Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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Students support themselves Attending college is expensive these days, and students who don’t get financial backing from their parents have to depend on grants, loans, or their personal income to make it through. Some students support themselves through school by having a full or part-time job on the side. “I didn’t want to take out any loans with the school and have to owe money,” said Jody Ewers, Baxter Springs junior. “So I got a part-time job as handyman for Bentner Realty here in town. I’ve worked there for two years now.” “I received a grant from the school, but it didn’t go very far,” said Randy Maggard, Baxter Springs sophomore. “I have to work to make ends meet.” The main problem that students have to deal with while working their way through school is budgeting their time in order to get their studies done. Maggard works about 20 hours a week as a cook at Ken’s Pizza. This obviously cuts down on time he has to spend on schoolwork, but he has been able to adjust to it. “Now I’m used to working and going to school at the same time,” he said. “I learned how to spend my time so I can get everything done.” Working also has the habit of cutting into personal time students normally use for socializing and other activities. “Sure it cuts into my social life,” Maggard said. “I go straight from school to work, and by the time I get off work, I have to go home and study for the next day. I never get to go out during the week.” Ewers agreed. “Sometimes I feel like I have no social life because I work so much. Between 15 hours of classes and working anywhere from 20 to 35 hours a week, I don’t have time for anything else but studying and sleeping.” However, this doesn’t mean that these students live a life of all work IN ADDITION TO FINISHING up his elec- tronical technology curriculum, Dale McAtee holds two jobs. He works as a camera man for KOAM-TV in Pittsburg, as well as being a life guard at the Weede swimming pool. —photo by Scott Miller 26—Working through school

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Springsteen, He shared the spotlight with guitarist Steve Davis. During numbers such as So You Want to Be a Rock and Roil Star, the audience went into an uproar as Davis used the microphone stand to fret his guitar, and made it sound like different instruments by switching hand positions. At times the two guitarists bent toward each other, playing hard driving rock, and almost challenging each other to do their best. Bass player Norman Dahlor helped out on vocals for some songs. Hoad played keyboards for some songs, including a cut of the album, “Homegrown,” number one on the charts in Kansas City for a few weeks before Christmas. Most of the band’s numbers were originals, such as “Sqeeze Me Back in Your Life” and Wanna Get Ver- tical.” Pat Tomek’s drum solo fascinated the crowd, as he ended by throwing a drum stick across the stage. Hoad, playing the keyboards, yelled out, “You guys are a noisy bunch.” To the answering yell from the crowd, he called, I love it!” The applause after the final number, Devil With a Blue Dress On,” brought the band back for two en- cores. The crowd stomped and clapped for the first return, and the roar was almost deafening as Hoad called, You guys are tremendous. Thank you!” At the second return, he yelled, Get out of your chairs and raise hell!” He followed his own advice, jumping up on the keyboard and finishing up with grandstand theatricals. They finally left the stage at a quarter till 10, as a girl in the front row grabbed at their legs. Hoad commented, We like playing to audiences just like this. When the crowd looks like they’re having a good time, it gets the band rocking.” His comment was echoed by Charles Waltz, blond keyboard player of Shooting Star. He said, I’ve been kind of down and out all day, kinda had the blues. Once we got on stage, the crowd was going nuts, and it really picked me up.” Due to technical problems with the lights before their set, they started playing at about 10:30, to an audience that was really fired up. Friends had been conversing in a low roar, and looking unsuccessfully for a seat, when suddenly the lights went out. Lights flashed on a rotating mirror ball, sending rays of light darting about the room, as an old Walt Disney recording of “When You Wish Upon A Star” played on stage. Suddenly the stage broke into light and sound as the powerful six man band started off with Don’t Stop Now,” a cut from their first album. Before the end of the song, the crowd was on its feet, immersed in the music of Shooting Star. The next number, You’ve Got What i Need,” emphasized the keyboard playing of Charles Waltz and Bill Guffey. Songwriters Van McLain and Gary West led with strong, weil-blended vocals. McLain played fierce guitar solos directly to the people crowding the stage, to the enthusiastic response of people ready to GET DOWN. West switched from guitar to piano to accompany his vocals. The lights went down again, and gradually keyboard music built up. Waltz’s blond head was all that could be seen in the dim light, providing a IN THE HAZE OF RED LIGHT, Charles Waltz sets the mood for the audience as he plays his violin.—photo by Dot Koehler focus as the music built to a crescendo and exploded into light again. Throughout the concert, he switched from violin to piano, adding vocals when needed. As he got into the music, his black-and-white striped jacket came off, revealing a bright yellow shirt. Drummer Steve Thomas and Ron Verlin, bassist, provided an important part of Shooting Star’s sound, but the flamboyant antics of the others overshadowed their contributions. Shooting Star has been a group as it is now for two and a half years, Waltz said. He was one of the last members to join the current band. Waltz said, “The only problem with people dancing (in the aisles) is that we’re not really a dance band. For us it’s more fun when it’s crowded and people focus on us.” He got his wish that Friday night. When Sullivan told McLain that they were 30 short of a sell-out, the musician laughed and commented, How could you pack any more in here?” McLain summed up the evening for everyone, from the bands to the audience, to concert sponsors. “We had a great turn-out!” he said.—by Olive Sullivan Shooting Star—25

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WORKING AT A PIZZA PLACE is more than gooey cheese and serving. Judy Juenge, Ken's Pizza employee, takes her turn doing the dishes. —photo by BUI Holtom and no play. Most of them still manage to find time to relax sometime during the week, perhaps on weekends. “I still play soccer every weekend like I have for the past four years,” Maggard said. “It’s not that bad, really.” A job and school related activities can sometimes conflict, which may cause problems. But most of the employers in Pittsburg seem to be conscious of the fact that students have many demands on their time. “My boss is pretty understanding,” Maggard said. “Practically his entire staff is composed of college students, and he realizes that they all need time off for one reason or another at various times throughout the year. I usually don’t have much trouble getting off work for Student Senate meetings or anything like that. He will just rearrange his work schedule.” “I just go to work when I get out of class or have some free time,” Ewers said. “My supervisor doesn’t care when I do my job, as long as it gets done.” One complication of working while in school occurs wnen students have to schedule their classes. They must plan their classes around their job schedule, which usually involves trying to schedule their classes in succession, with afternoons free. “That is why I could only take 12 hours this semester,” Maggard said. “All the other classes I needed were offered at odd times which did not coincide with my work schedule. I guess I’ll try to take them next year.” When work study funds ran out in March, a great number of students began searching Pittsburg for jobs, although few positions could be found. “The competition for jobs is a lot stiffer now,” Maggard said. “It really makes me appreciate the job I’ve got.” With the current economy forcing universities to cut back on the amount of loans and grants issued, even more students will be out next year looking for jobs to work their way through school.— by Sheri Johnson SERVICE WITH A SMILE comes easy for Glen Luedke because he enjoys his job at Ken's Pizza. —photo by Bill Holtom Working through school—27