Montana State University - Sentinel Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

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IM I Has a New Corrplexion BY CHRIS BROWN They w re evcn,T)vh rn;. You couldn ' t miss seeing them. They changed I he complexion of UM. Pajrilers laying down fresh coats of painl, you ask? No, non- tfaditional siudenis. According to ihe adcnission ofTicc the number of nort-iTadiiiona( studenu has grown five lo seven percent per year for I he la E five years, This year ihc number of non-tradiiionats was 35 it 40 percent of the sludent body, Along with ihe increases come a greater need for progrjims and support groups lo serve otdcr students. For [he sing,lc parent, Janie Sulhsan. senior in journahsm, and Irene Lake, senior in social work, founded the support group Options Unlimited ihis year. According to L ke. t. ptions Unlimited is not only for students, but atso (or single parents in the comm unity. This year the group worked with the state legislature and established a pilot program allowing single parents to enroll in college while keeping their Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFfXl money, Mar ' alene Simmons, junior in interpersonal communiiies. and Will Henderson, sophomore in general studies, both became UM .Advocates this year. .According lo Frank Matule. assoeiale director of admissions, even though Simmons and Henderson weren ' t the first non-traditional Advocates, they were the first ones actively recruited. As the Sludent body embraces more non-traditional students. Advocates) want more non-traditional students ' Maiule said. is a matter of representation. When [ started school my biggest concern was thai I would feel real alone and I really felt thai way until I found out about Phocniji, said John Walker, a graduate student tn business administration and president of Phoenix, a support group for non- tradiiional studentii. Under Walker ' s direction Phoenin tried lo improve the social environment for students who. according to Walker, are hard to get involved in campus activities. He tempted them wjth monthly potluek dinners. Thursday morning breakfasts. Friday night voHeyball games and intramural teams. 18 Non-fracHttonai Students

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Mandatory Dorm Living Returns BY CHRIS BROWN Twenty years ago women under 21 were required lo live in dorms under ihe watchful eyes of house mothers Campus residency was a must for freshmen men. In 1975 the University of Montana abohshed those requirements. But this year, the administration changed the current policy of optional dorm living back to mandatory dorm residency. Exceptions include married students, students liMng with blood relatives and second-year students who ha c fewer than 45 credits. Ron Brunell. I ' M director of residence halls, doubts the new policy will have much affect on admission. About 75 percent of all freshmen already live in the dorms. he said. All state colleges in Montana have the freshmen residency rule, so students won ' t opt for another in-state school. Echoing Bruneirs sentiments. Michael Akin. UM admissions director, said. If there is any impact it will be on the non-traditional student who is not from Missoula. Sharon Lindberg. freshman in business administration, last attended school in 1956. When asked what she thought about the mandatory dorm residency rule she said it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. .According to the new policy, current students like Lindberg are exempt from the required on- campus living policy. Lindberg added. I wouldn ' t go to school here if I had to live in a dorm. While dictated in part by sweeping budget cuts, the residency policy is also an attempt to keep students in school. According to Brunell. National studies show students who live in residence halls are less likely to leave school and more likely to succeed. In order to help keep students in school, steps such as offenng study-skills classes and seminars on how to fill out financial aid forms were offered in the dorms this ear. As for the future of on-campus living. Brunell reported that the dorm room, or more correctly, dorm suite of the future will be more akin to apanment-style living. Suites for four will feature a kitchenette and private bath. So. in 25 years, when your kid comes home from I ' M for Christmas, be prepared for. You would really like my suitemates. Mil Soul and Jcxh Zinn». tm-Htlt. m» • Dor ■ Scott McGhM. MTUor lo torMtry Ukm% bm ou« from itmk duly 10 cMch up on ■ 20 On Campus Living