Troy University - Palladium Yearbook (Troy, AL)

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Legends are stories coming down from the past, especially those popularly regarded as his- torical, although not verifiable. The legends of Troy State are few but colorful, many not nec- essarily the whole truth, but rather based on true stories. One such example is the Ghost the Presidential Mansion. Dr. Frank Ross Stewart be- came president of Troy State University in 196 1 and held the position until his death in 1964. It is rumored that the ghost of Dr. Stewart, who suffered a stroke while sitting in the dining room of the mansion, can be described as a typical ghost, if there is such a thing. His foot- steps can be heard as he roams the house, certain pictures hang crooked on the walls no matter how many times they are straightened or where they are hung, and doors mysteriously open and close by themselves. Another typical legend is that of OP Bullet. He was a very old and faithful friend to the TSU students of the 1950s. He was, supposedly, a philosopher and humanitarian who hap- pened to enjoy the atmosphere of this small southern college. Perhaps it should also be men- tioned that OP Bullet was of the canine persuasion. Yes, OP Bullet was a dog. But, to the students of the 1950s he was a legend, and his story is indeed special. In the late 1950s there came a rabies epidemic that swept through Troy, Alabama. The epidemic was of such large pro- portion that the Troy City Coun- cil passed a city ordinance al- lowing policemen to shoot stray dogs on sight. OP Bullet , al- though he did not have the dis- ease, was one of the dogs shot. TSU students became angry over the death of their friend E D WA R D

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The Color, The Excitement, and The Classes? The college life — high school students try to imitate t, alumni long for it, others ;ay that it ' s just not for them! Balancing a social life with jn academic schedule often affected a student ' s emotion- al stability. Although the own of Troy did not always )rovide the entertainment hat a college town implies, here was usually always something to do. For many students, the veekend began on Thursday lights. If not at the frat louses, then many party-go- rs hit places like the Front J orch and O ' Reilly ' s. Dry 3ush gave new opportunities or party-goers who chose lot to drink. Nothing could match the excitement in the air when ' rojan football got underway. ' he Sound of the South and graced the field at half- ime and the crowds went vild at the sound of Dixie. ' he Troy Jax State game vas the usual highlight of the eason, and Troy ' s victory 3ft fans in a frenzy. Prior to he game, parachutists Iropped on the field and lave an added touch to an Iready enthusiastic crow d. Showtime, the prelude to ' rojan basketball, gave class nd excitement to Sartam fall. The baseball team ' s trip o California for national lay-offs kept the campus hattenng. Spring brought with it arm weather and a massive xodus to the beach. The eautiful colors of the cam- us in full bloom was rivalled nly by the bright colors of dws of bikinis and one-piece athing suits at Hamil, Gard- er and Pace beaches. Campus life gave many tudents the privilege (is that ie right word?) to live in the orm. Being thrown into a cu- icle with a total stranger who plays AC DC at 2:00 a.m. gave many students a new change of scenery. After the first two weeks of chang- ing from room to room, one finally finds a compatible room-mate who shares the same bad habits as his own. Then the room slowly makes the transformation from a prison cell to a collage of posters, furniture, and dust- collectors. Some students felt dorm life was equivalent to the college life ' while others insisted on making the move off-campus. With dorm life came the dreaded cafeteria food SAGA became a hot spot, not necessarily because of the quality of food, but rather because it provided a place for rapping during meal times. For those who opted for fast-food, the hang-outs included Crowes. Wendy s, and the newly built Burger King. To many college students, the essence of campus life was getting involved in extra- curricular activities. Whether student government, publi- cations, service organiza- tions, or honor societies, the Parachuters drop down on Memorial Stadium prior to the Trov Jax State football game opportunities were there for the choosing A major part of fitting m on campus was learning the lan- guage Each university had its own choice of buzz words and phrases that coeds picked up on easily Even cliques within TSU had their own symbols and lingo typi- cal of college life. Phrases like Get a real job ' Get a clue 1 Get over it ' and I m scared of you ' were part of daily conversations A popu- lar commercial used for a play on words was Where s the beef 9 Anyone who was not knowledgeable of the language needed to get a grip Fun, fun, fun 1 That s the stereotype college lifestyle Unfortunately one cannot obtain a BS m fun and get a real job 1 That s where the com is turned and we see the other side — classes Classes ranged from the dreaded 8:00 class, generally filled with zombies, to the much avoided night class (taken only if necessary ) Or for the less serious student, classes were attended only on test days and finals Dead Week was designed to allow students time to dedicate themselves fully to their studies before final ex- ams Dead Week could be evidenced by bags under the eyes, circles around the eyes, and a glassy look that made on-lookers wonder just how many nights had been spent at the Front Porch Ob- viously, it was time for some TSU coeds to wake up and smell the coffee The library was standing room only The college life — for some it was the best four years of their lives AfteraM. Troy State does have the la- bel of being Alabama s Most Exciting Campus

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and rallied to have the ordi- times tell their freshman groups and appreciation for TSU. fnendletl ted classes, staged demonstra- theater. tions, and marched to city hall The third step of the TSU am- council members. Their efforts were not in vain. The ordinance was revoked a short time afterwards. Although their mission was successful it did not bring their friend back from the dead, or did it? Legend has it that OT Bullet was very grateful to the stu- dents and showed his apprecia- tion by making brief appear- ances around the campus. Not all TSU legends are his- mythological than legendary. Myths are traditional stories pertaining to historical events that serve to explain a belief, practice or natural phenom- enon. Many of TSU ' s myths be- gin at a typical pre-orientation. Pre-orientation leaders some- tain powers of persuasion. If a young man proposes to his sweetheart while she is sitting on the third step of the am- phitheater, she will be com- pelled to accept his proposal. However, the young man must possess a true and sincere bve for his betrothed or else the magical powers will not hold sway over her. Another typical orientation myth is the Troy State Wall. Wall, which is located along the side of the Bibb Craves building. through a phenominal change; The clinging ivy that grows alongside the wall begins to spell out the words Troy State. When this feat is accomplished the small pink flowers of the ivy come into full bloom. Probably the most popular myth on campus is that of SaKy Shack. There are several ver- sions of the story but the one most popular is the one in which Sally is jilted by her lover. 1 1. [■ im i w Tm «Ui 5 t 7j of the year when the flowers and trees bear their l eaves and blossoms, spirits of by-gone TSU students rise and roam freely about the campus. At the peak of spring quarter activities, these spirits gather at the Troy State Wall to show their bve posedly, the youngest and most beautiful daughter of Dr. Ed- ward Shackelford. She lived on the third floor of Shackelford Hall. She came to Troy State to be with her boyfriend, who during his freshman year be- came a football hero. Her boy- tl ' Ml 1l.-,V»y ' I «f» - r ' ilffX ' , j ' »J less and less time with Saty. and more and more time with the dons about her boyfriend ' s fi- delity were confirmed when she caught her lover in the arms of another woman. Her heart was broken and she suffered an emotional breakdown. A few days later she was found hang- ing from the third floor stair rats of Shackelford Hat. It is said that Saty Shade, as she is now caked, st occupies a room on the third floor, and that she sometimes roams the hat- searching for the love that she so tragkaty lost. Myths and legends are fun to read as long as one remembers that they are only stories. They are just stories . . . aren ' t they? SHACKELFORD HKLL