University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Horizon / Iris Yearbook (Stevens Point, WI)

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An Autumn In Poland: uwsp students Abroad By John Podvin as Told to Nancy Brucker 1. Wawel Cathedral. Krakow. Poland. 2. Tatra Mountains on Pollsh-Czech border. 3. Train station In Kdn. West Germany. 4. Dorm Lite In Dorn Studenckl Plast. Krakow. Poland. 5. City of Poznan. Poland. 6. Tatra Mountains. Zakopane. Poland. 7. Returning to Krakow after 2 week tour through Poland. 29

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The beauty ol the countryside and the mountains, the folk crafts, and the Inexpensive nature of travot were some of the most enjoyable elements of the semestor abroad In Poland for twenty-six UWSP students In the autumn of 1980. The group. under the supervision of Communication professor CHck Rogers, flew to the Netherlands In August from where they traveled by rail to Germany. Austria. Hungary. Yuooslavia and finally their destination of Poland During their stay In Poland, the group attended classes at Jaglellonian University taught largofy by English speaking Polish professors. Studies Included courses In Pottsh culture, history, language, art history, geography and comparative economics. Students were free to aoclaMzo with Polish students, but found the language barrier to be a larger communication problem than In some other European countries due to the relatively small number of English speaking students at Jaglellonian. Although the Point students were not affoctod In any serious way by the political tensions In Poland, they woro nwaro of strlkos In progross through post or s urging worker solidarity and through the cancellation of two of minor student activities due to striking workers. As Americans, tho students found the shortage of food ond other goods In Poland to be somewhat frustrating; while the Polish people, aocustomod to such shortages, appeared to Accept incessant waiting In Une for such Items as meat or bananas. Frequently, clothing and shoe stores had extremely limited stock and often carried only one or two sires In a particular Item. Grocery stores were out of milk by mid-morning, and shelves routinely contained only noodles, bread, and other fillers and starches. As students in general, thoeo at Jagellonian University. Including the Point students, ate better than the average Pole. The Polish students wero described as very curious about western culture. American clothing, especially Levis, were much admired. The view many Polish studonts hove of America appeared to be shaped by the films and television programs they have been able to obtain. Some of the programs, such as the popular Hart to Hart aeries, doplct Americans as being gonerafty wealthier than Americans actually are. Additionally, the saturation of such shows with crime serves to distort views of the United Stales. Polish students appeared to be very anti-Soviet, while the Point students fell as Americans they were warmly treated. Point students perceived several problems In Poland during their stay Including a black market In western currency, a high rate of alcoholism In the Polish populace, and a general Inefficiency and lack of productivity In business. Industry and agri-business. Some American students left that in privately-owned businesses and on privately-owned farms, productivity ond services were superior to those In state-owned faclitles Agri-business, particularly, was per cloved as primitive compared with the US agriculture. Most privately-owned farms are very small with ox-drawn plows and hand methods being envtoyed In production. Although on joying somewhat more freodom then their Soviet neighbors. Poles were described as living in a nation which, despite the prldo of Its people. Is heavily guarded and ringed with barbed wire. Photos by John Podvln 26

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Country Comes to Point: CONWAY TWITTY T. G. SHEPPARD Lines stretched from the lobby outside to the street as hard core country music fans rapidly began filling Quandt Fieldhouse. Many were dressed In blue jeans, wostorn shirts, and cowboy boots and hats. Insido tho fioldhouse. hawksters peddled shirts, records, tapes, souvenier booklets, and posters suitable for framing. The crowd gave them a lot of business. At 7:30 PM the lights went out. the crowd grew silent, and a blue spotlight Illuminated the stage. It was Saturday. October 25th. and the Conway Twitty and T. G. Sheppard concert had begun. T. G. Sheppard and his backup band. Daylight, were the first to perform. An up-and-coming solid country artist. Sheppard has appeared on TV shows like The Midnight Special. Pop Goes The Country, and Nashville On Tho Road. Boforo becoming a performer, he was Involved In the promotion and business end of music for many years. An exceptional entertainer, Sheppard has one of the best road shows In the country music. After a twenty minute intermission during which Sheppard gave autographs. Conway Twitty and his band the Twittybirds came on stage. Twitty. who has been a singer for over 23 years, prefers to sing songs his fens can relate to and understand. In his music he explores younger ideas and younger thoughts. After his performance. Twitty also gave autographs. The concert, sponsored by UAB contemporary entertainment, was thoroughly en|oyed by •II. — Laura Sternwels 30