Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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The Diploma Chase 25

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The Diploma Chase students master the game of college life i n the great crapshoot of life, the col- lege years were the make or break years for many. Players came from all over to roll for that elusive prize: a college degree. And while the odds were in their favor, obstacles made the guilty hooky feeling of blowing off homework for the sake of a good time. The question for many freshmen wasn ' t really whether to drink each night, but what to drink. The first week of the year may have been early to bed and early to class, but for many, the next week meant starting the MeisterBrau and Mo-Doz diet, shaking their way to the Pick Up the Freshman 15 square. Partying inevitably led to freshmen ' s first experiences with add drop at midterm, hopefully saving themselves a stop on Flunk a Class. Second semester usually brought relative stability, with students who survived the eariier trials sticking it out for another round and maybe even taking a shot at choos- ing a major. The Middle Years Many students spent their sophomore and junior rounds trying to make up for the mistakes of their fresh- man year. University catalogs were dug out of milk crates and litterboxes as stressed- out students hurried to sal- vage their academic pro- grams. Landing on the Change Major square be- game a risky one at best. With the right combination of looks, brains and a little luck, winners could choose the American Express Gold Card behind door number three. Without a degree, the Chance card read Go to work at McDonald ' s; go directly to work at McDon- ald ' s. Do not pass go; do not collect a BMW Still, most students didn ' t have a high stakes gamble in mind when they came to the University. And whether they entered with skulls full of mush or as Presidential Scholars, they shared com- mon experiences: the ups and downs of college life. The First Year Free at last, freshmen crawled out from under the parental thumb and onto the most difficult stretch of the game board. Armed with new 501s and blinding white Reeboks, they were ready to tackle the college experi- ence. Their new-found fre edom often brought out the first, and one of the biggest, ob- stacles in college life: the urge to party. Freshmen quickly discovered the sweet. came a way of life. When Molecular Genetics started splitting pre-med majors ' brain cells, basketweaving started to look better and better as a career option. By the junior year, most students had the game under control, dropping classes as their bills or wardrobes demanded. They also gained philosophical bearing on their educations, mumbling rationalizations like, Well, an ' F ' does build character.... The third year also meant hitting the organization cir- cuit, picking up the right membership cards for an up- coming round of Build that Resume. The Senior Year Just when everything seemed to be falling to- gether, it happened. Senior- itis set in. in just a few short months, it would be time to face the rea l world, and stu- dents realized they still had some serious party time left. Classes were put on the back burner for socializing, and the goal became simply to pass everything and get out of the ' Ville. With the real worid loom- ing ahead, seniors found themselves wishing they could keep the game going for just one more round. It would just take one more lucky roll.... Hah, snake eyes! Grad school here I come! n Mike Dunlap ' $ 4. « - 24 The Diploma Chase

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Thunderous applause awaits anyone at Playfair who yells, I want a standing ovation. Play- fair served as an icebreaker for freshmen during their first week on campus. Photo by Kevin Fullerton Playfair provides Michelle Turn- er an opportunity to relax and enjoy herself. The new stu- dents were encouraged to maintain their new-found friendships after the program ended. Photo by Kevin Fuller- ton Judith Thompson, Mike Mel- son, Toni Goforth and Brian Rupe take a lunch break from Advantage ' 87 activities. Stu- dent leaders played an impor- tant role in the success of Freshman Orientation. Photo by Kevin Fullerton After braving the long lunch line, Craig Merkey finds a place on the campus lawn to enjoy his meal. ARA services catered the picnic for freshmen and their families. Photo by Ron Alpough 26 Freshman Orieritation