University of Maryland College Park - Terrapin / Reveille Yearbook (College Park, MD)

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College Park, Maryland Oh, to be young and looking at col- leges. Certainly, choosing a school is an overwhelming decision for a high school senior to make, especially with the thousands of colleges and univer- sities operating in the country. Yet, despite the enormity of this task, there were 37,864 students who chose to at- tend the University of Maryland, Col- lege Park campus in 1 98 1 . The University originally opened in 1859 as the fvlaryland Agricultural Col- lege. Then, in 1912, the State gained control of the school. In its history, which spans over 120 years, the University has survived such near- disasters as the Civil War, the depres- sion. World War I and II, and the tur- bulent era of the 1960 ' s, emerging as one of the top ten state universities in the country. In 1981, the College Park campus provides a unique and exciting com- bination of academic and social op- portunities. Academically, the campus has more than 120 courses of study, ranging from fire protection engineer- ing to apparel design. Research, infor- mational and non-fictional materials can be found, not only from the school ' s own graduate and undergraduate libraries, but also from available facilities such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives in nearby Washington, D.C. In addi- tion, there is access to a wide range of practical research equipment on cam- pus, including a nuclear reactor and both subsonic and hypersonic wind tunnels. The physical layout of the 1300 acre campus has more than 200 buildings which house dormitories, classrooms, libraries and laboratories. More than 75% of the university ' s undergraduate classes hold less than 30 students, creating a personal atmosphere for teachers and students alike. The in- timacy of this environment is further enhanced by the 16 to 1 stu- dent faculty ratio. However, practical- ly no student can graduate without taking at least one lecture course with 500 other students, adding a different type of intimacy to the campus. In the social sphere. College Park provides a variety of cultural and enter- taining activities. Performances at the Tawes Theatre, concerts at Ritchie Coliseum, films at the Hoff Theater, lectures at the Student Union Grand Ballroom, and fairs on the UGL and McKelden malls cater to the multitude of tastes that comprise the student body. For more recreational amuse- ment, there are a variety of pubs, bars, clubs and hangouts in the College Park Washington area, in addition to parties on-and off-campus every weekend. College Park even offers a variety of housing alternatives to the more than 8,000 students who live on campus, providing traditional and coed dorms as well as apartment-type living in the Leonardtown complex. Sororities and fraternities also make up part of the campus life, with 16% of the 13,818 males in 1 of the 29 fraternities and 13% of the 1 1,782 females in 1 of the 22 sororities. For all the students that have matriculated here at College Park, from the four graduates comprising the Class of 1901 to the 7,467 graduating in 1982, this University of Maryland campus has always represented all that college life can be; parties, exams, Saturday afternoon football games, and much more. In short. College Park is a whole lot of work, a whole lot of learning and a whole lot of fun. — Jan Weinberg rv y ■ i ££ I I I I ! I 1 College Park 17

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The Unique Aura of Pam Kamin, Clifton Grais 1 6 College Park

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Registration In Store Armory registration — the very words are enough to instill ' fear in even the most experienced student. Every semester, we despartley hope that we get all our classes during pre- registration so that we can avoid the intamous Armory Registration. And every semester, those unlucky students tlock to the Armory in large numbers to try to add or drop classes, hoping to salvage their schedules. Those in the College of Business and Management or in the sciences seem to have it the worst. It is easy to find a discouraged student sitting on the floor of Reckord Armory, unsure of what to do next. If one is not lucky enough to be among the first to enter the Armory during registration week, most classes will be filled by the time they get there. The alphabetical order devised to regulate the entry of students into the Armory is randomly changed each semester to provide an equal opportunity for students to get the classes they desire. Kim Chappell, a freshman, was amazed at her first experience at Ar- mory Registration. Although it is ridiculous, I guess for a school of this size it ' s the best way to handle the situation, she says. Unfortunately, she was unable to get into a sociology class she wanted during registration. Frequently, the system gives way to chaos, and overcrowding often prevents the system from proceeding smoothly. Long lines may develop and huge tie-ups occur. Students who arrive at their correct time for admission sometimes en- counter problems caused by those try- ing to beat the system. These are the people who join their friends at the front of the line, or use someone else ' s I.D. card to register, or forge their add drop slips. Pam Lepore, a junior, is a veteran at Armory Registration. Registration is not something I look forward to, she says, but I can ' t avoid it. You have to learn to deal with it. Actually, as you get used to it, Armory Registration becomes easier. Aides in the Armory during registra- tion dislike it as much as the students do. Many aides have been heard to complain about pushy students and long lines. Tempers tend to flare when students find that a necessary class is closed. Although Armory Registration is ad- mittedly a hassle, most students agree that there is no fair alternative. You just have to plan your schedule, cross your fingers and hope for the best. — Sharon Blatt 3 Co Q. Nancy Weiner forgets the lines and takes her time. 18 Registration