Slippery Rock University - Saxigena Yearbook (Slippery Rock, PA)

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FootbtN SonnUg The first day of classes finally arrived. By now, all the upper classmen were back and greeting each other with smiles and hugs. Jenny wondered around looking for her classes being careful to hide her schedule in her notebook, so no one would see her studying it. I have to run down to the book store and get my books, Jen said to Barb as they passed in the door, but I'll be back in a few minutes 'cause I want to wotch my soap at three. Barb wished her luck. Forty-five minutes later, Jenny stood staring at the wall of books bewildered, f rustrated, and sweaty. I wasn't too happy with the situation either. The whole time she stood in line in the hot, crowded hall, she twisted me round and round her neck. Talk about dizzy! But her problem was much worse when she found that she needed her schedule to find her books. Face reddening with anger and embarrassment, Jenny headed for the door. 16

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 Only a few more boxes to go, Jenny yelled to her brother as he tried to arrange the conglomeration of suitcases, boxes, and bags into the car trunk. This wasn't just another day, it was the day she had waited for all summer. But it wasn't os eosy as she thought it would be. One lost look oround the empty bedroom, one deep breath, one hard swallow, and she was off. The car wasn't even out of the garage yet, and tears were streaming down her innocent face. Her mother pretended not to notice. Jenny felt that a part of her life was now over and kept remembering the famous quote, You can never go home again. They drove in silence for almost an hour until, through blurry eyes, Jenny saw a sign reoding SLIPPERY ROCK 6. Excuse me, but con you direct me to Bard Holl? So this was Slippery Rock State College, complete with a traffic light and all. They found the room with no problem and began haulin' in the junk. Jenny wos pretty nervous about meeting her roommote: Barbara Wahite, 778 N. Woter Street, Elderton, Pa. Not much of a warning of whot was to come. Jenny? Hi, I'm Barbara. I guess we're roomies. Pretty good observation I'd say. Hi, was all Jenny could manage to soy as she fidgited with me. Maybe I was her security. A tiger eye necklace? Well, we all need something. I did a little observing on my own. Tennis racket, skis, jogging suit — oh no, a jock! Well, they say if you don't get along, roomate changes begin in two weeks. After a tearful goodbye with her mother, Jenny unpacked silently while Barbara babbled on about portyin', partyin', and partyin'. I heor this is one of the biggest party schools in Pennsylvania, Barb reported. Jenny simply stated that she didn't party and beer stunk. So ended the conversation. Cafeteria food wasn't easy to get used to, but then neither were communal bathrooms where you couldn't even take a dump without the whole world knowing it. Going to bed at 10 p.m. was unheard of, unless you went with a friend. I was wolking back from the shower in a robe and my hoir in a towel, and a guy passed me in the hall. I was so embarrassed! she cried to Barb the second morning. Barb sympathized, but I could see the jeer on her face. Come on, where's your sense of adventure? Barb asked os she tried to convince Jenny to walk downtown that first Fridoy night. Before I knew it, they were walking toward town, about six girls in all, giggling and talking. Jenny didn't say much, just observed. She was afraid to say much those first few weeks; well, I guess she really didn't know what to say. There's not even a cinema! one girl whined. Check out the parking meters. Not too ancient are they? said another. So this was Slippery Rock. They were confronted along the way by a couple of guys holding beers. After a short conversation, they were all trailing into a house, down stairs, and filling cups with beer. Do you like Genesee? Barb asked. I don't want any beer, Jen whispered. Borb explained that she'd better get some or people would know she was o freshman and afraid. Okoy, but I'll dump it while no one is looking, Jenny said under her breath. They were standing in beer an inch deep in a dark cellar of an old run down house. How about this Jen, our first frat porty! The beer tasted awful, the place reeked of Lord knows whot, and they were the only girls in the place. I wished Jenny would loosen up a little and accept the fact that fancy mansions with chandeliers were reserved for the big schools like Penn State. The Rock was stuck with delapidated houses. 15

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Those first few weeks contained a lot of uncomfortoble confrontations, but Jenny kindo got used to being the new girl (one in a thousand). At times she felt as though she had o neon light over her head flashing FRESHMAN , but as she reloxed, the fact became less obvious. She forgot about finding a new roommate; Barb and her got along pretty well. I wos surprised how quickly friendships formed. Jen surprised at how quickly the guys found and lost girlfriends . . . and what they did in between. One night at a frat party, the regular weekend activity, o couple of guys osked Jen and her friend to go upstairs. One guy pulled a short little pipe out of a drawer and asked if they got high. Sometimes, the friend answered for both of them. Beer was one thing Jenny had given in to, but no way would she get high. Besides, she didn't know how! When the pipe was passed to her, Jen shrugged and said, What the hell! That's when I knew she wos changing. She wos becoming a Slippery Rock co-ed instead of an innocent country girl. Believe me, there's a difference. The first semester came to an end quickly, and finals week was another trip. Who'd have ever imagined that Bard Hall could be so quiet on a Friday night? Miracles never cease. And when the grades came out, Jenny still believed in miracles. But when she figured out how to get the stupid grades out of the envelope, that belief came to an end. However, she did well enough to return spring semester. Things went pretty much the some the second semester. Jenny and her friends became even closer, and classes became a little harder, but she still loved the Rock. The new weekend activity was ripping off trays from the cafe, getting a bottle of Seagrams, and heading for the ski slope. Upon returning to the dorm, instead of hot chocolate, they warmed themselves up with icy cold Bull on tap. Once the snow melted, spring fever spread in epidemic proportions. There wasn't a beach for miles, but everyone headed out doors in shorts and bikinis. Spring semester went even faster than the first one, and once again finals week approached. This time the parties continued. It's the last weekend at the Rock, so let's celebrate the end of the year with o half barrel! Who could resist? All packed, car loaded with the same junk as it was nine months ago, it wos time to go home. Jenny hugged her friends one by one and wished them a good summer. One last look around the empty room, one deep breath, one hard swallow, and she was off again. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she found herself counting the weeks between now and August 25th. Lisa Smail 17