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WEDNESDAY | AUG. 31, 2016
The Daily News
Freshman class breaks enrollment records
Alumnus Jim Davis returns to campus to teach, plans to incorporate 'Garfield' in the classroom
Liz Terlep Daily News Reporter The Class of 2020 is already breaking records at Ball State. This year, the university welcomed 21,998 students, the third-largest student body in 20 years. This number also includes the third-largest class of freshmen in history. The freshman class totals to 3,911 — 384 more students than last year, according to Kay Bales, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services and dean of students. The largest freshman class in the university’s history came in 1997, when 3,980 enrolled. Enrollment has been climbing for years, with this freshman class surpassing the highest relative freshman enrollment count for the 2011 freshman class by 67 students. Along with enrollment, the academic standards of the university have only increased — making the Class of 2020 that much more remarkable in light of recent class sizes. The average GPA of these freshmen is 3.45, with 71 percent of students possessing an Academic Honors Diploma or equivalent, which shows an 8 point rise since 2012. The average SAT score among the class is 1611, well over the national average of 1490, according to bsu.edu. In addition, minority students now make up 19.14 percent of the incoming class, exceeding the university’s strategic goal of 17 percent. This is the largest percentage in the last five years, and since 2011, the numbers have risen 6.94 percent. Retention for fall 2015 freshmen reached 81 percent, making this the third consecutive year the university has surpassed the strategic plan goal of 80 percent, according to bsu.edu. “The quality and diversity of this class reflects the great work that occurs each day by faculty, staff and students who not only tell, but live, the Ball State story,” Bales said in a press release. “That means engaging in entrepreneurial learning and leadership development, and getting involved and giving back to our communities.” The university’s appeal is different for each student. For freshman theatre studies major, Kalee McCuller the ease of the application process along with school’s theatre program drew her to Ball State. “I’ve always loved theatre. See ENROLLMENT, page 4
INSIDE
'It's time to go
back to school' J Sara Barker Multicultural Reporter
im Davis hasn’t started teaching any classes yet, but the creator of Garfield is already getting settled in at the university and preparing for his first semester as a teacher. Although he will not be a professor with regularly scheduled courses, Davis said he plans on holding guest lectures and helping with other course instruction when he’s needed. The dates of his lessons, Davis said, will be announced by the art department in early October. “It’s nice to get back. I’ve always enjoyed the university,” Davis said. “I’ve always liked being around the people and it’s just fun.”
See JIM DAVIS, page 4 Digital Media Repository // Photos Provided
Jim Davis, a member of the Ball State Class of 1967, will be guest lecturing in the art department this fall. Davis, who created the popular comic “Garfield,” drew cartoons for the Daily News (top) as an undergraduate student.
COCAINE CULTURE
'Terrible' dog wins over instructor's heart
FOOTBALL
Megan Melton Daily News Reporter
Family pet has bitten friends, made messes in Unified Media Lab
Band made up of Muncie locals performs at Be Here Now PG 7 Hester hopes for better secondary against Georgia State PG 3
ONLINE
BALL STATE TO PLAY TENNESSEE
Athletics to gain $1.5 million in 2022 guarantee game
GOVERNOR DEBATE
A recap of Tuesday's debate
Editors Note: This weekly series features a Ball State professor and their furry, slimy, three-legged, etc. pet(s). If you have any suggestions as to who we should feature next, send an email to features@bsudailynews.com. Somewhere deep in the depths of the Unified Media Lab in the Art and Journalism Building, there is a square of carpet that was once the victim of a scar-ridden, hodge-podge wiener dog’s bowel movement. The culprit was journalism instructor Colleen Steffen’s
dog, Smokey. “He’s a terrible dog,” Steffen said. “I love him.” Steffen and her family rescued Smokey from the Animal Rescue Fund about two years ago after losing their dog, Daisy, after 17 years. Smokey was the first dog they laid eyes on. “I heard he came from the streets of New Castle,” she said. “Was it literally the streets? I don’t know. He’s had a tragic background, which is why I excuse all of his terrible behavior. Like, he’s truly a terrible dog.” Steffen said Smokey bites everyone in sight, except herself, her husband (journalism instructor Ryan Sparrow) and their daughter Tommy. “He has bitten all of our friends,” she said. See SMOKEY, page 8
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AUGUST 31 6:00-7:30 p.m. Visit CCIM's showcase of 35+ student journalists, media teams and organizations!
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