University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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state. It was hard to get up early on those frigid mornings and we shivered in unison as we trudged oft to class after class. December finals hit us a double blow. We had finished a full quarter of academics and had fought to get acquainted with our new environment. There were many hours of cramming and many moments of shaky knees bur most of us came through unscratched. Christmas holidays were a welcome relief. They gave us a chance to catch our breath. We were no sooner back in school than snow week came along and of course we took rime off lor some of the events. Biggest time was had on the snow train. We rolled and stumbled and fell but it was all in fun. Before long, the season known elsewhere as spring” came to the campus. Activity was on the increase and signs popped up overnight announcing new dances, days, and sundry other events. The knoll became littered with figures leisurely soaking up the comforts of nature. P«9 12

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We took note of the progress of each new building and paused now and then to watch another wall of the old M F. firetrap tumble under the onslaught of a wrecking crew. Yes, the campus itself was as alive as the human element. On Saturday nights we took advantage of the Union dances to meet new faces and we gradually grew into the life of the University community. Fraternities and sororities launched their rushing programs and we raced about looking into the insides of these “secret” organizations. Only we found out that the people were quite normal and the insides weren't secret. The Greeks had much to offer and many of us signed on. Homecoming was our first really big event. For the first time we felt a real parr of the L . Somehow the spirit of the thing caught and spread until we were just a big happy conglomeration of kids having a gay time. Bur it was over all too soon. The first thing we knew . winter was here. And it hit the city just as hard as any other part of the Page 11

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Wc now took everything in stride for we were old hands at this game. Wc knew who and how and could answer a few of our own questions. From here on in the going would he easier. So we thought. But each quarter there were new things. I'ven the old events took on new form and new interest. As we progressed academically, wc found ourselves more interested in happenings on campus. The social events were the highlights, to be sure. But worthwhile activities came up and wc were genuinely interested. Unknowingly, all these affiliations had helped us to mature socially as well as mentally. Without realizing it, wc were getting prepared for the next big step; moving back to the community as responsible citizens. Those four or five years were a tough grind, but it was something we’d do all over again if wc had the opportunity. W c had looked forward to the great climax — commencement. But now that P«9« 13