Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

Page 29 text:

A Place To Escape When You ' re Going Every college town has hangouts, the places students go when campus is too boring and a big city is too far. Hangouts range from food speciality shops to Ma and Pa ' s Diner. There is nothing fancy or outstanding about a hangout; if it ' s cheap, close by, and open late, there are Olivet students there. Hangouts exist for several rea- sons; the number one reason is boredom. Students want to get off campus for a little freedom with friends or a date. When dates are hard to find sometimes students try to study at hangouts. Actually that is an illusion. Very little studying is done at hangouts, but bringing books seems to alleviate the guilt of escaping homework. Hangouts have been around as long as dodging homework. When the campus moved from Olivet, Illinois, to Bourbonnais, Il- linois in 1940 the hangouts were a little different than they are to- day. The Steak-and-Shake was a big hangout in the early days of Olivet. A cook named Wally at Steak and Shake quit the fran- chise and opened his own res- taurant, Wally ' s Drive-in, which is still in the same location it was in the ' 50s. The state park and the Indian caves have been hang- outs since the college moved to Bourbonnais. Across from Larsen Fine Arts Center once stood a popular hangout of the ' 40s and ' 50s, Libby ' s Restaurant, a typical family owned restaurant before fast food franchises came to be popular. In 1988 the hangouts were quite different. Donutland on Main Street is definitely the main hangout. With doughnuts for a cheap, late snack and open all night, it became a major meeting place. On many winter evenings students could be seen in dough- nut runs. For pseudo-studying, Denny ' s on Route 50 became a late night library. Books spread out on tables and uncontrolled laughter became familiar scenes to the waitresses at Denny ' s. Up- In-Subs, another 24-hour eatery, served an array of sandwiches. It was not used for study but mainly talking and take out. The hangout was a timeless part of college life, as much as all-nighters, cafeteria food and term papers. Hangouts could never be replaced nor could the functions they serve in the life of the average college student. Re- lief of tension, hunger and bore- dom were the central foundations of the hangout and will continue to be so as long as colleges and college students exist. By Brian Parker Coiiee and Cramming Andrea DeMink and Steve HoUis cram for a Geology exam at Denny ' s. Photo by A. Denney TEXTURE 25

Page 28 text:

Olivet Tradition Wally ' s was popular in the ' 50s yet it still remains a favorite of that generation ' s offspring. Phofo by A. Denney Serious Scrabble Brian Garvin and Debbie Straw take time out of the academic world for a quick game of Scrabble in the Red Room. Photo by J. BeU 24 HANGOUTS

Page 30 text:

Off-Campus Students Have The Best Of About 25 percent of Olivet ' s 1,700 students now live off-campus. While some are on their own, others live with their parents. These students say that their are both advantages and disadvantages to living off- campus. Jackie Friant of Crescent City says that some of the advantages to living off-campus are that there is not a curfew and she may come and go as she pleases. She also mentioned that there is no one watching her and she is responsible for her own actions. Friant said that one of the disad- vantages is that she has to commute 40 minutes to get to Olivet, and be- cause of this she can ' t be involved in many activities, although she doesn ' t feel that she misses any important part of college life. She does, however, believe that she is getting a better education be- cause she spends more quality time studying than she did when she lived on campus. Friant does spend time in the Red Room and visits friends in the dorms, although she does not make it to many of the campus ac- tivities. Jane Matlock, a married commuter from Wilmington, says that becuase she lives off-campus she has more private time. Matlock does admit that there are some disadvantages to liv- ing off-campus though. You can ' t study with anyone else, or compare answers and methods. There are some things I want to be involved in but I can ' t because of the distance and responsibility, said Matlock. Matlock also believes that she can spend less time studying while living off campus, because it is quality time. She is dividing her time between be- ing a student and being a mother. She says that she does invite other students home if she enjoys their company. She says that she tries to create a home atmosphere for them with an open refrigerator and a T.V. You can be involved if you want to, said Matlock concerning off- campus students. She believes that Olivet should have an admissions counselor who knows what off- campus students have been through. Said Matlock of her choice to at- tend Olivet, I don ' t know why. God knew I was missing something. I like it here. It makes me feel good. Matt Williams says that some of the advantages of living at home are that it saves money, and his parents are right there if he has medical problems or anything. But he adds, Parents drive you batty and you use a lot of gas going between places. He also says that he doesn ' t get to see his friends as much as he ' d like to because he ' s not in the dining room. Williams thinks that the real impor- tant part of college life that he misses out on is that he is not on his own yet. 1 have to abide by parents ' rules and that can get on your nerves, he said. Williams says, however, I can study better because there is no temptation to go off and talk. To keep involved in campus ac- tivites, Williams gets back on campus whenever he can. He comes back to spend time with friends and he joined the Student Education Asso- ciation to be involved. By Sue Wheel- er I Living In A Box Mike Walling empties his locker before going to classes. Photo by A. Denney fl ' MiJ: - ' ' ' ■ ' ■ l } ' )l{ ' il}lj! ' { ' V { ' ' 26 OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS