Florida State University - Renegade / Tally Ho Yearbook (Tallahassee, FL)

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Ducks, romance, picnics and scholarly pursuits all at... AKEELIA Photo by Vanessa Crockett Lake Ella was one of the many local spots where students went for fun, relaxation or whatever else entered their minds. Located on North Monroe Street, this particular body of water served as a fairly pleasant tourist attraction. With the fountain as its centerpiece, Lake Ella was surrounded by ducks being fed by children, squirrels that ran up and down the trees and a romantic gazebo. Picnics were very common at Lake Ella because of the setting and scenery of the environment. Quite a few couples took advantage of the lake ' s late night ambience for romantic reasons. A fun-filled evening of dinner, dancing or watching a movie ticks swim at Lake Ella ite one September Iternoon. Last year icrc was a controversy ver removal of the neks. [Y peaceful scene at Lake :11a otters a relaxing 1 1 m o s p h e r e when tudents need to get away rom campus. transformed Lake Ella into a lover ' s lane. Some lovebirds relished taking moonlit strolls or snuggling togeth er on the park benches or in a vehicle. A close male friend and I parked by the lake, looked at the bright stars through his sunroof anc drank together, biology major Christie Jones said. Other students, however, felt a little different towards the lake ' s romantic atmosphere. Since the lake was situated just off one of Tallahassee ' s busiest streets, the clamor of traffic could annoy romantic intentions. It ' s just not as romantic or important as th y claim it to be, senior Derrick Brown said. Lake Ella was not only a place for couples, single students also found worthwhile activities to do. The American Cancer Society Move - Along - Athon was held on Oct. 23 at the lake. This event was for anyone willing to walk, jog, run, roller blade or wheelchair around the lake in memory of a loved one or a friend. Many University students participated in this event by obtaining donations from peers and companies. The Move - Along - Athon was a tremendous success for the volunteers and for the American Cancer Society. I felt like I did my part as a community member of Tallahassee and a fellow student of the University for the Cancer Society, early childhood education major Sandra Borowiec said. Staying healthy and keeping in shape was one of the main concerns of students and Lake Ella provided the perfect setting. Many students went there for exercise, such as walking or jogging around the lake. Being outside was a welcome change after being cooped up in a classroom for several hours and University students enjoyed having someplace other than the gym to exercise. Unlike my first impression, which was that Lake Ella is just a make-out spot, I learned that it could be a place to walk around and talk with your friends, freshman Tiffany Duhart said. After classes, students enjoyed hanging out with their friends or studying at the lake. Picnic tables and large, sprawling oak trees offered a more relaxed atmosphere than Strozier Library. I grew up in Tallahasse. I spent many summer afternoons there with my family, junior Ann Kemper said. The older I got the more I used the lake as a place to study or just to relax. Whether it was a place to socialize with friends, enjoy the environment, jog a mile or two, volunteer for activities or spend quality time with a loved one, Lake Ella proved to be the perfect get away spot for students at the University. By Regina Louis and Nancy Floyd Lake Ella 29

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» Photo by Kristin Huckabai 28 Student Life

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Outlandish scenarios for hours on end! Some students found that they just couldn ' t live without their OAPS Amnesia . Marryingyour long lostbrother who was your best friend ' s ex-husband. Discovering you had a twin sister who was kidnapped by terrorists at birth and raised in the jungles of San Cristobal. A lavish wedding attended by all of the prominent citizens of Salem, interrupted by the bride ' s dead husband. A medical intern who delivered twins to an unwed mother in a canoe . Coming back to life six times , on three different shows . Did any of these scenarios sound familiar? Chances were, they did. For daytime soap opera fanatics, this was just the beginning. Some students shuffled around their work and class schedules just so they could catch a glimpse of their favorite stars at work. For others, video recorders were set hours in advance for the day ' s episode. At the end of a long day, st udents could come home and watch their favorite star- crossed lovers cross paths once again. It ' s amazing how frustrating it is to watch these things. Sometimes you just want to scream at the TV and tell them how ridiculous they ' re being, senior Maria Fulgieri said. Mystery, intrigue and most importantly, romance, drew young men and women in, for at least an hour a day. It ' s a nice escape after a long day, junior Tracy Hammer said. You look at some of these people and think ' I wish I had clothes like that ' or ' I want my wedding to be that perfect. ' The audiences of these dramas were predominantly female, however, an occasional conversation in class was started by a conspicuous male seated in the back row. A guy can ' t openly admit that he ' s a soap fan or he ' ll get criticized. It certainly has advantages though. It ' s a great way to meet girls. At least you know you ' ll potentially have something in common with them, a college male who wished to remain anonymous said. Television was not the only way to catch stars in By Amy Shinn action. Personal appearances around the country gave fans the opportunity to rub elbows with their heroes and heroines. About a year ago, I saw Micheal O ' Leary (formerly Dr. Rick Bauer ol Guiding Light) at the Tallahassee Mall with a friend of mine. He was so nice and answered all of our questions. We even got our pictures taken with him and an autograph. It was great, Jamie Cichon said. 1 rendy soap opera magazines made it possible for viewers to keep on top of current story lines and plot twists. Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly come in handy when I fall behind on my soaps. I should own stock in them by now. Hopefully the entire collection will be worth something one day, senior Kim Kappes said. Daytime soaps also made a contribution to current issues; they were not just a fantasy world of glitz and glamour. Margo ' s rape on As the World Turns was the most compelling story I ' ve ever seen, Fulgieri said. The writing and acting were very real and I think it made people realize the trauma a victim goes through after such a heinous crime. Date and gang rapes, homelessness, safe sex and AIDS were some of the hot topics which soaps tackled. Nighttime soaps also made a comeback with the Fox Network ' s Melrose Place and Beverly hiills 902 1 0. Both shows touched on several sensitive issues like their daytime counterparts. Beverly Hills 90210 specifically addressed a younger audience since the entire cast recently entered college. The show spotlighted teen pregnancy, religious persecution and drug use. On Melrose Place, where the characters were about five years the senior of the 90210 cast, they tackled alcoholism, adultery, gays in the military and prostitution. Whether you were a fan or not, soap operas made their mark on the television world. student gets a bite to eat and catches up on General Hospital in the T.V. room in Rally ' s in the union. 30 Student Life