Manchester College - Aurora Yearbook (North Manchester, IN)

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While browsing through Foxmoors in Clenbrook, Ann Ljndis is thrilled to examine a rack of sweaters on sale. Meeting friends and new acquaintances makes dances popu- lar social events, jamming to the music is also a good way to let off steam after a week of studies. YOUR OWN SOCIAL ACTIVITY four hours in the evening for visitation with the doors open. The changes in visita- tion came slowly, Lorraine Slifer, a student in the mid- 50 ' s, said, with an influential Community Council playing a major role in the change. A daily social activity has always revolved around the cafeteria. In the Oakwood cafeteria, each student was assigned a different seat peri- odically which created a good way to meet new people. Each table had a host or hostess who brought out the bowls of food to be served family-style. Following pray- er, the bowls were passed around. Keller said you learned the elementary table courtesies this way. Garber remembers how the leftover food would be auctioned off at the end of the meal to see who would get the last piece of meat or the last potato. Since there were no classes scheduled at noon, everybody ate then. Students entered the cafe- teria through the doors on the south side, now the en- trance to the East Conference Room. In the 30 ' s, Keller re- members the men had to en- ter and leave through one door and the women through the other door. There were two waiting rooms with a wall and small window be- tween the rooms. Through the window, Keller said, many dates were arranged when you could catch the other person ' s attention. It was a big project to get that wall knocked down, Keller laughed. The wall was finally removed in the 40 ' s.

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More lenient visitation rules in comparison to a few decades ago allow Shawn Carothers and Deb Merrifield to study together in Shawn ' s room. At the Ike-East picnic at Warvel Park, Joe Koch sneaks a hot dog off the grill while cooking them. Bundled up in blankets at the Defiance, Ohio, football game, Muggie Pinson, Portia Price, and Andrea Lude try to stay warm. EVERY DAY ON CAMPUS: MAKE Everyone has heard par- ents or grandparents com- ment, Back in the good old days when I was your age . . . Then they proceed to tell you the way things used to be. Similarly, Manchester alumni give a glimpse of a simple social life. In the 30 ' s, social life was organized around four cam- pus literary societies, Dr. Paul Keller (class of ' 35) said. These societies met every Fri- day evening. The societies ' programs consisted of skits, music, and talent shows. Since there were few students who had cars on campus, dat- ing was often a mobile activ- ity of walking around town and hunting out dark places, Keller commented. A popular weekend activity in the 30 ' s started when the col- lege bought roller-skates. The women ' s gym, the lower part of the old gym, was used as a skating rink. Since there were no movies or dances on campus, Keller said, there was a lot of informal, home- grown social activity. Since students ' social ex- pectations were lower, the so- cial life was simpler. As a stu- dent, Jim Garber (class of ' 50) said they went to see triple- G-rated movies at the the- ater in town. The social room in Oakwood was also a popu- lar meeting place. However, social life was restricted by visitation hours: 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on weekends. From the early years up to the late 60 ' s, visi- tation was not allowed be- yond residence hall lobbies unless there was an open house. Then there were about 6 Social Life

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CHANGES: THEN NOW Just imagine the bookstore and post office in the base- ment of the Ad. Building. An old army barracks, known as the Oaks, located on College Avenue, housed a place for recreation and a place to get snacks. The Ad. Building, the Oaks, and the basement of Oakwood were popular places to meet with friends and socialize. When the Union was built in 1964-65, the center of activity changed to the Union. Along with social changes, students and faculty staff have adjusted to fluctuations in the economy. As the econ- omy continues to change, so do the methods to reach out to prospective students. For the past three years, the ad- missions office has been us- ing radio air time to market the college. Approved in the current year, billboards were displayed along major high- ways — another marketing method. As a result of the economy and declining enrollment, the decision was made to close Calvin Ulrey. To accommo- date the displaced students from a coed CU, East Hall converted from an all wom- en ' s hall to a coed one this year. Students, then as well as now, have learned to adapt to the changes. With the completion of the Union, the cafe- As a hair accessory or a swcatband, head- teria was moved from Oakwood ' s basement, band popularity has returned. From housing the science labs and green- house, Goshorn is now being renovated into an expanded computer center. Moved from the Communications Building to Funderburg, the library remains a popu- lar place where students study. 8 Then Now