Ball State to name multicultural center for Muncie civil rights activists

Ball State University will name its campus multicultural center for Muncie civil rights activists Vivian Conley and Hurley Goodall.

Vivian Conley (Photo: Women’s Equality Day program)

Conley founded Ball State’s Non-Traditional Student Association, while attending the school in her 60s, alongside her daughter and several grandsons. She earned two degrees.

She was also involved in desegregating Tuhey Pool and the push to end the use of Confederate flag symbols at then-Southside High School.

A public library branch was previously named for her in the Whitley neighborhood.  Conley died in 1993.

Goodall was a state representative and the first Black Muncie firefighter and first Black member of the Muncie Community Schools board.

In his 14 years in state government, he was a founding member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. Goodall was also responsible for the state’s official recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He died in 2021.

Hurley Goodall (Photo: BSU Libraries)

The multicultural center was moved to a new building in 2021, near Bracken Library, replacing a converted house that wasn’t accessible.  At the time the construction was announced, Ball State said its population of “underrepresented minority” students had increased by almost 89 percent in 10 years.

Read More from 2019: State Commission Approves Ball State Multicultural Center, With One Reservation

Ball State President Geoffrey Mearns says by naming the building in Conley and Goodall’s honor, the university celebrates “their servant leadership” and dedication to Ball State.

Stephanie Wiechmann is our Managing Editor and “All Things Considered” Host.  Contact her at slwiechmann@bsu.edu.