Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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Entering this strange microcosm It sounds like an audio version of War of the Worlds. He hears the stereos from the left, from across and from the right. He is a freshman at O.U. and is only beginning to experience the differences between home and Athens. He entered this strange microcosm on a Friday when there were no taxis running from the bus depot and he had three suitcases of various sizes and a duffel bag with a broken zipper. By the time he had walked to where he decided his green was, he was wondering if it was really worth it. The weather soon became another problem to confront. He found out that it was impossible to predict the weather from one day to the next (unless you just said cloudy ). It was such a shame to see his relatively new shoes slowly disintegrate from the wear and tear of hills, steps, mud and rain. Food was provided by the local cafeteria, which at first seemed adequate. But soon the selections became monotonous, and later came comments such as Geez, what is that? The novice student is introduced at the quarter ' s inception to the pizza- funding methods, where your still friendly acquaintances combine their meager finances and coupons (everybody has ' em) to order pizza. After — oh, forty-five minutes of waiting, he ' s so ravenous that he is about ready to kill (lest someone take his half with the mushrooms). Yet, this is a short-lived vice, for funds are limited (Dear Mom and Dad, . . .) and the price of Clearasil is prohibitive. From the start, he is carried along with the wave of over- zealousness for companionship of the opposite sex — even to the point of calling any 594 and begging blindly if a female voice answers. Soon, this, too, may prove to be both a waste of time and money, as both are becoming more scarce. The classes and courses follow a general rule — you take what you get. The explanations of available courses are brief, to say the least; and friends can offer little assistance, for they are all in the same boat — a new and strange one. In the end the freshman or freshperson goes on his customary path, or the one that fits his immediate needs and desires. Some opt to continue riding on the wheel of fun and freakiness, a la Athens. Some withdraw into a cocoon consisting of classes, library and back to the dorm, exhausted from such academic concentration. Others seem to acquire split personalities; Monday through Friday they whiz through their classes and exams just so they can let loose on their just reward — Friday and Saturday evenings. John Elliott

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Student — again Richard Carter, a senior majoring in business administration, first came to O.U. and then left — as do many freshmen. He has a unique perspective on what school has been like and what he feels it is like now. Rich, tall, lithe, friendly, w ith a short afro, sideburns and a chin full of hair; a go d-natured person who readily puts you at ease. Basketball, with hopes of playing regularly, is what originally influenced him to come to Athens. After Fall Quarter of his sophomore year, he became disillusioned with the sports program and b.s. that goes on around campus in general, and transferred to Ohio State. After playing ball for O.S.U. and re-injuring a leg muscle. Rich was back at O.U. in a year. The doctors told me I would keep re-injuring it. and I had the hours here so I came back. Since returning, he has learned w hat it takes to get ready for ' out there ' . I came here at first and went wild, he relates. I took all basic 101 courses, raised (left) on the weekends and partied day and night. But now he feels that the whole school seems to have changed. Little things, like the freshman dorm thing, I guess to change the school ' s image. Rich relates that the party school image has changed, partly because drugs are not as plentiful. He observes They ' re still here, but you don ' t see as much now. Commenting on trends in and out of the classroom, he feels that. Everything is harder. For instance, Soc. is really hard now. It used to Ik ' cool, we would look forward to it as a chance to talk about common-sense things. Rich drives a small blue Chevy and noted that more students have expensive cars now, and there is more emphasis on nice clothes. A casual dresser, who — as often as not — wears jeans and a cap, he says he likes to dress nice, too. But some people wear long coats and bad-ass rags all the time! Through the good quarters and the bad. Rich says he has been able to achieve a balance and that now, like most, he tries to maintain, study and just take it day-by-day. Wayman Smith Afro-American studies . . . The rejection of that which was or is ours has been the hasi for the acceptance of that which is someone el« ' s. The most effect i,e weapon used against us has been the educational ssslem — 1 1 - ii I. las?. Rlack poet It is still in existence. That is the most important, most valuable, fact of the Center for Afro-American Studies The Center was created in reaction to racism (sic). Black Studies Institute courses are not recognized by the College of Arts and Sciences. Professors outside the department question the legitimacy of professors within BSI. Compounded with the financial crises of a new interdisciplinary department, BSI continues to struggle to secure its rightful place in the University. Most Black Studies departments across the country have come and gone, the victims of planned obsolescence via underf unding. poor planning and a general lack of support. But the C.A.A.S. continues to provide an educational opportunity which always-present instructor Lindi Pettiford describes as organic, stimulating and nourishing. The BSI is indispensable, says Assistant Dean Bev Childs in that it is the only one that addresses the problems of the largest minority of Americans and serves a variety of needs Whether stopping by the John Coltrane Room to cneck on the progress of the Afro-American Affairs newspaper, or knowing that you. as a serious student, can enroll in a study skills course not available in the Universitj anywhere else — and get it Black — is unique in itself. Wayman Smith 13

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I he class of ' 76 is leaving. The class of ' 79 has entered. Each group has its own views of what University life is all about. Some freshman echoed the views of seniors. I thought it would be harder than it is, stated freshman Cheri Hipsley. Senior Ervin Ball said, It wasn ' t as rigorous as I thought it would be. The atmosphere is conducive to studying only if you know what you want to do. Otherwise it is a dead end. On dorm living, views were mixed. Some, like Ball, liked it. Dorm life did have its natural drawbacks, but the dorms helped me a lot while I lived in them. Freshman Joy Lehman said, They ' re not bad. I ' ve done worse things than live in dorms and I ' ve also done better. Senior Eric Salo felt, They were noisy. I think they should change all the dorms to some order of apartments. I live in an apartment now and I find it cheaper to live here than the dorms. ' Why do students come to Ohio University? Salo says, Academically O.U. is higher than average. I ' ve had some good instructors and some poor ones. On the whole I ' m satisfied. Freshman Michelle Stubbs pointed out what she likes about campus. Relationships on campus are informal and liberal. I like that. Sue Cairo