McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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NORMAN WARD epitomizes the ‘‘typical college student” with his expertise in the fine arts of dining and dressing. SANTIAGO PEREZ takes a breather from the havoc of stu- dent life. Student Life 89

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Typical college student? s there really a ‘‘typical college stu- dent?”’ There are characteristics as- signed to that “penniless party animal”’ that many people would consider typical. It is questionable whether there is truth in that theory. But one thing is for certain; there are certain distinctive aspects of stu- dent life. Perhaps two of the most obvious are parking and class load. Freshmen and sophomore students trudge from their as- signed parking areas while juniors, seniors and graduates smirk, remembering the days they walked the same path. Class load comes in almost interchangeably with ‘book load ’ and ‘‘work load.” Students with greater class loads, the ones with the armfuls of textbooks and overdue library books, are easily identified; they have the worst parking. Despite many differences, students are hopelessly bound by circumstances be- yond their control. All students tend to live out of their cars. Though few actually sleep in their cars every night, it is not uncom- mon to see a college student's car com- pletely full, a cornucopia of fast-food con- tainers, books, dirty clothes, paper and assorted trash. These are only a few experiences, a mi- nor portion of the college student’s life. All of these images are identified with being a college student. Though the experiences are common and the lifestyles may be sim- ilar, there is no real typical college student; each student is ‘‘typical’’ only in that he is individually unique. DEBBIE KITTNER demon- strates a common experience of all college students — the emp- ty-pocket syndrome. PERHAPS THE ONLY disadvan- tage of ending a semester is fac- ing the long lines of students trying to sell back their text- books. 88 Student Life @ )

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-. ometimes we wonder if the . word ‘‘student’’ is an ad- equate description of what we are. When we hear the word “‘student,’’ we usually think of someone who does nothing but study, or at least looks as if he is. Actually, students are multi- RON STEWART goes stomping to the beat during the fall Probate Show, performed by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. 90 Student Life @) talented, super-functional mech- anisms who are required not only to attend school but maintain some semblance to ‘‘adults.’’ Con- sidering the fact that McNeese is a world of its own, students are in essence required to lead two lives: one on campus and one off cam- pus. We all know the problems of off-campus life, yet the on- campus life, at times, can be even more demanding. The worst nightmare of a stu- dent is undoubtedly registration; and then there are finals and mis- placed Scantron cards. But life as a student can prove to be an ex- citing experience. Getting togeth- er with fellow dorm mates and so- rority and fraternity sisters and brothers are only a few of the ben- efits of being a college student. Even while we are frantically run- ning about with insomnia and wor- ry of completing a research paper, there are still those wonderful ex- periences that only a college stu- dent can understand — like Spring Fling, the last basketball victory, Alpha Phi Alphas’s Stomp Show and the Jazz Ensemble’s outdoor concert. It is a multi-faceted world where there are no boundaries. DEREK CONNER and Stephanie Bogle pair off as the guys party with the gals in the Kappa Alpha Chi Omega Exchange. WILLIAM BRITTON and Carla Hawkins show the intrigue and enthusiasm of the “‘academic”’ student. MCNEESE FANS huddle to display their support for the blue Cowboys during a football game.