Sul Ross State University - Brand Yearbook (Alpine, TX)

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Alan Pitkin is a student- craftsman in his own right. The Andrews sophomore was given the task of casting the letters that spell out Sul Ross State University on the new sign just below the Administration Building parking lot. “I don’t mind doing the job,” Pitkin said as he worked on preparing a mold that would cast the letter ‘s’. ‘‘This is what I like to do. My interest is in foundery work and machine shop.” The casting process involved a number of precise steps, the industrial arts major explained. First a wooden pattern of the letter was cut from a piece of plywood and sanded and sealed with a sealing varnish. The letter was then placed in a special carrier and a mixture of sand and oil was pounded around the letter to form the mold. The letter was removed, leaving its impression in the sand. Using a small blast furnace that reaches temperatures of 1250 degrees, Pitkin melted ingots of aluminum. He then poured the molten metal into the mold and left it to cool for about 12 hours. Once it was cooked, Pitkin took the letter out and sanded or filed the rough edges off. The result was a shiny metal letter. Pitkin has been doing foundery work for five years. While at Andrews High School, he learned his craft under the supervision of Don Gorman, a former Sul Ross student. ‘‘While I was at Andrews High School we did simple projects such as casting a lamp. But I also designed a machinists vice with a swivel base,” Pitkin said. ‘‘I had to make the pattern myself,” he continued. ‘‘Many times you can get patterns that are already made.” Pitkin wants to teach vocational industrial arts when he graduates from Sul Ross. Profile: Alan Pitkin “This is what I like to do.” by Stephen John Student Life 17

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Seventeen Years of Independence October 1, the African nation of Nigeria celebrated their 17th year of independence. However, festivities took place not only in Africa, but in Alpine as well. The Sul Ross Nigerian students along with some 200 guests celebrated the occasion at Kokernot Lodge. Nigeria gained its independence from Great Britian through diplomatic negotiations. The National Day celebration is a way of paying tribute to those who pioneered the struggle for independence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 16 Student Life

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18 Student Life