Southeast Missouri State University - Sagamore Yearbook (Cape Girardeau, MO)

Page 33 text:

Bunking the beds saves space, but woe tothe non-athletic one who draws top slot. A pattern emerges from the early fall chaos of packing boxes, suitcases, and strange faces. After the first days of adjustment to living in one small room and tolerating demented camera bugs who like to take trick shots, life gets under control. Eating from a tray and filling out a form for a new light bulb seem natural in the context of community living. Conversation with good friends is an excuse Somber Cheney men find time to pose for an in to linger after supper at Myers. 'Formal portrait. 31

Page 32 text:

Deans of Students and Dormitory Heads get together for a session of tea and sympathy. Seated: Dean David Strand, Miss Janice Auguston, Head Resident of Dearmont Quadrangle: Dean Mary Helen Flentge: Mrs. Nell Beall, Head Resident of Leming Hall. Standing: Mr. Ben Tomerlin, Head Resident of Cheney Hall, Mr. Carroll Walker, Head Resident of Myers Hall. IN THE DORMlTORlESz A NEW EXPERIENCE IN LIVING Early in September, the doors of the four Cape State dormitories were flung open, and in tramped a cross-sec- tion of humanity: tall or short, Wide or thin, light or heavy, rich or poor-on the outside. And on the inside? Well, that is a statistic impossible to figure. At any rate, over 7oo homo-sapiens found themselves confronted with a new experience in living. And the dormitories found themselves confronted with the most difficult task of all: catering to the individual Without losing sight of the group. According to the official information, residence halls are considered an integral part of the educational program of the College, playing an important role in the over-all development of the individual . . . with trained counselors and personnel assistants, and an active cultural, recreation- al, political, and social program, the College helps the stu- dent adjust to living in a social environment. But such a statement misses the real truth. Memories that are stored during a year of dormitory living are neither so idealistic 30 nor abstract as official sources would have it. Rather they are real and unforgettable moments that continue to haunt the edges of one's memory long after the experience is over: all-night bull sessions, card games, midnight hours of study andjor procrastination, dances, parties-official or not-, homecoming decoration chores, impossible per- sonnel assistants, impossible but unforgettable roommates, exchange dinners, Christmas guests, and most important of all: learning to make noise, learning to accept noise, learning to sing or play, learning to accept singing or play- ing, learning to be liked, learning to like, learning to be an individual, learning to become a meaningful part of the group. And then Spring came, alas, too soon. As he packed his bag, each individual stored belongings and memories with equal care. A final door was shut-for some, temporarily, for some, forever.

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,- ig JN has L-Z? Friday night means crowded mirrors and perfumed hallways at Dear- mont. Cheney residents take a break with pipe and news- DORM LIVI G: THE WEEK-E D Friday evening-a new tempo. Suitcases have jaunted off in loaded cars and buses. Telephones and showers are tied up. By downtown Showtime the welcome hordes have escaped from Lem- ing and Dearmont, and the bulk of the exodus is complete. Desertion is not complete. Survivors gather in the quiet halls or the lounges. Card games, tele- vision, talk keep the windows yellow far into the night. Here and there, in the quiet corners, earnest souls confer over a lesson or reassure each other about next Monday's big test. Monday may not dawn upon the clean room and completed homework that had been on Friday's ambitious list of things to dog but the weekend is never a complete loss. For a moment there was the illusion of freedom that can be looked forward to after another week of classes. .ai paper after the ettort of cleaning their corner of Books and inspirational mottos mean it's term paper existence. time, 32 I