MUNCIE, Ind. (The CI) - “There’s a time and a place,” a student actor said, playing the role of Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns. “There’s a time and a place. There’s a time and a place.”
Breaking character, the actor turned to the crowd. “That’s actually his only response to anything,” referring to Mearns.
On March 24, 2026, organizers hosted a mock Board of Trustees meeting at the Peace Plaza, in protest of the University’s Non-Commercial Expressive Activity and Assembly on University Property Policy.
The policy, subject of two federal lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, prohibits “assemblies, protests, or other demonstrations” within 50 feet of most University buildings.
According to the policy, it “outlines the University’s regulations regarding Non-Commercial expressive activity and assembly on the University’s Campus or in University Facilities. It sets forth reasonable time, place, and manner regulations that apply to all students, employees, visitors, and other individuals while on Campus.”
However, both federal lawsuits claim this policy restricts free speech.
The actor for Mearns, was joined by three other actors, who played the roles of Board Member Dollyne Sherman, Board Chair Brian Gallagher, and Vice President of Student Affairs Ro-Anne Royer Engle.
Participants of the mock meeting were each given a stage name and a concern. They “violated policy” by stepping in front of a freehand white line of chalk, symbolizing the 50-foot prohibition. When they did, the four acting as University officials dramatically ran away, shouted, and passed out copies of a letter.
One participant who crossed the line read an excerpt from the letter out loud: “‘Dear student, it has come to our attention you have violated the 50-foot Noncommercial Expressive Activity Rule. This guideline exists to ensure fairness and order’—this is bull[expletive]!” The participant was then given a second copy of the letter.
Disclosure: “Sabrina Velazquez” is an acted role, not a student at the University. Participants were each given a stage name and a concern.
One character acted was “Sabrina Velazquez,” a 22-year-old double-major whose program requirements changed, potentially delaying her graduation. The actor chanted, “Change the rules! Not okay!”
The actor for Velazquez was given a copy of the letter and was told by the actor for Mearns to “Write me a letter with your concerns, because I couldn’t hear you.”
“But don’t come to the office!,” the actor for Sherman said.
“What if we all stepped over the line?,” one participant said. As the crowd crossed the line, the four stepped back, shouting.
“Are you done being delinquents?,” the actor for Sherman asked. “Does anybody have any legitimate concerns? I’ve heard a lot of whining today.”
“Yeah,” the actor for Velazquez said. “I’m not going to graduate!”
Other concerns participants voiced during the “meeting” included accessibility concerns after severe weather, tuition costs, meal plan costs, parking, pay for graduate students, class sizes, advising issues, and the safety of immigrants on campus.
At the end, the actor for Mearns passed out tomatoes from a store bag, giving them to participants who engaged in the “meeting.” As he stepped back, he let the crowd throw the tomatoes at him.
The crowd gathered the tomatoes before leaving.
The demonstration lasted less than 20 minutes. No University signage or officials were at the demonstration.
The CI has contacted Ball State University through their online form for comment.