Montana State University - Sentinel Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

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Single Parenfhg off Campus BY CHRIS BROWN When somtonc says ofT-campus living it iirsokes images of diriy dcshes and overdue rent chtjcks along wj(h pnvaic bath rooms and peace and quici. However, ihc uniQld stor aboui off-campus living has more to do with diny diapers than dirty dishes. K !tth Larson, UM family housing direcior, reported thai the biggest resident change over the last Hve years in family housing is an increase in the number of $ijigle parents. Janic Stillivan. a senior in journal istn is co-founder of the single parent support group. Options Unlimited, A single pareni herself, Sullivan says, one of the biggest obstacles for single parents trying to get ahead by going to school is keeping state welfare money. . ccording to Gene Pfafi of the Missoula Job Sen icc, single parents can lose Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) money if ihey enroll in a four-year educational program. However, he said waivers can be obtained. According to Sullivan, the waiver system is part of a pilot program Options Unlimited worked on with the Slate legislature lo change the federal law gDvcming distribution of AFDC money. Many single parents need to stay on the AFDC rolJs to attend Sullivan said. They can ' t make it on financial aid alone Michal Kaplan, freshman in psychology, has two sons, ages 4 and 6. and is receiving AFDC money. If I get cut off from AFDC I won t be able to go to college because I won ' t have enotigh money for basic living expenses, she said. ' I want to get a good education . , , so [ can make a contribution to society, . s for recommending college to other single parents. Sullivan gave a decided yes. If you are a single pan.nt and feel like you ' re in a dead end, I recommend returning lo school. she said. A 1 luH ol itpf coma with tti« (ftrrHorv whwn kving H Mli wmi iMnM. Tirti V« i Btf sn ft nop m t xt Ciff ■ Off Campiis UvinQ 2i

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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

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Exchanging Cultures in Aber BY SUSAN McCREADY Thanks to new exchange programs, ihc walls of Abcr Hall vibrated cver weekend this year with the sound of Malaysian folk songs, according to Perry Rash Ludlum. freshman in political science, who liked to join in. It was the influx of foreign students. Malaysians, Japanese, Taiwanese and Canadians in particular, that diversified the population of Abcr. Poobalan .Suppiah. a sophomore in psychology from Taiping, was treated to an excursion to Fred ' s Lounge by his so-called friend. Ludlum. But business administration freshman Kong Vet Thai from Jalan Nusa off Kuala Lumpur (better known as Chris by her new friends) said she prefers the social life of Aber Hall. Abcr residents had no need to travel far and wide to explore a new country — they just wandered down the hall. Akson M cOonaM. mikM uM rf on of ttta many tX j t kxir gM t)Hbi» tor 22 Aber Hat