Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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HALLS: by Amy McVay What a pretty picture the media paints for incoming students of the “‘residence hall’’ (a fancy term for dorm): cubicles with wrought iron beds and enamel shav- ing sinks; Joe College in a ducktail asking the friendly Mrs. Olson type what detergent to use. Virginia Slims said it best: you’ve come a long way, baby! The cubicles are still around; but most have rugs and radios and hotpots and hassocks and posters and popcorn poppers. Night hostesses were replaced with silver keys. And you probably can’t see Joe College’s eyes because his bangs are longer; but his Chlorox still contains bleach, borax, and brighteners. ‘Thirty-four residence halls provide at- tractive and comfortable facilities for a total of approximately 7000 students,” said the voice of the university, the Ball State Undergraduate Catalog. Are these surroundings as wonderful as they seem? What do students think of dorm living? “Non co-ed living certainly has its merits; but if you want to intermingle with girls they are only an elevator ride away and privacy is still ensured.’’ Kent Arnold, sophomore from Bluffton, and resident of Shales Hall, enjoys the privacy of an all- male hall. He likes dorm living because the meals are prepared and there are all kinds of recreational facilities not so easily accessible to those living off campus. ‘Shales has a keen athletic program; in ping pong, pool, and volleyball, they are the finest competitors in Lafollette.”’ Being a female, | tend to think that most guys don’t care if their Stir and Frost pan remains dirty and corroded for days. But Kent assured me that his carpeted room is very well kept and always dusted. “| can't stand to wear hip boots to wade through a room, ‘he added. So much for my image of Goodwill In- dustries, girls; this mangoes Holiday Inn all the way. “Why me:” cries the urchin with a bowl. of spaghetti dripping all over his head. This poster, along with a past January calendar and large stuffed dog, Wagoner residents are surely not expecting their parents over for a visit in the near future. As the weather got warmer, rooms were often left “as is” while students spent every free moment outside.

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eee, eS . ? ee ae oh an ree e o ee eee ee B44 ioe ‘ Administrative Director of Orientation Rich Harris meets with Parent Coordinators Roger Spencer and Lucy Hitzfield, and Orientation Director Randy Pickell concerning the selection of the Student Orientation Corps. The group coordinated the entire freshman summer orientation program. As part of the Admissions Coordinating Team, peppy Pam McClanahan serves as a tour guide to groups of high school students and their parents. Telling them about campus legends and supersti- tions as well as classes and buildings, Pam often eases the anxieties of those preparing for college.

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Tnere’s no place like home’ makes the Crosley Hall room of Gwynn Owens, freshman from Madison, unique. Crosley is an all-female hall and Gwynn believes the whole atmosphere seems dif- ferent from co-ed. “| don't have the extent of privacy | have at home,’’ Gwynn said, ‘‘but | have enough so that it doesn’t bother me.” Gwynn loves to talk on the phone while out in the hall because of ‘‘the 20 or 30 people always in my room.” Purdue University lost George Davis, with goofy grin and perennial gray gym shorts, after only one year. George, a sophomore from Logansport, was placed in Hurlbut Hall as a transfer. “It's a really good way to meet some folks,” commented George. The sparkle in his eye will tell you that these ‘‘folks’’ are mostly residents of the fifth and seventh floors; the sharp observer will note they are female floors. As treasurer of Hurlbut, George holds precious among his memories the time director Ruthann Kurinsky stopped by to pick up a resume and caught him with a beer. He now holds six months to life. Mary Ann House is satisfied with the Dining Service. ‘‘There’s hardly ever a | can't find something | like.’’ Along with her roommate, this sophomore from Lafayette decorated her Knotts Hall room with orange crates, quilts, plants and posters, and built a “‘nifty little wall” with the stereo. Mary Ann enjoys dorm living and believes things to be even more effi- cient for her here than at home. ‘‘I’m real- ly not inconvenienced here.” “It makes me furious to see the destructive things other people in the hall have done in the name of fun,’’ Dave Wakeman, Burkhart freshman, stated in- dignantly. ‘| won’t regret the fun | had here, in later life.’’ That fun included play- ing Risk and Swat and making complete spaghetti dinners in a popcorn popper. | asked Dave if Wagonner really is a ZOO te “Since | moved to third floor from first, my attitudes have changed,” Dave said. Swinford resident George Flexmanmakes his room a little homier by setting up his fish tanks. Students didn’t settle for average dorm rooms—they spiced the rooms up with orange crates, plants, carpeting, homemade curtains, shelving, and furniture from home. “The guys up here are much more con- siderate and mature, and can take on the responsibility of living in close quarters with other people.”’ Senior Mindy Shaw believes living on campus is cheaper and much more con- venient than living off. ‘| enjoy meeting all kinds of people, and Baker Hall is close to the library and the rest of campus.” Mindy brought all kinds of knic-knacs from her home in Elkhart to make the room homey. “Mindy,” 1 said, ‘““what do you think about as you look back over four years in a dorm?” She thought for awhile. ‘‘Other than the fact that I've made many lifelong friends in the dorm, | remember an end of the year banquet my junior year in Schmidt Hall. We wore the remnants of our closets and drank pink champagne alias spiked lemonade in champagne glasses alias plastic cups.” Something is definitely missing in the flick, ‘‘Gidget Goes to College.’’ Is it the bowling or basketball tourney my upstairs neighbors have nightly? (| wondered why they were so offended when | called to say the Pacers practice at Market Square Arena). Is it the Ginger Rogers next door who practices modern jazz dancing relentlessly to ‘’Tijuana Taxi’’ during finals week? Is it the profound sign ‘Thelma Miller has been arrested for prostitution — help us raise her bail?”’ more... Halls