Augusta College - White Columns Yearbook (Augusta, GA)

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JEAN Jean, a 22 year old senior, has set a particularly exacting career goal for herself which differs considerably from that of the business or education major; Jean ' s desire is to be a medical doctor — perhaps a plastic surgeon. And for those students who aspire to the medical field, it is not a matter of four years, a so-so g.p.a., and in time a masters, but a matter of discipline, hard work, and complete dedication. Like many pre-med students, Jean has all of those qualities. What sets Jean apart from most other college students is the work she does to finance her college education and to save for medical school. Jean is an exotic dancer — or less politely, a stripper — in a downtown Augusta night club. Five evenings a week Jean, rotating with several other girls, removes her clothes down to pasties and a G-string in front of an audience comprised mainly of soldiers and young guys. The club in which Jean works is not an atmosphere conducive to higher education or Victorian manners and morality; it is, instead, a room of flashing colored lights, banal words, and dusty, jaded glitter. And Jean has no illusions about this. She says, I do not, as some girls do, consider exotic dancing an art form; but I do find the work enjoyable, and most of all lucrative. More than that, she continues, the people who frequent the club ususally are easy going and the atmosphere is not disturbing to me. On occasion, as in clubs which cater to a predominantly male clientele, there are incidents, mostly in the form of not-so-nice remarks and innuendos. Jean says, matter-of-factly, One just learns to ignore them. Of course, if it ' s anything more than a wise-crack, the manager steps in. She added, He ' s very protective of the girls. Of course, she continued with a laugh, I have heard worse things just walking down the street. When society thinks of women who take off their clothes for money, they automatically assume that such girls are the products of broken homes, misguided childhoods, and possess loose moral characters. For Jean this stereotype does not fit. Instead, she is from a Christian home and, from her conversation, it is clearly understood that Jean ' s childhood and upbringing were as normal and upright as the average child ' s. In fact, she says, my upbringing was what led me to enroll in Stetson University. Stetson University, in DeLand, Florida, is a private Baptist college which emphasizes Bible teachings in its curriculum. There, she said, I studied Judeo-Christian heritage, which I enjoyed tremendously; in fact, at that time I considered changing my major to religion. I ' m still extremely interested in furthering my studies of the Old Testament, but now science and work take all of my time. After talking with Jean, an obviously intelligent woman and a Phi Beta Kappa, one wonders aloud; What ' s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? She says, quite frankly, I am making an honest living; I ' m not taking welfare or financial aid. She concludes firmly, I plan to go to medical school, and if dancing in this club will help make it possible, I ' ll dance. Photos by Moncrieffe

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iSi ■— ifimr mB- , J W ,. . j h. Hk $ ' 3S- fi it 1. Joan Crosby sophomore 2. mark fagan freshman 3. clift hull senior 4. gary kirkman junior 5. Joseph sharp junior 6. robert turner sophomore ychemistry-physicschemistry ' physicschemistry ' physL . .

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JAY HANCOCK Jay Hancock, a 24-year old senior graduating cum laude in June 1979, has become a youthful sage who no longer squanders time or centers his life around a single entity. Two years ago Jay and his wife divorced, although under amicable conditions. And at that time Jay ' s world came to a temporary halt. Not being married anymore, he said, was difficult to get used to. I no longer was part of a couple; no longer could I preface my thoughts with ' we. ' It was scary. It was so quiet I could hear my own heart beat. During that end — beginning — transitional period, I had a lot to learn. Amazingly, he admits, after the realization that I was truly alone seeped In, and after my acceptance of it, I became free to do the things I ' d either never done before or always wanted to do, but which marriage and Its responsibilities often prohibited. Now Jay Is his own person. He no longer is tied down to another person ' s career and goals. He moves about freely and revels in being able to explore himself and the world. Today, he says, time Is of more Importance to me than anything else. And I try to use each moment wisely. The summer after his divorce. Jay did the one thing he ' d always dreamed of. I sold almost all my possessions to finance a trip to Europe. And you know, he recounts, selling all those material things seemed difficult at the time, but later, even now, I realize those things were just like a boulder holding me against the wind. I never could have afforded the beauty and experience of traveling abroad without what seemed at the time to be a tremendous sacrifice. With the aid of a Eurall Pass, Jay travelled through those European countries he could visit In a leisurely fashion . Few people realize how exciting travel Is, he says. In each country, and at every moment I was unbelievably happy. I did all the touristy things, as well as the non-touristy; and when summer ended, I was not ready to return to the States. I just wanted to keep traveling on Into Africa, or Asia. Traveling unencumbered, as I did, is like a pilgrimage Into one ' s self. During the school year Jay, a student who Is highly respected by his professors, spends the majority of his time working studying. For two years, until he became disillusioned, Jay was a member of the SGA Senate. Now between classes, or after work. Jay can be found drinking a beer with friends at the Cafe, or shopping for books at his favorite haunt. The Salvation Army. Some Christmas, he says with a grin, I ' m gonna ' bang a tin cup for them in front of Sam Solomon ' s. Jay plans to return to Europe soon, money depending. I will go some time after graduation and between graduate school. Jay forgets to mention that between the two he must be in Washington, D.C., for a highly coveted six-month Internship In the office of Georgia ' s Senator Sam Nunn. I hope, he says modestly, that I can be accepted at Georgetown University. It ' s the best place for an aspiring career diplomat, and that ' s what I plan to do with my life. But not before he has a chance to participate as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, and not until countless other ever-arising goals are met. As for remarriage, he says not cynically, It ' s not In my Immediate future. Singleness provides too many opportunities, and I want to take advantage of all of them