Millersville University - Touchstone Yearbook (Millersville, PA)

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. . . Lauderdale Style!! Continued from page 11 anything too much more active than totally relax. One feature of the hotel unmatched by our luxurious MU dormitories was the room-side pool. As an alternative to a long walk to the sandy, crowded beach, the pool served as another breeding ground for unbridled merriment. Although many chose to use the pool for a cool swim or sit around the poolside bar. talking to old friends and meeting new ones, certain inspired vacationers used all their collegiate creativity to develop a totally new concept of team diving. The lazy spirit of pool life was livened considerably by the advent of the Slam Dive. Innocent girls were hoisted unsuspecting, and quite unwillingly, onto the tanned shoulders of fun-loving guys who then dove head first into the water. It began simple enough with the dunking of a sun-bleached blond who laid sleeping on a towel. The action rapidly escalated, however, and one by one girls were ceremoniously slammed into the cool, clear pool until there wasn't a dry bikini in sight. By then the playful gents were too involved to let the fun stop there. The hotel maid, with a look of fearful realization, bolted down the outside walkway to escape her turn at victimization. As a large, but nimble, Alabama youth closed in for the kill the maid dove into a nearby room and instantly barred the door with mattresses and lounge chairs, not to be cheated, however, the determined hunter settled for the maid s hastily discarded vacuum cleaner. Clutching it to his chest, he hurtled belly first into the infamous pool. The gathering crowd roared its approval, inspiring more raiding parties to begin literally grabbing bikini-clad women passing by on their way back from the beach. The Domino s man. universally the victim of practical jokes, was chased briefly after making a delivery in the hotel. Tempers remained calm, luckily, since the good-natured victims took the dunking in the spirit in which it was intended, the spirit of fun and youthful playfulness that only college students can appreciate. A generally festive attitude was prevalent everywhere. Total strangers stopped to talk, and cheerful greetings were called between students wearing clothing from familiar schools. The mood was seen in hotels, like Howard Johnson's on the Strip, where appreciative males gathered in a daily ritual to encourage the ladies on the street to join them in a bit of afternoon fun. And the mood carried into the hotel rooms, which became the dorm room away from home. Posters of frosty cans of beer and scantily-clad ladies were hung with respect in windows for public scrutiny. A peck through a window or an open door further revealed the occupant s innate need to create a familiar setting in which to live. Mattresses were tossed on the floor, suitcases and duffel bags emptied into corners and furniture was rearranged in an all-out effort to perfectly transform the hotel into a temporary dormitory. The Motel Board of Lauderdale. Several proud students even kept track of their alcohol consumption by saving, and of course displaying, their empty beer cans in the tall floor to ceiling windows of their room. Spring break was a memorable occasion for all involved. Steve, an MU Student, beaming after befriending a fine young lady from Hew Jersey at the Playpen, summed it all up: Dude, this is great! I really needed this. It's been the best time of my life! Lisa, giggling on his shoulder, agreed wholeheartedly. ■ 12 Student Life

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The annual spring migration was helped considerably by falling fuel prices. Gasoline on the way south was selling at the magical rate of 85 cents per gallon. Even unleaded fuel prices fell below the dollar mark. Increased savings through decreased fuel spending meant more cash on hand in Ft. Lauderdale. This became a mathematical equation easily understood by math majors and history majors alike. Upon arrival In Ft. Lauderdale, the hotel became home and the pool became a sort of communal gathering point. The universal question on everybody’s lips was. So, where arc you from? Occasionally MU students were pleasantly surprised by running into other students from Millersville. Advice was swapped, which bars to hit and when, and promises were made to party together. Sometimes the promises were kept, sometimes not During the day. 'The Strip resembled a normal city street. At night, however. It was transformed into a mad. humanity-packed party, rhoto by Steve Olson Cleanliness was next to absolutely nothing for a week. This disaster area is a prime example o( vacation housekeeping habits. Photo by Steve Olson but it felt good to see familiar faces in the crazy, fast-paced world of Ft. Lauderdale. Students from across the nation converged nightly on the long stretch of clubs along route AI A. know n affectionately as The Strip.” Most students made it a goal to stop at every establishment along the way. some preferring the small, relatively unknow n hotel bars. Others chose to pay the heavy cover charge at well-known sites like Penrods and the button to take advantage of free drinks and a wider cross-section of the American and Canadian student society. The most popular hot spots offered a wide variety of free gifts to lure fun-seeking collegians through their front doors. Collecting club T-shirts became a major activity, but offers of free mugs, sunglasses and hats were also popular advertising techniques. Many clubs held nightly wet T-shirt contests in addition to live bands as part of their entertainment. Enthusiasm was abundant, as the tightly-packed crowd of spectators, both male and female, cheered for favored contestants. The winner, after having her shirt literally drenched with ice water and doing at least one short dance, was awarded a cash prize of one hundred dollars. The enthusiasm of the crowd often motivated the radiant girls on stage to turn the contest into one of more than just wet T-shirts. The shirts became shredded and dresses and pants were sometimes discarded, to the sheer delight of the screaming crowd. Many clubs tried to control this provocative behavior, no matter how welcome, while others actually encouraged it. One packed hot spot even founded the slogan Ho Skin No Win. which was chanted ritual-like by the mob to heighten the excitement of the event. in the morning, survivors of the night before struggled to McDonald s for a healing bite of food — those that bothered to eat anything at all. It was a scene strangely reminiscent of Sunday brunches at Gordinier Dining Mall. The rest, those too physically or financially weakened to hit a restaurant, crawled early to the beach to let the warm rays of the bright Florida sun chase the fuzziness from their minds. Daytime was a sharp contrast to the busy madness of the Strip at night. Students tanned, tossed frisbees. played hackysack or jogged along the beach. They also lounged in the refreshing coolness of the hotel pool. Spring Break weather was too hot for people conditioned to the chill of the Villc to do Continued on page 12 Student Life 11

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This club became Known as one of the less expensive along the strip. It was a convenient watering hole before moving next door to the Button, rhoto by Steve Olson The Button attracts students from all over the country. It was a quiet place early In the morning but. by noon, it was lllled with ad venture seeking young people. Photo by Steoe Olson 71Iff MOULD Ftmm Jogging along the beach is a less famous aspect of life in Tort Lauderdale. Nevertheless. this early riser found it to be a satisfying experience. Photo by Sfeoe Olson .jf ESnLc1? PARTY°A,U K r noEcVAHiflT50 ST 3PM FR££ MUG ■RTiuc pUTwm. • ncrc is something for everybody In riorlda Many spring breakers found everything they needed in this popular club Photo by Steve Ol on ♦ Fort Lauderdale1 Port Everqlades1 i lot I Airport ] on the road. Photo by S eoe OLson '9 Student Life 13