Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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naise for those late night munchie attacks. Of course, there are always the delivery pizza places when the cafeteria food or sandwhiches in the room have grown old. When most students first move into a residence hall, their first worry always seems to be Am I going to get along with my room- mate? There is that con- stantly nagging probability of conflicting personalities and colliding backgrounds. For Debby and Renee Shirina there isn ' t that problem to overcome be- cause of the simple fact that they are sisters. Like most people, the Shirinas moved into the dorm to get away from home and become more inde- pendent. They say it ' s very convenient to be on campus because of their schedules. Debby says both of them are involved in several campus activites, and it ' s much more practical to live in the dorm than to com- mute three or four times for meetings. We have some night classes, and its ' s easy to get to them from the dorm, Renee says I also find it easier to study in the room than it would be at home. There are too many distrac- tions there. However, it can get a little loud on the floor, Debby interjects. But they both agree that it ' s not any trouble to walk to the li- brary for a couple of hours of quiet. Despite a little loudness and the fire alarms.most residents agree that the dorm adds to college life and involvement. To dormers, that life is a great experi- ence. Andy McDill All work and no play. I n a snowball fight , Scott Thompson and Rachelle Schwandt show the fun side of living in the dorms. Dorm resident Perry LeBlanc says he has really learned by living in Towers that there is a time for fun and a time for studying. Devin Greaney The Best way to move in. Payne Webb shows just what dorm friendships are made of when he helps Brown Best move in. As dormer Chris Lang- ston says, I am really close to some people I probably wouldn ' t have met commuting to school. Devin Greaney

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At Even if 4 a.m. firedrills are a nuisance, dorm life is still considered convenient fter an exhausting and fun-filled summer, September brings students back to settle down for classes. They rekindle old friendships and, for 2,400 of the student body, a move back into the dorm. Since Memphis State is largely a commuter school, why do students opt to live in a residence hall when they could live at home and stay well-fed and have clean clothes or live in an apart- ment and not worry about an unfamiliar roommate? As sophomore Perry LeBlanc explains, I feel it ' s been an essential part of my college education. LeBlanc, a business major, has lived in Richardson Towers for the past two years. I could live at home, but I knew I would learn more by being independent and on my own, he says. Not only does LeBlanc feel more independent, but living in the dorm has also made him respect his par- ents more. I can really appreciate the little things Push and pull is the name of the game when moving into the dorm. Although dorm life allows students to experience some inde- pendence by being away from home, Carrie Healy and Stephanie Marks show how helpful cooperation from fellow dormers really is. Devin Greaney they do for me, he says. I frequently go home to wash clothes and get a good meal. One major aspect of liv- ing in a residence hall that attracts so many students is its location on campus. It ' s great being close and not having to find a parking place, says Wendy Russell, a senior biology and pre- pharmacy major from Union City. You don ' t have to move your car much if you don ' t want to. Plus the dorm is cheaper than an apartment. Despite the pluses of liv- ing on campus, there are certain unavoidable draw- backs. For example, one thing that every dorm resi- dent dreads is the unpre- dictable fire alarms. In one night we had four alarms go off, Russell says. I live on the tenth floor of Richardson Towers, and it ' s not fun to get up in the middle of the night and drag down ten flights of stairs. Then we usually stand out- side in the cold for about 15 minutes, she says. Another drawback of the dorm can be the tempta- tions caused by living around a group of people. I have more freedom living in the dorm, but I really have to make myself study, ex- plains LeBlanc. He adds, though, that he has really learned that there is a time for fun and a time for study- ing. But living around a group of peers in such close quarters can also have its advantages. Most dorm residents are able to make lasting friendships during their stay in a residence hall. Sophomore mechanical engineering major Chris Langston says he has had the chance to meet a lot of new people in the dorm. T am really close to some people that I probably wouldn ' t have met com- muting to school. As he puts it, I lived at home my first semester. It ' s wonder- ful to be close to campus with people I know. Besides offering close access to classes and friends, the dormitories of- fer a nearness to a neces- sity-food! A popular food spot is the centrally located Tiger Den. Richardson Tow- ers not only has a cafeteria, but it ' s also equipped with a small convenience store on the ground floor of the men ' s side. Built in 1987, the store offers students quick snack foods and a few canned goods. Many students choose to rent a small refrigerator for their room where they can keep any perishables like cold cuts and mayon-

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Food, Glorious Food Whether buying groceries or eating out, food is the staff of life JLood, glorious food! Do you remember that appe- tizing song from the Broad- way musical Oliver? Well, in the play, that song referred to horrible gruel and all sorts of nasty concoctions that were fed to the poor workhouse boys. Today, a rendition of the song is used to advertise cheese and other scrump- tious foods that students just love to prey on. When you think about it, there are lot of things that college students can do without. But, fortunately, food does not appear on that list. While many dollars are spent at fast-food establish- ments, such as Wendy ' s or McDonald ' s, many college students prefer to budget their money by grocery shopping and cooking. Al- though sometimes standing in line at Kroger on Sunday night can feel like registra- tion all over as student after student makes his pur- chases in the express lane with more than eight items. Kroger is the grocery store closest to campus. One of its major attributes, other than proximity, is that it carries those white and yellow-la- beled products. While ge- neric may seem a dirty word to some , to a college student it means affordable meals. No preservatives added? Dorm residents Michelle Rogers and Tim Richards are only two students who prefer to buy food at the grocery store instead of eating out. Some nutrition-conscious people actually read the labels, but most of the time, students look for the generic labels that mean cheaper prices. Devin Greaney However, if a student is in- dependently wealthy or is employed, he may find him- self shopping at Seesel ' s, which is thought as more of a designer grocery store. I feel like I spend 90 percent of each day eating, says Jimmy Loganhill, a sophomore accounting major. I love to eat, and I ' ll do anything just to stay full. Loganhill, who lives in an apartment off campus, says he spends most of his hard- earned money on groceries. He rarely goes out to eat because he prefers to make his own meals. I really like to cook, Loganhill says. I know I can get a better-tasting and balanced meal here at home than I would at some fancy restaurant. Loganhill prides himself on his cooking abilities that he learned from his mother. When I moved out of the house, I found myself call- ing my mom for recipes and cooking tips, he adds. It ' s almost like being at home and having her cook for me, except her food tastes just a little better. After all, she ' s had years of experience. A normal grocery bill can run around $160 for Loganhill and his room- mate. The reason our bills are so high is because it lasts for about two weeks at a time. Of course, we don ' t go to the cheapest store ei- ther. But we do use cou- pons, Loganhill says. They can really save us money. You might think that for a student who lives on campus, the trouble of buying groceries wouldn ' t exist because of the cafete- ria. According to junior public relations major Carla Owens, that isn ' t always true. I eat on campus and buy pap 74 tales of tigers