Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

Page 23 text:

LOADED DOWN A student, get- ting help from her mom, moves into Ryle Mall. Upperclassmen were asked to arrive a day late to limit the numbers moving in. Photo by Matt Blotevogel MALL SWEET MALL RA Julie O'Mara. so., and Stephanie Strickland, fr., find a comfortable place to study in their room on the filth floor in Ryle Mall. Photo by Matt Blotevogel MOVIN' ON UP Parking spaces are few and far between around campus during the hectic days when students move into the resi- dence halls. Photo by Matt Blotevogel Student Life Overcrowding

Page 22 text:

A set of bunkbeds is pushed against the light blue wall of the residence hail. Three desks, stacks of plastic milk crates and another bed are crowded HOUSE FULL Skyrocketing enrollment forces creative arrangement of students into the remaining floor space. This scene — a compact triple room — has almost disappeared from the University, caus- ing a lack of space for in- coming freshmen in the residence halls. The number of compact triple rooms in Centennial and Ryle halls was de- creased from 100 to six. The remaining six will be phased out by next year. Darlene Baker, Resi- dence Life Assistant, said the elimination of the com- pact triples caused a lack of living space for incom- ing freshmen. 'We had enough room in the male halls, but we were unable to house all of the women, Baker said. Freshmen roommates were assigned to the 26 resident advisers in the women's halls. All of these were con- sidered temporary hous- ing. Most students were able to move into another room after the first few weeks, Baker said. Freshman Diana Lawson was assigned to live with sophomore Janet Clay- poole, Blanton Hall R.A. 'I liked living with Janet, but I didn't get to see her much because she was so busy, Lawson said. Lawson moved to a two- person room in Blanton in the third week of school. I didn't get to have the Student Life Overcrowding fun of arranging our room and deciding where to put everything. She had al- ready been at school for a couple of weeks and had everything put together, Lawson said. Freshmen were also placed in both Fair and Campbell apartments. We placed somewhere between 30-35 students in the University apartments. These were also consid- ered as temporary hous- ing, Baker said. Other freshmen were able to arrange to live off- campus by working with the Residence Life Office or the Admissions Office. Many students chose to live with brothers or sisters or other relatives. When we ran out of spaces in the halls, we encouraged stu- dents not to attend school here, Baker said. If the halls were that full, classes would also be closed. Deadlines for both re- newal and new student room payments were made due in June. Previ- ously, renewal payments were due in July. The initial $40 deposit was also made non-refundable. Students often used us as a cheap insurance poli- cy. They could renew their rooms in the hall and then if something better came up, they could cancel, Baker said. Making a fina- ncial commitment makes them make a decision. Despite the crowd at the beginning of the semester. Residence Life did not in- crease the number of com- pact triple rooms. It's the intent of the Uni- versity to stay at around 5,700 students. We had to consider that and decide if we wanted to crowd our liv- ing space. Our answer was no , Baker said. Instead of bunkbeds and milk crates, residence hall rooms may soon be hous- ing easy chairs, Japanese- style futons and coffee tables in the extra space. -----Callen Fairchild-----

Page 24 text:

thought and the impor- tance and dignity of indi- viduals.” Tom Taylor, graduating business administration major, said: “I thought her message was good, but I was so excited about grad- uating that I had a hard time listening. When they named my division I yelled like I've never yelled be- fore. It was a great feeling. ” Bachelor's degrees were presented to 917 students, 73 students earned mast- er's degrees and 11 stu- dents received education specialist degrees. Four seniors earned a perfect 4.0 grade point av- erage during their college careers and were named valedictorians. The four were Susan Plassmeyer, Sherry Jack- son, Karla Ponder and Rick McVeigh. Once all of the degrees and awards were pre- sented the graduates and audience joined together under the direction of Clay Dawson, associate pro- fessor of music, to sing “Old Missou.” The song summed up the ceremony in the words of Basil Brew- er, a 1901 graduate. Junior Lori Merman said she was surprised at how casual many seniors seemed to be about the ceremony. “Because I know almost everyone considers col- lege graduation to be one of the major milestones in their lives it was different to see them being so casual — cups in their hands, waving to the crowd, mes- sages on their mortar- boards. There are always a lot of mixed emotions at graduation time,” Herman said. “I was sad to see a lot of really good friends leave, yet I was glad for them be- cause I knew they were ready to move on.” When the ceremony was over, students were seen celebrating all over Kirks- ville, ready to begin a new phase of life in the quick and ever-changing world. ----Callen Fairchild----- Feelings of excitement and anticipation filled the atmosphere as more than 1,000 students filed into Pershing Arena on May 9 for spring commencement FINALLY MAY exercises, realizing they would soon be touching tomorrow today. Families and friends cre- ated a wave of pastels as they squeezed into the crowded gymnasium. Uni- versity officials decided to hold the ceremony in- doors because of the wet field at Stokes Stadium and the possibility of more rain. Clad in the traditional black cap and gown, the graduates filed in to the ac- companiment of Elgar s “Fanfare and Procession- al” by the MMSU symphon- ic band. Whistles, cheers, and shouts were heard ev- ery time friends or family were spotted in the crowd. Shaila Aery, commis- sioner of the Missouri Co- ordinating Board for High- er Education, delivered the commencement speech. Aery said rapid changes would occur in the next 10 years, making the world even better than it was for the previous generations, and that each graduate had the capabilities to make a difference in this world. “These changes will not take place mechanically,” Aery said. “It takes human participation and vision. Each of us has the capacity to change the world.” Aery concluded: “Com- mencement is always a time of celebration. It is a time to express certain val- ues, such as freedom of Other rimes May has arrived, bur never with rhe same significance GRAPHIC GRADS Seniors Pam Wyant. Cindy Bishop, and Tom Louth promenade to Pershing to receive their degrees In the arts. Photo by Jody Schultz