” said Karen Noe, an undergraduate assistant who helped create the display. “We can see how the historic garments are constructed and use design elements from the past in something new.”

It also preserves the history of dress and lifestyle in the Midwest.

The collection began in the 1930s with an initial donation from the Frank C. Ball family to Mary Beeman, who was head of the home economics department at the time.

President of Hispanic leadership organization speaks March 31

The head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) keynotes Latino Awareness Month March 31.

Ingrid Duran is president of the non-profit organization comprising 21 Hispanic members of Congress as well as Fortune 500 executives and non-profit sector leaders. Her talk at 8 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Cardinal Hall B is sponsored by Gamma Phi Omega sorority and Ball State’s Campus Activities Fund Board. It is free and open to the public.

CHCI’s leadership development programs include its summer internship, nine-month public police fellowship and college scholarship awards. The programs are widely known for giving Latino youth opportunities to explore and foster their leadership potential.

Prior to joining CHCI, Duran was director of the Washington, D.C. office of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials where she helped launch what is now the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.

Duran recently received the Premio Dignidad Award from the National Latino Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Organization for her advocacy work. She currently serves on the board of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT organization. She is also an appointee to the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Her Congressional experience includes working for the clerk of the House of Representatives in the Office of Systems Management and at the House Banking Committee. She also worked as a legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas). She served as president of the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association from 1994 through 1997.

Limited-access, live broadcast to spoof TV reality shows

Ready to make fun of television’s overzealous offering of reality TV shows like “Survivor,” “Trading Spaces” and “Blind Date”? Ball State’s “Reality TV Bytes” will do just that during its limited-access, live broadcast at 8 p.m. April 13, which will air via campus cable television and through 35 Internet slots. The multifaceted project will involve students, professors and artists and will consist of three major elements, said Jennifer Blackmer, assistant professor of theater and artistic coordinator.

First, a film will be created consisting of three acts with interchangeable scenes and starring 15 student actors who will parody the popular TV genre. The students, who have been schooled in improvisational comedy, will not use any scripts and will collect their footage on campus March 7- 12. Their antics will be captured via techniques indicative of reality shows, such as handheld shots, close-up confessionals and unedited segments.

Second, the live portion of the event will consist of a talk show, which will be staged at Strother Theatre. The actors will act as moderators, reviewing each act and guiding the direction of the film through audience participation.

“The live broadcast will provide a unifying storyline to the film’s three acts,” Blackmer said. “We’ll alternate between watching the film and coming back to the talk show. It’s truly a new form of filmmaking and many research opportunities should come from this.”

Third, a Web site is being built by students and will go online March 29. To help promote the broadcast, the site will have trailers for the film featuring its major characters. By clicking on interactive games, audition tapes, biographies and other materials, visitors can begin collecting background that could help choose their favorite characters.

Through a link from the Web site, a limited number of Internet users will be able to view the live broadcast and submit questions to the actors, listen to their live responses, vote on their favorite characters and select which alternate ending will be aired. The Web site can be accessed from computer labs on campus and 35 individual portals that will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

After the broadcast, Internet users can visit the site to view all of the alternate endings and outtakes.

“If theater and film are to survive in the next century, they must learn to incorporate and use new technologies in both production and interactivity,” Blackmer said.

Some of the Ball State personnel working on the project are:

• Rodger Smith, associate director of the Center for Media Design, will act as the executive producer. • Dan Lutz, associate director in Ball State’s Teleplex, will coordinate the interactive Web portion of the broadcast. • Rob Fultz, producer/director in Ball State’s Teleplex, will serve as the director of photography and producer of the film. • Larry Dailey, assistant professor of journalism, will direct his class as it designs the Web site. • Rich Swingley, digital audio instructor, will direct his class as it shoots and edits footage for the Web site. • John Dailey, assistant professor of multimedia, will supervise his class as it coordinates the Web site portal. “Nearly 75 students, six faculty members, 14 staff members and at least four classes in theater, telecommunications and the iCommunications initiative are participating in this project,” Blackmer said. “The level of collaboration is unprecedented.”

In the News

Steve Bell, telecommunications professor

Are television news viewers tired of constantly seeing Kobe Bryant and Michael Jackson?

In the February issue of American Journalism Review, Steve Bell said no.

The former ABC News correspondent recalled the day in 1977 when one network newscast led with the death of Elvis Presley.

“The other networks were aghast,” he said.

But because of the status celebrities have in today’s world, Bell said, Elvis’ death should have been the top story.

“Why not?” he asked. “No matter how much people claim not to be interested or are quite tired of Monica or whatever, back we come with extreme interest. Ratings tell how much people really do fixate on this. People love to deny being obsessed with these things, but ratings tell otherwise.”

Today’s more highly competitive and intense media coverage, Bell said, distorts the significance of people and events.

“I think we have distortion by magnification,” Bell says. “There are so many bright lights being focused on the same little thing. The systematic reaction is an overreaction; it assumes an unnatural importance. The people themselves become so magnified by the intensity, their importance to the societal order becomes totally distorted. They become bigger than life.”

James Lowry, telecommunications professor

People aren’t going to the beach for sun and surf anymore, Newhouse News Service reported March 3. They’re going there solely to shop.

James Lowry commented on Travel Industry Association of America figures showing that 34 percent of the more than 1 billion trips taken in 2002 by U.S. travelers included shopping. Research showed that the 552,000-square-foot Tanger Outlet Center on Alabama’s Gulf coast ranks second only to the beach among the area’s 3.2 million annual visitors.

“(Retailers) know there is going to be a market there and it may not be the same market all the time, which makes it even more attractive,” Lowry said.

Michel Mounayar, College of Architecture and Planning associate dean Michel Mounayar led readers of the March 19 Noblesville Ledger through the Eco-House built by Ball State and Vectren Energy.

The Eco-House features heat-absorbing concrete, bamboo flooring and carpet made from recycled milk jugs. The 2,400-square-foot home sits strategically to get maximum heat time from the sun in the winter and minimal rays in the summer.

“This material is almost like studs, insulation and drywall all in one,” Mounayar said as he showed blocks in the home that were screwed or glued in place.

Mounayar said one of his biggest challenges was to find affordable, environmentally safe materials, but he added that prices are coming down because more builders are using them.

Ball State is also promoting federal legislation that would give contractors and homeowners tax credits for using energy-efficient materials in their homes, he said.

The Eco-House is the second of three homes built during Ball State’s five-year, $100,000 partnership with Vectren and took four architecture professors two years to design.

Bob Papper, telecommunications professor

Michael Holmes, College of Communication, Information, and Media acting dean

Mark Popovich, journalism professor

Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch columnist Joe Blundo presumes all surveys and polls to be bogus unless proven otherwise.

But in his March 22 column, he said there’s one he does believe. It’s the Ball State Center for Media Design’s findings on whether people in phone surveys give accurate information about their media habits. Bob Papper, Michael Holmes and Mark Popovich led a team conducting a diary survey, and then had researchers shadow participants for a day to compare results.

“We went to work with them, we went home with them,” Papper said.

On the phone, his guinea pigs said they watched about two hours of television a day. When followed, they watched more than five hours.

Papper wasn’t surprised at the inaccurate phone estimates.

“If someone said, ‘Well, how much TV did you watch yesterday?’ could you really give a reasonably accurate answer? So part of it is we really don’t know . . . but I suspect we’re also embarrassed by some of the use.”

The study also found that people vastly underestimated time on the Internet (29 minutes reported in the phone survey versus 78 minutes witnessed by researchers).

When asked to keep diaries of media use, the subjects did a better job at depicting reality, but they were still off by significant amounts. The study required 19,000 phone calls and cost more than $200,000, including the $100 paid to each of the people in the Muncie area who agreed to be observed, Papper said.

On Campus

March 29 presentation traces Northern Ireland peace process

“Northern Ireland: The Evolution of Peace” is the title of a multimedia presentation Monday, March 29.

The presentation will be conducted by Gretchen Buckles, administrative coordinator for the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Debra Jones Price, a Ball State graduate who works at Mutual Federal Savings Bank in Muncie.

The event begins at 7 p.m. in North Quad, room 244. It is free and open to the public.

Buckles and Price have closely followed the events in Northern Ireland since the 1988 Good Friday Agreement between the Irish and British governments. Both have developed personal contacts with members of Sinn Fein, Ireland’s largest nationalist party.

Their presentation is sponsored by Ball State’s European Studies Committee as part of its Focus on Europe: Spring 2004 Program.

For more information, contact Gene Frankland at 5-8791.

Former cigarette company researcher to speak on addiction

Victor DeNoble, a former researcher at cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris, will speak to several groups at Ball State April 1.

DeNoble will talk about the physiology of nicotine addiction, what the tobacco industry knew about it and what the industry told Congress and the public.

DeNoble will speak in several classes, followed by a lecture at 5:30 p.m. in Cardinal Hall of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Nepali dinner to raise funds for international students

The Center for International Programs is hosting a Nepali dinner at 6 p.m. April 2 at the Christian Campus House, 1411 W. Riverside Ave.

Nepali fare, which is similar to Indian cuisine, includes rice and lintel curry. Curried vegetables and chicken curry are also common dishes. Although Nepali food is often very flavorful, the dishes served will not be too spicy. The dinner, which will be prepared by Nepali students and Muncie residents, will raise money for the Katherine Koontz Memorial Fund, an emergency fund for international students.

Koontz was a regular host of international students for many years. Upon her death, her estate established the fund. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for Ball State students and children under 12. They can be purchased at the center’s office located in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, room 102.

For more information, contact the Center for International Programs at 5-5422.

Women and Hi Tech session covers project management

Project management is the topic of the April 6 Women and Hi Tech session at 3:15 p.m. in the Alumni Center.

Susan Vaughan of The Project Authority will provide an overview of project management and the five phases of project management: initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing.

She will also discuss common steps in each phase and what potential risks are if the steps are not completed.

Women and Hi Tech is an organization of women and men whose goal is to attract, develop, retain, support and promote women who are interested in technology, through networking, mentoring, education and professional development. Membership is $40 per year.

Membership is not required to attend the free seminar. For additional information about Women and Hi Tech, visit www.womenandhitech.org.

Spotlight

Recognitions

Yeno Matuka, English, received Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from Poetry.Com and International Library of Poetry.

Publications/Creative Endeavors

Mir Masoom Ali, Mathematical Sciences (with another), article, “Application of Bayesian Computational Techniques in Estimation of Posterior Distributional Properties of Lognormal Distribution,” Journal of Korean Data and Information Science Society.

Jeffrey Carter, Music, Ball State University Singers performance tour to southern California, including performance at Walt Disney’s California Adventure and master classes with six Southern California show choirs. James Eflin, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, chapter, “Geographers and Sustainability: A Missing Connection?” WorldMinds: Geographical Perspectives on 100 Problems, Kluwer.

Cristina Guzzo, Modern Languages and Classics, “Ricardo Piglia” in Latin American Mystery Writers, Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn.

Yeno Matuka, English, poem, “The Grader’s Crowd,” The Colors of Life: The International Library of Poetry, a Compilation, Watermark Press.

Jackie Grutsch McKinney, English (with another), “Inventing a Teacherly Self: Positioning Journals in the TA Seminar,” WPA: The Journal of the Council of Writing Program Administrators.

Sushil K. Sharma, Information Systems and Operations Management (with another), “Improving Workers’ Productivity and Reducing Internet Abuse,” The Journal of Computer Information Systems.

Mei Zhong, Music, performed “Autumn Heart,” set of five songs for soprano, cello and vibraphone composed for her, Seventh Annual Festival of Women Composers International, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.

Presentations

Ronald Davis, Physical Education, “Disability Awareness and Sport for Individuals with Disabilities,” Taylor Middle School.

Tina Edwards-Willey, Criminal Justice and Criminology, “Perceptions of Inmate-Students’ Ability to Succeed in Higher Education: A Comparative Study from 1993 to 2003,” Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Las Vegas.

James Eflin, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, “Material Flow Analysis: An Institutional Ecology,” Centennial Meeting, Association of American Geographers, Philadelphia.

David L. Wheeler, emeritus, Graduate School, “Wild Horses and Federal Lands,” National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City.

Service

Dean Cantu, History, president, Indiana Council for the Social Studies; presided over annual ICSS Conference, Indianapolis.

Jeffrey Carter, Music, adjudicator, MIC National Competitive Choral Festival, North Central High School, Indianapolis.

Tina Edwards-Willey, Criminal Justice and Criminology, panel chair, “Research on Police Training,” Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Las Vegas. Leonard Kaminsky, Physical Education, elected to board of trustees, American College of Sports Medicine.

Job postings

Descriptions of the following positions are available at University Human Resource Services:

Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Theatre Education, Department of Theatre and Dance

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

Contract Faculty Position in French, Department of Modern Languages and Classics

Contract Faculty Position/Spanish, Department of Modern Languages and Classics