After a semester of redesign work, Ball Bearings will soon be fully running. The Internet student media organization expects to have the Web site completed by Friday, editor Mike Sayre said.
"We looked at the old site, and it wasn't a successful site," Sayre said. "We wanted to make it more about Ball State."
The Web site is now focused on features and entertaining students, whereas last year its focus was on editorials, Sayre said.
"It's looking to entertain and inform the students," adviser Larry Dailey said.
Once finished, the Web site will have a Ball State events calendar that will be searchable by date and price. It will also contain feature profiles and a recurring feature on campus bands.
Sayre said he hopes students will be able to download music from the bands.
"We're trying to stay away from current news," Sayre said. "We're more involved in student life."
They are planning two games for the Web site, Sayre said.
The mileage calculator will allow students to plot out their paths on campus and then find out how far they walk.
In the parking services game, students will have to try to avoid getting a ticket.
"They're concentrating on interactivity," Dailey said.
The old Web site was scrapped in August.
The volunteer staff spent three months finding its vision, Sayre said.
"It's always difficult starting something new," Sayre said.
A prototype was created but the design was "trashed" over winter break, Sayre said.
"Our technical abilities increased; that's why we threw the first one out," Sayre said. "I don't think any of us, except for one, had any technical skills coming into this."
All seven members are new, and most are journalism majors.
"I needed to get involved in a journalism organization, and this seemed fun and something different," junior Katie Swander said.
Most of the learning has come through trial and error, Sayre said.
The self-education is paying off though, because the site will soon be fully accessible, Sayre said.
"I hope it gets to the point where people want to check it once a week, and I hope it will still be there in a couple years," Swander said.
The organization receives $5,000 from the university each year, but the money stays mostly untouched.
"Most of the money comes from our own pockets," Sayre said.
The publication cycle of Ball Bearings is still undecided.
"We're still defining that, but for right now it's as soon as we can," Sayre said. "We'll try for a two-week cycle but staggered, so there's something new each week."
All articles will be archived.
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