Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

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Karen Linch 22 Shifting Priorities eople changed. Their list Of likes and wants altered in a quite erratic, sometime quite unfathomable direction. What made them do it? What made the freshman international studies major turn into a bonaflde businessman replete with suitcoat, tie and fmance degree in hand at graduation? Or, turn it around and ask, what made the dedicated freshman systems analysis major graduate as a marine and wildlife coordina- tor? Perhaps the answer could be gleaned from a Closer study of the shifting sands of that mystic agent called priorities. When freshmen entered college, most were charged with electri- fying thoughts of staying up all night, drinking beer, meeting guys tor girlst and in general being out from under the scrutinous eyes of parents. These activities were diligently pursued. Wasting some time between classes, systems major Laura M ille'r stopped to check out the 0b listings on a Laws H all bulletin board. Though she was only a fresh- man, If 6 time dzdn? seem too early to start looking toward thefuture and a prom- isingjob.

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Cheenols were a popular pair ofpants WW qne in the preppy mood. These stylish, z casual pants made a big zmpresszon 0n amfs campus. The I zod alligator was a pa ular trademark on M iami ls campus. The polo shirts ofSusan starzs and Tam ooper are only one variety of the I zod collection. Amongst all the I zods, Calvin K lein ls, Ralph Laurenls and Gloria Vanderbilfs on campus, B arbam Sylvester stepped in with herfashionable Western-cutjeans and leather, pomted-toe clogs. the range; for running around the track, nothing beat a pair of brightly colored, suede-striped Nikes. Shoes for women came in a variety of styles and colors prominently bearing the Bass name tag. Of course, the popular topsider 0r docksider shoe was a regular for the true sailor. The original label for these leather-stringed flats was widely debated, but the style was al- ways accepted. Bluejeans were another item that dared to wear the logo ofa company. The TlLevil, tag was seen internationally; the price and fit made Levi,s a favorite throughout time. A man named Calvin Klein also designed a popular jean, but for approxi- mately twice the price. Why the extra cost? One could proudly wear the thalvin Kleinh tag on his or her derriere. Another type Oflabeling appeared widely across campus: the simple yet prestigious fashion of fraternity and sorority sports- wear. The Greek letters of each organization were mono- George Lebrun George Lebrun grammed 0n sweatshirts, visors, shorts, baseball caps, football jerseys, sweaters and the seats of sweatpants. Labels were worn for a variety of reasons: class, status, im- pressions and security. For many, though, labels were fun and - Tami Mansfield sporty and were the subject of light humor. Student Life 21 George Lebrun

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Gregg Stevens M any freshmen occasionally blewgpf their studies, as Dave C ushnie did, and studzed harder a5 upperclassmen. owever, a 5i hi icant number of M iamians optedfor an alternative strategy: build a good P early at M iamz because a se- nior with a D still meant degree. This diligence in the pursuit of extra-curricular activities often left small time for considerations of the mind a namely studies. Studies took a devastating blow during the freshman year. For some, the damage was irreversible; their grade point never would attain a meritorious level. For others it was time to Change bad habits, to shift priorities before it was too late. Many Changed their majors. Career-oriented Changes often came from the realization that the Chosen course would prove too difficult ltoo difficult to main- tain a healthy social lifel. Other Changes underscored the sudden, scary insight that onels present major really had no purpose and would probably award the holder only a diploma, not a job. Priorities underwent a subtle change from late during the sophomore year and continuing on through the junior year. Wednesday and Thursday uptown drinking nights were forgone more often in lieu of staying caught up with a professors syllabus. Entire Sunday afternoons became devoted to the place most peo- ple didnlt know about during freshman year - the library. In the senior year, the nagging pressures of reality nudged in- side the Close-Confined security of twenty-one years under paren- A drastic Changefmm the usual Miami preppie wardrobe was the Classic blue three- zece suzt worn when mtervzewmg. Andy DeSollar, a marketing major, looke hzs best as he prepared hzmself mentallyfor a critical interview. tal and university wings. Reality tap-tapped with bothersome pers15tence. It was a year ofinterviews, of applications forjobs and graduate school, medical and law schools. It was a year of waiting, hoping and fearing. For some, job offers and graduate school acceptances prom- ised an intellectually-challenging and economically-rewarding future. Education majors who had spent one semester student- teaching found that their taste of the real world gave them a desire for more. Priorities shifted again. And what had once been a college coed became a member of the world outside - an adult. a Christy Rumpf Student Life 23 Karen Linch