University of Minnesota - Gopher Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 7 text:

I n the midst of a metropolis of one mil- lion sits a schizophrenic community of 20 thousand. Schizophrenic because a third of its population lives there and the rest come and go. The University is the center of existence for the third that lives there and most phases of their lives are surrounded by an academic atmosphere. For the remainder that come and go the University is just that, a place to come for classes and to leave as quietly as they came. It is a place of anonymity. A few find the academic spirit and plunge into it with gusto, but they are exceptions. Others find the people interesting and seek them out. But more often than not they just come and go. The campus resident is so engrossed with the University ' s people and aca- demic thought that the outside becomes a little strange. He tends to view the city with an academic eye, seeing form if he is in art, seeing machines if in engineering, seeing people if in sociology. Being so captured by the University makes leaving the campus more difficult but gives him better criteria to judge the outside. For those living off campus practical aspects take on greater meaning. A job selling to real customers instead of figur- ing sales on a supply and demand curve. An extra dollar to buy a few gallons of gas for commuting tomorrow. A home and a family at supper each night, but no being submerged in the University. ' 55 Gopher Editor • Alan Ominsky Business Manager • Glenn Ray