Would You Retire in Muncie?

This week the alumni association will be sending out a survey regarding that very question. For most of us in our late 20s, 30s, and even 40s retirement seems something of a far off distant land. Of course, that may be true for some of you that were getting ready to retire before the down turn of the economy.

Regardless of where you are in your career I am sure that at some point all of us have at least daydreamed about where and how we would like to retire. Maybe retirement would be moving to Florida or somewhere south. Or maybe it is the thought of being able to golf everyday and not have to check email, cell phones or be tied to a desk for 8 hours a day.  But, did it ever cross your mind to retire at your former college or university?

Research has shown that retiring or even living near a college campus can help keep you mind sharp and help delay the on set of Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition, college a campus can give the opportunity to continue some part time work whether volunteering or being an adjunct professor. And with all the cultural experience a college or university has to offer on the campus it does not sound like a half bad idea.

But do the amenities out weigh the city in which some college and universities reside, which would include Muncie?

For years Muncie has been on the front lines of the struggle between blue collar and white collar. I am not here to say that one is better than the other because both have there good points and bad. With that said there has been an underlying resentment between Muncie residents and Ball State.

As a journalism major I have seen this resentment first hand trying to do different stories in the community and being stonewalled by residents. Part of me does not fault them as there are students at the school that do not respect the Muncie residents however, there are some of us that do.

It is my opinion that the growth of the university into areas such as retirement communities and other expansions like it heavily depends on the relationship between the Muncie community and Ball State.  As a future retiree I would want the entire package, the college atmosphere in a community that supports the university as well a university that supports the community.

As far as the mending and cultivating of the relationship between the two I think that the university should take a more proactive stance.

Getcha graduation on, party people

As the year draws to a lovely close, for many this will be their last week of tests for their college career! But that doesn’t mean life won’t give them a few tests and trials! I’ve realized recently that life is messy and when life gets messy I just need to declare it as so, and then move on. My perfectionism sometimes gets the best of me and while I working on my news project I realized something. Here’s a shocker – there is no such thing as PERFECT! It’s impossible. As I finally finished my project, I just  tried my hardest and quiet freaking out over the small details that I could spend hour after hour fixing, re-fixing and finally just getting frustrated. Life’s not perfect, but that don’t mean we need have to accept it. And so as Ball State bids farewell to some promising students at graduation on May 9, 2009 I’d like to leave graduates with some adivce as they make their trek into the real world… (ehm ehm )

As you go off into the world outside of Frog baby and Happy Friday guy, remember where you came from, Ball State (chirp chirp) You spent a good deal of time here – for some more than they would have liked- but never the less remember the moments, cherish the friends you made and don’t forget Muncie, IN (I mean, hellooo, how could you?) And then secondly,  always try your hardest. Don’t give up. Others won’t hold you up, they might encourage you but you have to be your own source of motivation most of the time!  Also, be deaf to people’s negativity, it’ll get you down. But with that said, realize when thier criticism could benefit you in a postive way. Lastly, send thank you cards whenever you can to who ever you can. Let the people in your life know that you are happy to have them in it! Relationship are far more valuable than any job, boat or… well.. well anything! 

I’m sure there are a ton more words of wisdom to grace you with but there is limited amout of space. I wish you best of luck with your future though. And don’t forget, remember where you came from- BSU! Keep bleeding red cardinal pride! Heck, cardinals are the most fierce mid-size birds!

God bless,

Sally Prosen

From student to Alumni

One paper, one project, one report, one interview. That’s all I have, one interview. After all of those applications. Now all my eggs are in one basket, and that makes me so much more nervous. If something else were going to come along, I wish it would come sometime before Thursday so I could take some pressure off of this. Until then I will squirm. After it’s over, (which won’t be long) I will just have to wait. On that note, I have to say that (barring some strange twist of events where I end up, at the last minute, going to grad school at the CAP Indy center and somehow work for the Alumni Association remotely) this is my last blog post. I will be going through commencement on Saturday and will no longer be a student at Ball State University. Instead I will be an Alumnus. I will be moving on and reading this blog, continued by my replacement. I will be participating in Alumni activities whether I live here in Indiana or halfway across the country. I truly appreciate what this school has done for me. I have to say that I have enjoyed my time here. I would recommend the school to any and all who find an interest in one the many disciplines taught here. I would tell them to get involved and take advantage. I would tell them to enjoy themselves but push themselves. I would advise an open mind and motivation to learn everything you can, not just here, but everywhere and always. -Tim

Graduating?

Two more weeks. One of classes, one of finals. Finals for a senior Urban Planning student = time to job search more.

I was walking around campus yesterday with my wedding photographer, get engagement pictures taken care of, and he said he didn’t go to his commencement. He went to his college’s ceremony, but not the university wide gathering. He is a Ball State Grad. I was thinking, how upset would my mom, grandma, and fiancé be if I skipped commencement?

But I am looking forward to it. I think it will feel good. It’s kind of a symbol of what I’ve accomplished. And hey, I will probably get dinner out of it.

After next Saturday, I will have one month to think about the wedding. Five weeks to tie up all of the loose ends of planning. 35 days to try and calm Liz down. 840 hours to… well, my mom will never get over it.

I could only be happier if I had a job. I have been furiously looking since late January, and have not had as much as an interview. I really hope someone starts the hiring process again soon.

I would be curious to see a poll of the methods by which employees were hired. Across the country, would you expect more people to be hired through friends, contacts, etc. or through blind application? I would like to think that if the market weren’t so terrible, the contacts I have would be giving me more tips. But right now, the word on the street is, “I wish I could help, but I don’t know of anything right now. I don’t envy your position.”

I am better off than some people, and I have to be thankful that I at least my parents have a home for Liz and I to go to.

 

-Tim

Commuter Rail in Indiana

Commuter Rail in Indiana. Interesting topic. I’m sure a lot of people would love to ride a fast, smooth, quiet train from their bedroom communities to work downtown, or from any of the smaller communities around to the bigger cities. I’m also sure there are a couple of people who absolutely hate the idea of change. For whatever reason, there is plenty of debate about the idea. Some of it centers on location. Should a line go out through the airport and down to the south/west? What about Brownsburg and beyond? But we really need something to clear up congestion on I-69 out towards Noblesville. Well the answer is that there is nowhere in the Indianapolis suburbs that currently has the density to support a commuter rail line, be it high speed or otherwise. So the demand would not be there for any line, even one to Chicago. In order to support a line, the density would have to build up around it, so the line would come first. This mean that the best place for the line would really be any place willing to promote the density required. And THIS means that the area would have not be a bedroom commuter colony, but an active diverse corridor, with jobs, homes, and attractions. People will have to go to AND from on the line, and not leave it barren midday and evenings.

Any Midwest rail line is going to be a long process, beginning with the guts to build the line, and ending with a change in lifestyle. I know it is hard to pass on the idea of living close to each other, but the closer things are to you, the closer you are to everything. Think about it

 -Tim

Muncie, Downtown!

 

Walnut Street

Take a look at this

article from the Ball State Daily News. This is very good news. I live very close to downtown (Riverside and Wheeling) but a lot of my friends live closer to the village. Now I can convince them to go out to the downtown bar “village” for a change. I have told them before that Walnut street downtown is not very far away from the east and south student neighborhoods. It is the mental block presented by the White river that keeps students from walking I think. That’s the kind of stuff they teach us in the Urban Planning program. There needs to be some kind of connection (like the late trolley) to make pedestrians feel safe if they travel. From my house I can walk down Wheeling along the new walkway and across the bridge, but downtown feel considerably less comfortable. The first thing that happens is the road curves and splits around the police complex. The large windowless building is not a welcoming sight for pedestrians. If you skip to the east one block and pass the bail bond stores, you can enter the block of Walnut with the colorful and historic buildings. This is a much more inviting atmosphere.

There has been a problem with getting students to come downtown for a while, and this mental block is a huge part of it.

 

Be awesome to each other… and hit the street on foot. I promise you will see something you cannot see by car. Also look at the website for Muncie Downton http://www.munciedowntown.com/

 

-Tim

Public Participation

Four weeks of class, one week of finals. One day of graduation. Later that day… get out. Residence halls close at 5 p.m. Then five weeks of I have no idea what followed by marriage.

So what do you think about Iowa legalizing gay marriage? Crazy, huh?

I think I would like to say something about our legislative process. Do you know what to do in case of a legislative emergency? Do you call 911? Do you go to your local coffee shop and complain?

I think that the public part of our local governments (State most specifically) is getting lost in our digital age. I wonder how many Ball State students know how to contact their representatives. I wonder how many general citizens know how, or who to contact. I would be willing to bet that most people care or don’t think it matters. I think it matters. I think that our elected officials should be nothing more than a vehicle for popular opinion. They should be able to sacrifice their own opinions for the public’s desire.

This is why I could never be a politician.

 

One more note, make sure to vote for one of our own, Lisa McDonald, as “coach of the year – rising star assistant”

 

Be awesome to each other… and matter.

 

-Tim

Arrested on charges of Skateboarding in Public

It just so happens to be illegal to skateboard on Ball State University campus. It also just so happens that Ball State University campus is a great place to skateboard.

Skateboarding in all its forms is banned, with the penalty of a $30 fine and confiscation of the board. This is somewhat understandable because trick skateboarding (and biking) on concrete surface, i.e. ledges, walls, stairs, can cause quite a bit of damage. Damage that costs money and takes time to repair. Damage that, if isn’t repaired, makes it look like we don’t have respect for our school or ourselves. And yet, people still do it.

Skateboarding as transportation, that is to say long boarding, is not damaging. But is still banned.

So as far as I can tell, both sides are suffering from a lack of understanding. Skateboarders doing tricks, waxing and grinding, need to understanding the damage they are causing to the university, property we all own, and how it makes us look. City officials, and university police, should understand that specific boards are used only for transportation, and can’t even be used to do damage.

 

Be awesome to and respect each other… and yourself please.

-Tim

Ball State Campus

The campus here at Ball State has so much to offer students. One example; the university health center, which we pay for through tuition, is on campus for use whenever students need it. What many students don’t know is that the health center also has a physical therapist. My fiancé has been having nerve problems in her elbow and neck. She went to the health center, and they sent her to the therapist. She has been for a couple of sessions, and she is feeling much better. The university also has computer labs, printers, scanners, all kinds of equipment for use. The computers in the architecture library have two HD monitors each. I’m just saying we are paying for it, so let’s use it.

The recreation facilities are awesome, and are going to be super awesome in the next couple of years. The renovation of Irvin Gym promises a rock wall along with a lot of other expanded facilities. The pool is open for students, and has a great diving well.

And the campus itself is a great resource. I am having engagement pictures taken in a couple of weeks on campus. It will make for a great background, and remind us of our time here. The grounds crew starting planting flowers today and the update of McKinley Ave makes the campus looks so great.

 

Be awesome to each other… and to yourself.

 

-Tim

Lagging for the Stretch

whoa! the school year is about to end! it felt as if we were just coming back from winter break  a few weeks ago and now the grass is green, flowers are blooming, and charlie cardinals are chirping. i can’t believe it! my time at ball state is halfway through almost, and i still love every bit of it.

Women’s basketball is kicking butt. the defeat over tennessee put them on the front cover for the daily news. oh so very exciting. best wishes for their next game, it will be awesome if they win. We’ll have a wonderful year in both football and women’s basketball which is sweet.

senior congrats party is in process and moving…quick! shirt designs will be established in a few days so that’ll be nice. food vendors and sponsors are all getting done and turned in. this years theme is luau, and it should be pretty sweet. i’m excited.

a cornhole tournament is being held by student foundation at lafollette field in a few weeks. its the first one we’ve had for raising scholarship money, i hope the turnout is well.

soon enough, the congrats party will be here. commencement will be a day away, and summer school will be on the verge. my oh my where does the time go?

sincerel.y

-yung hong