One heck of a party in Muncie

One hundred fifty thousand dollars to throw a party that would last all night. That sum could cover a lot of liquor, a big-name band and even a few party hats. But Ball State's president wants the party to last for the next four years.\nFor 15 of next year's freshmen, the inauguration party will go on for four years of college. Jo Ann M. Gora is the new president of Ball State University, and she decided to forego her inauguration in order to donate the money to the new Inauguration Scholarship Fund. Ball State hopes to find a total of 15 donors to give an additional $10,000 each to bring the grand total to $300,000 - $20,000 each for 15 students.\nBy sacrificing one night in the spotlight, 15 college freshmen will get a head start on a bright future. People forget parties rather quickly, but having gifted students on campus will benefit the university for years to come. The students, their families and everyone on Ball State's campus will remember Gora's thoughtfulness for more than a weekend.\nDuring a news conference Wednesday at the Statehouse, Gora said "I think it will set an example of how we put students first," and Governor Mitch Daniels heartily approved of her designation for the money.\nWe hope that other university presidents will follow this fine example.\nIn August 2000, President Herbert's inauguration cost $115,000. While celebrating accomplishments is important, not to mention a great time, Indiana and Ball State are both public universities, and the state budget has no slack. IU and Ball State are bound by public interest to conserve resources and devote as much funding to actual education as possible.\nKeeping 15 more of Indiana's brightest high school graduates in the state might seem insignificant in the face of Indiana's huge brain drain, but every little bit helps make the state colleges and economy stronger. \nFor a generation of college students that is working more while still finding themselves deeper in debt, it's comforting to know that some administrators are keeping students' pocketbooks in mind.\nWhile we realize that university celebrations are a great way to solicit donations from wealthy alumni, we suspect that philanthropy breeds philanthropy, and it seems that donors agree. According to the Indianapolis Star, Ball State alumna Betty Kendal, a former teacher, gave $10,000 to the cause. She told the Star that "this time we don't need to have a big, elaborate ceremony with pomp and circumstance." She's right on target.\nSetting this precedent so early into her administration assures that Gora is already building a legacy. The $300,000 will cover one year of the program, but hopefully administrators will find a way to keep it going long after next year's freshman class. While Gora will still face problems and hardships as president of a large public institution, the Inauguration Scholars program is a constructive use of a lot of money that would have bought one fancy evening.