University of Oklahoma - Sooner Yearbook (Norman, OK)

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In the world of contemporary college students, there inevitably seems to be the necessity of identifying some as independents and some as Greeks. Of course that faction which carries the appelation of Creek is well defined, and the name is generally well applied in relation to the housing system involved tGreeks live in fraternities and sororities; no ifs, ands or butsl Then there are the people known as Hindependents. If anyone has a pat definition of the collegiate independent, Websteris Dictionary would love to hear it, for those words surely cover a broader field of college-level students than any other label. Obviously the independent is one who is not a member of the Greek system, hence independent of the fraternal life. Yet such a category is so diverse tincluding students from the dorms to those who commute from Siberiay that it hardly narrows down any one group of OU students. Thus it is necessary to select one of the groups within that overall division of students known as independents for this study. To select one extreme of the independent group, one might look to the counter-culture side of things. There is an obvious faction of the OU student population characterized by long hair, old houses and windows draped with Eastern tapestries. Of course generalizations such as these are items which should be regarded only OPPOSITE ABOVE: Various examples of White's ceramic enioyments of living in a house of his own. BELOW: Tricks talents fill up an end table in the living room. OPPOSITE of the trade, the artist's trade, lay in orderly fashion in BELOW: A leisurely moment finds Tom chatting about the Tom's backyard.

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10 The Independent Student 1M AN AN MAJOR BUTI DON T WEAR COWBOY , BOOTS...

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lightly, but can be handy in an introspective study of OU students. Thus, take a moment to meet one such character. Tom White. Tom White, a junior at the University majoring in art is not typical. An individual more than anything else Tom lives in an older, white frame house on Symmes Street. Finding his life in the dorms his freshman year a bit stifling, Tom was glad to move into the exciting atmosphere of residential Norman. Having lived at a couple of places since then, Tom has maintained his home on Symmes street for nearly a year. Living with one roommate, Tom finds his independent life quite enjoyable. I've got time to do the things I like, and am able to avoid the aspects of college living which don't hold much attraction for me. DIVISION- THE INDEPENDENT 12 STUDENL TOM WHITE One of the many things which White finds time to do, and is among his favorite pasttimes, is porch sitting. We use the porch a lot It s a great place to just relax and the things you can see, if you take the time, are incredible. Tom 5 porch, decorated with some of the by- products of his art major, has become something of a looking-glass into the outer world. The surrounding neighborhood is heavily populated by elderly'people, and their routines provide a unique touch with the rest of the world for Tom.