Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

Page 31 text:

Freslimen soon learn that they are expected to wear httle green pods. Fraternity pledges are told to wear these hats all during the first semes- ter. At first the pods are fairly decent looking. By the end of the semester, the hard wear begins to show and the pods have a ragged, shaggy look. Freshmen girls usually discard their pods after o.bout a week of school, although some upperclass women advocate a longer wearing period. Pod on head— cigarette in hand, the freshman boy begins to learn the ropes of campus life. He finds that Wednesday night dates are ex- pected, and Saturday night ones are a must. Fratemit ' pledges find their life cluttered with httle duties like making beds, shining shoes, and picking up after the brothers. Each year a few freshmen arm themselves with buckets of paint and brushes and proceed to the Freshman Walk. Here they proudly paint their class numerals on the walk, taking special care to cover up the numerals of the pre- ceding class.

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To Belong . • • The patterns that are Indiana Uni- versity began to take shape— Each or those who had been here before knew where he belonged. Bohemians found bohemians and began to argue about Stravinsky, Picasso, and free love. Busi- ness students became interested in unions, kickbacks, and price policy. Politicians remained politicians and tried to get more to join their ranks. The new student scurried across the campus lost in a maze of twisting, dia- bolic paths. Scuttling from class he had to punctuate every few steps with Where? , Why? , and How? . Ques- tions, questions, questions. The answers to a great many ques- tions about the campus gradually slipped into place in his mind as if someone had shifted gears. The B E building wasn ' t hard to find. He and 956 other freshmen taking military courses knew that attendance was re- quired. Suddenly smooth, life followed the pace already set— hurry. His life was channeled into some- thing new to him. Yet, he adjusted as completely as possible. Soon this once- bewildered Freshman walked oblivi- ously along the same paths that he did not know at first. His respect for the machine— Indi- ana University— towering over him was shown in subtle, unspoken ways. He knew he belonged.

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The Patterns Form The routine of classes became stale. The alarm was an enemy. When he felt these things he was established. He was still picking up and sorting facts, but it was habit now. He ' d learned when he could cut class. He had the habit of going to the Commons for 10:30 and 2:30 coffee. He usually man- aged to find a date for Saturday night. It doesn ' t take long to pick up the college habit. After establishing him- self, he began to learn more. Despite the fact that he lived for weekends, his classes, associations, and activities all through the week provided stimulation for his mind. Consciously or uncon- sciously he was beginning to learn. He worried about controversies he never knew existed. He found out in psychology he has no mind, which dis- turbed him for awhile. In sociology he is told he is just one of the lonely crowd, a faceless anonymity in the masses. He takes part in endless word battles over religion, politics, and truth. He begins to think. 28