Why Ball State Helps Muncie

 I heard someone say this past week that Muncie was now a college town. Implicit in that statement is that Muncie is no longer a factory town with good paying jobs. I heard that a lot 40 years ago or more, when I was a Ball State graduate. I did disagreed back then, Ball State students left for the weekends, they did not venture far into the town when they were here. When I worked at the bar here, it was noticeable when Ball State was on vacation, but it was not critical. 

Since then I have looked between Anderson and Muncie, and I think the school does help Muncie. If nothing else, Ball State gives people a reason to come to Muncie.

Here is another example of how Ball State helps Muncie: Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate ‘Gather and Grow’ Mural at Rosebud Coffee House,

Muncie residents are invited to a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 19, to celebrate completion of the “Gather and Grow” mural at Rosebud Coffee House, 1805 S. Hoyt Ave.

The mural — completed by local artist Sarah Shaffer — is a campus & community collaboration between Rosebud and Ball State University’s School of Journalism and Strategic Communication. Lecturer of Journalism Kate Elliott helped guide the creative endeavor.

“Students in my strategic writing class were collaborating with southside non-profits and businesses, including Rosebud, to produce social media content and support other marketing and communications efforts,” Elliott said. “When my students learned that Rosebud’s owner, Tiara Hicks, wanted another mural on the building, they jumped at the opportunity to make it happen.”

Students wrote grant applications, secured the artist, and collaborated with Hicks and Shaffer to finalize a vibrant, interactive mural that blends the campus and Muncie community. Ball State sophomore Seattle Greenwell helped lead the project and paint the mural.

I do not recall that kind of interaction between Ball State and Muncie 40 years ago.

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