University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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1 i Where ' s the entertainment overall activities that students at UNA partake in. Since the city of Florence does not have much in the way of enter- tainment, the university tries to fill some of the gaps. For instance, last fall there were numerous movies sponsored by the Student Activities Board, classic movies sponsored by the Cinema Society, and The Alabama Shakespeare Festival ' s performances of The Importance of Be- ing Earnest in Norton Auditorium. In addition, there were football games through the fall months, hoards of intramural games throughout the year, and a couple of major concerts. Dances after ball games, frat parties, pep rallies and other school-sponsored events man- aged to keep things fairly busy around campus. cool dip at the McFarland Waterslide is en- joyed by Steven Haynes and friends, following e football victory over Lane College. (Photo by Deborah Thompson) Junior David Ray said, Being from Florence I ' m accustomed to the way things are so my basic entertainment in- terests include movies, frat parties, ball games, and various events that are spon- sored by the university. Also, I might go to a concert or something that is out of town if nothing is going on around school. Freshman Lisa Lee from Florence said, I like to go to ball games or live performances like plays or concerts that the university sponsors. I also enjoy movies. Some students prefer other places of entertainment. One of the most common out-of-town cities to spend a night or weekend is Huntsville, located about 60 miles east of Florence. It has all the high entertainment that Florence is lacking. Being from Huntsville, I found coming here was a drastic change. No matter what mood you were in, in Hui 3- ville there was always a type of en r- tainment to meet your needs — whet 31 it be dining, dancing, or a night on le town. I like going to movies here in F r- ence, but when they are over nothigi much is left to do, junior Howie Le:3r said. One aspect of Florence that is v. j favorable to UNA students is the spiig and summer recreational activities lat are abundant in the area. Swimm g, skiing, and boating are the favorite; oi the warm weather lovers. Junior In Bailey said, I hke to bike ride, play fi- nis, or go to the park to picnic on r:e days in the summer. I also like walkin ar jogging at the nature trail near the TAi Reservation. Student Activities Board presidnt Weston Smith said, Florence is a r:e place for outdoor recreational activies 18

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The video game craze sweeping the nation cer- tainly did not skip UNA. Here, a student tests her skill at one of the machines located in the SUB. (Photo by Grant Lovett) Johnny ' s Club at the line is the most popular stop for UNA students. Thursday nights usually find the club filled to capacity with students who ' ve come to get away from the books. (Photo by Tim Thrift) Many students opt to go to one of the ost popular spots in the immediate area I) get a drink or a six-pack of beer. The [ine is about 13 miles north of Florence, he Alabama-Tennessee state line iiakes up for the lack of local bars and irinking places. Many students can be ound at one of the clubs on Thursday !riday, or Saturday night. I However, all students that go to the xie do not go there just to dr ink. Some go ast to be with their college classmates, nd some go just to purchase the beer, then bring it back to Florence to con- sume. A word of warning is usually told to those newcomers that have never been to the line. as Flor-Ala reporter Dennis Sherer wrote, Students who go to the line to drink should either do so in moderation or take a nondrinking friend along with them to drive back. It is against the law in the state of Alabama to drive on both sides of the road. With re- cently passed legislation a person ' charged with driving under the influ- ence of intoxicating beverages will find himself herself to be one broke hombre when the judge gets through with them. Another outlet for UNA ' s drinking population is coming to life, as neighbor- ing Colbert County voted itself wet last fall. This means the trip to buy liquor is now less than ten miles round trip in- stead of a 100-mile plus drive. Also, clubs which cater to the college tastes may be only a river away, at least giving the Ten- nessee line clubs stiff competition. The line is only a small part of the continued page 18 Student Life 17

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LiJ . » i ■ ■- .. i fich as water skiing and picnics, but |iere is not much night hfe. I What is there to do if you just want to ang around and not spend much mon- y? Going to the hne is out of the ques- on and so is going out of town, and in jme cases it could run into some money yen if you attended some activities on le campus. Freshman Mark Sharp gets way cheap on some evenings just by oing to a friend ' s house to shoot pool, or t around and watch HBO or boxing on SPN, perhaps even play a few hands of ards. My favorite way to kill an evening ithout spending much money is just to t around my apartment listening to re- 3rds, talking to a couple of friends, and laybe popping some popcorn and rinking a little beer, senior Terrell Ben- )n said. Concerning entertainment that is suitable for married students and their families. Senior Mike Tays said, Some- times it is hard to find something that all of us (my wife and two kids) can do to- gether. I guess the most fun we have is watching TV going to football games, taking the kids on picnics, and going to the playgrounds. The best times we have are those when we all can be together, since I ' m going to school and my wife is working. Taking my daughter to the dam, let- ting her shag balls when I practice ten- nis, and going to the movies are a few of the things that my daughter loves to do with her dad, junior and parent jess Dunlap said. To sum up, Florence lacks certain places of entertainment that other cities offer their college citizens, but the town does have some of the best outdoor re- creational activities to be found in the The music of Lynchburg Review entertains several UNA students at Tony Masons in Huntsviile. (Photo by Grant Lovett) state. One thing is for certain, Florence does have a character that is not found in any other city. Student Life 19