University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 27 text:

Living in Orchard Hill Orchard Hill . . . whoever thought of the name for this residential area hit it right on the nose. In order to get to Orchard Hill, one has to climb a hill — no matter what direction he or she comes from. The four dorms comprising Orchard Hill are built next to an orchard, adding to the natural beauty of the area itself. Many students choose to live in Orchard Hill because it ' s far enough to make it to class on time. There ' s a snack bar located in O.H., and a basketball court right next door. But who really wants to play basketball after climbing that hill?! If you want to be slim and trim, relocate to Orchard Hill - - the hill will get you in shape in no time . . . Orchard Hill has an added plus — one can take courses right in their own dorms. Thus, students can actually get up at 9 o ' clock to make their 9:05. All they have to do is get dressed and run downstairs! The atmosphere of Orchard Hill can be found no where else on campus; It ' s a fairly new residential area; close to campus, close to Amherst center; O.H. floors have their own individual styles where one can feel right at home; study lounges; fantastic sledding and snowball fights in the winter; great sunning areas in the spring; and much, much more. Orchard Hill is an experience not to be missed! 23

Page 29 text:

Co-Ed Bathrooms?? Do you remember co-ed bathrooms? (That is, when they were legal ?) I mean reaUy remember them? I know it seems so long ago, but think hard . . . Your first exposure to a co-ed bathroom was as a freshman on moving-in day, when you freeze in fear because your mother asks you where the bathroom is. Of course, you were prepared for co-ed bathrooms, you were told about them, and they didn ' t seem to be all that big of a deal; in fact, maybe they seemed a little exciting. But how do you tell your mother that she has to tinkle next to a person who ' s feet face backwards instead of forwards? . . . And then it ' s your turn — your first trip to the Isathroom. Your parents have gone and your roommate hasn ' t arrived yet, so you decide to check it out. You nonchalently walk down the hall, peeping in the open rooms as you proceed --- and then it is staring you in the face: the door to the John. You take a deep breath and plunge forward. No big deal, you say to yourself, it looks like any other bathroom. It ' s got show- ers to one side, a number of sinks, and some stalls. It ' s empty, thank God, and so you en- ter a stall, relieved that you hadn ' t encoun- tered anyone. And that ' s when you heard it - - the bathroom door squealing as it opened, and the footsteps approaching the stalls --- male or female? -- and you are mortified when you look under the stall partition and spot a pair of size 13 workboots -- yup, fac- ing backwards, OK, no big deal, you can handle it ---- you ' re in college now. So, cour- age returning, you unlock the stalldoor, take a deep breath, and walk briskly toward the exit -- hoping upon hope that you don ' t have to face the person who was just your next-door-neighbor. Phew, you made it, you ' re in the hallway. Ah, it was nothing, you say to yourself; nothing to get worked up about. It ' s a fact of nature, a biological func- tion, something everyone has to do. So you walk back to your room, proud of yourself for handling the situation cooly and maturely, and find that your roommate has arrived. Immediately after introductions your new roommate asks you nervously, Are the bath- rooms really co-ed? I ' ll just absolutely die if I have to go next to some amazon or some really cute guy. I mean, like, can you imag- ine? to which you respond smugly: Co-ed bathrooms? There ' s nothin ' to it. And yet you find yourself worrying -- Now how do I go about taking a shower? Sheila Ddvitt 23