Shady Side Academy - Academian Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

Page 16 text:

The pressures of classes keep building during the day until . . . Hnally, a precious free period! You 've got to get away from work, go socialize with your friends, hang out for a while . .-If mill' ffl I if TUNING OUT THE WORLD, Joel Brennan stretches out by his locker in the Tuck Shop Area. When all else failed, a student could always relax by his locker instead of in designated lounge areas. Q Uyljgg- R , f 1 K I 'gg ' . y- Iiywg 3' g165l1f'ilf'fllXlff'rlri9,rt r 3 , A .I I p A X g gqpvflli. rf' , gg.. ,I . ' r, rr CA You Go? , j , ' hen I raentered the Acad. atrocities. when asked what is special 'Qi emy's infamous Pit I In was sickened by the I gi sights, noises and smells ', of this preferred under- class hang-out. The car- pet on the seats had grown more tat- tered, and the THINGS on the wall, which had been green and sticky during my own underclass days, had hardened. My first instinct was to turn and run. However, I was on assignment. Each of SSA's hang-outs, including the Pit, has its own character or flavor which I in- tended to discover. In order to capture the essence of each hang-out, I went directly to the stu- dents who inhabit each area. My chief questions were What makes this hang- out special? and What goes on daily in this hang-out? The responses ranged from serious to comic. To my surprise, the inhabitants of the Pit took pride in the same aspects of their lounge that I considered minor Q Hang-outs 0 about the Pit, they eagerly produced a variety of responses. lt's the dirtiest place around, stated Pitmonger Brook Swinston. The carpeting, definitely the painting on the walls, quipped another fourth former. The violent nature of the deviant children who lounge in the Pit, claimed another. Chris Martha agreed: lt's the people that make the Pit. Despite an abundance of character, the Pit suffers from a lack of activity. The Pit used to be home to games of 4- square, but that tradition has died out. Now, explained one sophomore, aside from an occasional brawl be- tween the freshmen and sophomores, the Pit is extremely low-key, Some Pit residents were less enthusi- astic about their hang-out. I think it's the worst texpletive deletedl room, said sophomore Steve Begg. This place is disgusting, said another sophomore. Having completed my investigation of the Pit, I knew that I personally would not be back . . . ever. Many students, upon becoming up- perclassmen, graduate from the Pit to Rowe Common. Entering Rowe was a relief after the chaos of the Pit. The up- perclassmen who reside in Rowe are tamer, more mature than the Pit people so they tended to respond with more re- fined, sophisticated comments. What's special?. . . the chicks, offered fifth for- mer Wade Bowden. Jose Juves in- formed me, lt's a very sensual atmo- sphere. Many upperformers expressed approval of the intimate nature of Rowe. Everybody knows your name, said Wendy Fruehauf. lt's like a family, ex- plained another junior. Although the pencils in the ceiling tiles attest that Rowe is not entirely civil- ized, most upperformers seemed happy to be above the fray of the Pit. You can get diseases in the Pit, confided one senior. When asked what is special about Rowe, one upperformer chimed Icontinued on page 142

Page 15 text:

.--ff' 1 1 W P , in Memorial Hall, sis- ters and brothers meet for a group picture. Over eighty students had siblings who were also attending the Senior School. at school, George and Michael Bolanis exchange a few words as they enter the Science Hall. Traveling to school together ga ve siblings even more time to be together. 0l:f':':',f pw ff ' 4 ff 1 l A EHHEWE, 5:35 13:55.13 in the Pit, Laura and Wade Bowden engage in conversation. lt was not uncommon for upperformers to visit their younger siblings in the underform lounge. EM.LQ5i'NN''JGUFIWE PL FEW' LfX llGI'HS ill UIC SCi' ence Hall are Saadia and Haroon llyas. Most brothers and sisters felt that having siblings in school added something extra to their high school experience. Brothers and Sisters sf

Page 17 text:

X xl' i Q! 4.1, .f Z Ziff ALL IN SMILESV Chris Luth, Josephine Ca- minos, and Catherine Clifford talk in the Pit as Nancie Brand laughs with a friend on the side. Socialization was the main activity in the underform hang-out. QOMPETING AGAINST HERSELF. Rebecca Ching plays a game of Solitaire at the Win- dow. P 1 , , , , , .......,,........,.,. M ' Y .-e , x-...V ,M ..,7 . j','.fQ,' 'f ,g j, .3 new Z fed PUTTING HIS FEET UP and making llimS6If comfortable, Da vid Barron studies intently in the Posner Room. Many students found that the library was a refuge for those seeking peace and quiet during their free time. H ang-outs I