Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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| Students moving off-campus for the first time face a different type of pressure than those moving into the halls. Often there are not those upperclassmen around to give advice or to even help move in.

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Inside there was an aching for something concrete, something consistant and continuing. Something to identify with. ‘Keep some interests from your past constantly developing,’’ 20-year-oid Linda Surratt warned, “something to give life the continuity it needs when things are changing so drastically.” In my silent ‘‘Hellacious Acres,’’ | was torn between home and school, and instead of ‘finding the best of both worlds,’” my two entities — Dependent and In- dependent — collided, bashing into one another like bumper cars, except that | wasn’t laughing. | couldn't put the past, the present, or the future into perspective. | | disregarded the past with an air of indifference, and | shied away from the future — dreams have no | guarantee. I’m just too busy to think about the present. | can’t go back, and yet, | can’t go forward. “I'm financially dependent on my parents...| wish it were different because they don’t really have the money to spare,” a junior from Sullivan said. ‘| work doubly hard, though, to show | appreciate it.’’ Why had | been so cruel and evasive at home? Deep down | have pride in my family and they must know I’m grateful. Have my feelings really changed, or am | just being lazy? “One good thing about being in this transition state is that your parents will always be around. . .You can always go-home on weekends,”’ said Kate Lawson, a sophomore from New Haven. ‘But within yourself you have to reach that ‘happy medium’—you can’t hang on forever.” Slowly | began tying knots—no more bows. In my Declaration of Independence, | inserted a clause which included responsibility, risk, and even that taming, for- bidden word, “‘love. ’ | kept reminding myself of the philosophy ‘| AM THIRD,” and surprisingly, everything | fell into place. |

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Welcome to our world any beads of sweat dripped down the faces of exhausted fathers as they strug- gled up four flights of stairs. Little brothers and sisters jumped in and out of the way as doleful mothers handed out last minute “do’s and don’ts.”’ It was September 6 and the freshmen had arriv- ed, bringing with them a wealth of tearful parents, unnecessary dorm-fillers, and an eagerness unknown to any other group on campus. Movin’ In Day was hot, humid, and hilarious. The usual cries of ‘‘What’s goin’ on?” and ‘‘Where do | go?” resounded through crowded corridors. Reluctant hands settled on shiny doorknobs, gathering courage to take that initial step toward meeting a new roommate. Boxes, crates, stereos, and wall hang- ings provided a colorful picture on September 6, but it was the people that provided the humor. “Excuse me, but are you the mother of a freshman?” “Heavens, no! Can’t you tell? Over there—now, there’s a mother of-a frosh if | ever saw one. Her son brought the whole world.”’ Perched in front of a loaded white van, Mrs. Virginia Randles of South Bend was lost in a sea of cartons, bundles, and record albums. “Tom kind of took a lot of stuff,’’ she said shyly. ‘‘He took a corner of the base- ment, and for two months just kept piling up his stuff.”’ Interrupted by an impatient Thomas, Mrs. Randles returned to her unloading. Phil Fullhart played a special part of Movin’ In Day. As a campus officer, Fullhart was up at 6:45 a.m. directing traf- fic, answering the same questions over and over, and solving those first day traumas. “You can always tell a freshman from an upperclassman,”’ he laughed. ‘Uppers have decals.’’ Wiping the sweat off his brow he added, ‘’Boy, I’m sure it would be quite a mess if we weren't out here.”’ Monday evening arrived. After a full day of “Hello, my name is—,” the freshmen were ready for their first mass socializer, the hall mixer. “Hey,’’ Mark Scroggs of Swinford Hall grabbed the arm of an “experienced” sophomore, ‘‘are the girls around here all taken, or what—I mean, what’s the dating scene like for freshmen?” “Plenty of time to find out, Mark.” Later that week, the campus newcomers were treated to a special ac- tivities night and dance sponsored by the Student Center Governing Board. Ac- cording to Dayton freshman Mary Dale Walters, “It had the slight flavor of an open air bazaar.” Talkative representatives sat behind colorful display booths, pointing out the advantages resulting from group involve- ment throughout the school year. Some organizations, such as the Big Brothers of Delaware County and Community Chest promoted their activities through picture exhibits. Curious newcomers were greatly attracted to the Transcendental Medita- tion display. “We want to catch freshman now,”’ ex- plained Dave Wesson, public relations man for Transcendental Meditation, “‘to save them from unnecessary school pressures.” Despite the large variety of groups assembled in Cardinal Hall, some freshmen were unable to find anything of interest. “am very disappointed,”’ sighed Ohio resident Lisa Cannarozzi. ‘| came to find out about an Ecology Club, but it’s not here.”’ Ed Walker from Munster, Indiana, was let down by the absence of the Young Republicans booth. He soon amused himself by firing questions at Larry Thomas of the Young Democrats in an open debate of the major campaign issues. On the way out of the activities dance, featuring Nigel, Cort Overlay, freshman from Evansville, gave his friends his “freshman philosophy.”’ “The thing to being a freshman,’ Overlay pointed out confidently, “‘is that you just gotta be in the right place at the right time.” Then putting his hands in his pockets, the ‘freshman philosopher’’ grinned , wheeled around, and walked in the direction of a rowdy fraternity party. You're learning, Cort...you’re learn- ing... A It’s the freshman’s first night and for their welcom- ing entertainment, upperclassmen lead them in a series of get-acquainted activities. Botsford- Swinford residents hold the annual freshman mixer to initiate newcomers into the residence hall system. 19 Moving In