Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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features - - 15

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U IE Alt IQ IIE S N7,41 14 • • Natalie

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The last exodus: break with bucks, bridge to reality by Pat McFadden Independence was a big word during the Bicenten- nial—a little too big according to some. But what the na- tion celebrated Is repeated 5,000 times each year at K- State—on a slightly smaller scale. Each fall, 5,000 Incoming freshman move out of the house—some into a new house with strange letters on the front and some into brick-and-concrete highrises. Out of the arms of Mother and Dad and Into the warm embrace of R.A.s, S.A.s, pledge fathers and house mothers . . . . For everyone the experience is different. But for most, the separation Is probably more physical than spiritual. Most of us gained a certain amount of freedom from our homes during high school. God, Mom, at least let me stay out until midnight! Parents long ago ceased to be the soothers of sore knees the confidantes of deep secrets (where the frog was hidden) and the chief moral counselors ( You know you shouldn ' t stick bubbiegum in Billy ' s hair. ) The mileage between home and school merely solidifies what had been happening for a long time. Reac- tions to the new freedom vary from I wonder what Mom and Dad are doing tonight? to I ' m gonna get drunk every night this week. The second reaction may be more com- mon. Other odd things begin to occur. That frequent ex- clamation, Geez, begins to lengthen into Jesus. That pack of cigarettes stuffed under the car seat becomes a carton on the desk. That hidden six-pack gives way to a fake ID—passport to a new world of Vodka Gimlets and Harvey Wallbangers. 16 - - Independence