Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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UNIVERSITY STORE: Books and More While many students and staff only ventured to the basement of the Uni- versity Center once a semester to select their text books, others found it a great place to browse and buy MSU memor- abilia, magazines, computer score sheets etc. This was due to the manage- ment of Jim Lippy and the old MSU bookstore ' s change into the University Store. Of course, this was only a reflection of things which have been building for several years. One of the most recent changes was the expanded electronics shop, contain- ing everything from transistor radios to computer hardware and software. The clothing section was redone by moving the apparel from shelves to department-store-style racks and hang- ers. Updated clothing styles were added for the fashion minded. The card stand became a department with greeting cards from several manufacturers, stationery and other paper products. During the year, plans for a gift department became a reality. Also planned was a new textbook computer system which would lessen some of the problems of ordering and reordering books and would hopefully help reduce the mark-up on used textbooks. Assistant manager Brian Young also hoped to open our own silk-screen printing shop where we can make our own t-shirts, and to isolate magazines and candy into a separate section. If approved these changes would take place as part of a five-year expansion plan. — Loretta Harder and Lisa Burleson Photo by Pholo Services James C. Lippy, University Store Manager. Photo by J. Scott Vanzandt Sophomore Sylvia Ruby stocks up on notebooks, hoping to avoid another trip to the hectic bookstore. At the beginning of the semester, the bookstore is overrun with students who hope to take their pick of textbooks. Photo by J. Scott Vanzandt Pamela Brown, a sophomore studying medical technology, finally escapes the crowded bookstore. It takes several weeks for the bookstore to return to its usual calm atmosphere. 14 Bookstore Registration

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I remember when one of my teachers told us we couldn ' t have class because she couldn ' t find a parking place. I remember when my friends and 1 removed huge rocks from a parking place, so I could park. The things people will do for a parking place never ceases to amaze me. I remember almost losing my religion (I don ' t believe in using profanity) when I saw a car in two parking places after I had been searching in vain for 20 minutes for just one. Of all the woes I have gone through at Memphis State, parking has been my biggest one. Yet, I read in the school ' s newspaper, The Daily Helmsman that out of 157 institutions surveyed, MSU ranked no. 1 in parking availability to students. That same Helmsman article also cited a comprehensive study by Harland Bartholomew and Associates, a planning and survey firm, concluding that Memphis State does have a major parking problem. This problem is easily seen in the statistics that were shown in the Helms- man: 1. In 1980, Memphis State had 7,017 Parking spaces, 14,400 full-time undergraduates and a total of 20,656 students. 2. This year, Memphis State had 7,367 parking spaces, 15,436 full- time students with a total of 22,040 students. Nevertheless, several solutions have been proposed. These solutions consist of a parking garage (which would only house 400 cars), re-arranging of class schedules and re-routing of traffic around Memphis State. My own solution to my own parking problem, however, was to get up at 6:30am so I could arrive at school at 7:30am. — Ruth Turner Parking: A Big Problem at MSU Photos by Odric Woodson Parking 1 3

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REGISTRATION: Frustration Chaos on a Grand Scale What campus event occurs four times a year, throws the University Center into chaos, and causes even the most sane among us to believe that they are losing their sense of direction? Yes, you ' re right if you said that the answer is Registration! What exactly is registration? Well, the explanation sounds simple enough. Reg- istration is the time when a MSU student does not pass Go, does not collect $200, but heads straight for the UC to get class cards for the courses of his choice, pay his fees, and make sure that all of the correct offices and computers are aware of his existence. What does registration really mean? It means getting lost in the crowd, dealing with the frustration of not being able to get the classes you need, and practically signing away your soul for expenses. Registration is waiting in long lines, following arrows, reading a thousand signs, and wondering if this is someone ' s idea of a joke. These experiences are nothing new to the battle-scarred vets who have earned their stripes in registrations past. But what of the first-timers? What war stories had they collected their first time out? Everyone asked thought the entire system would probably run much more smoothly if computerized. It was also generally agreed that the process itself was entremely confusing and could probably be made easier. Freshman Brooke Duncan, a broadcast news major, said, There was entirely too much red tape. Those responsible for registration should definitely take a close look at other alternatives to the present system and find a way to make things move along easier. Photojournalism major Loretta Harder, also a freshmen, agreed with Brooke and added, At orientation, we were really not told what to expect (during registration). I had no idea what the process was truly like until the day I got there. Sondra Lewis, a sophomore advertising major and recent transfer student, had a different perspective: I transferred to MSU from a small junior college. Our registra- tion consisted of standing in a line, talking to a counselor, and filling out a class sheet. I knew that I was in trouble at the MSU registration the minute I saw the first arrow and looked at the first 47 signs right inside the door. Oh well, new students but same old complaints. However, freshman Steve Norman, a business major, sums it up the best: I just can ' t wait to try it again. Maybe I ' ll get everything right this time! The packet center ii only one of the many pit stops in the registration survival game for these students who did not receive their packets. After being closed out of some classes, these students retreat, hoping to discover some alternate strategies for surviving the semester. Photo by Karen Carter Vi Photo by Karen Carter On the verge of complete madness, these frustrated, exhausted registration victims hope in vain that the end is near. Student Life 1 5