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

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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

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Living In Northeast Shh ... if you walk through Northeast you must be quiet. Party, What party? Eat at Basics -- and be different! Me? Only engineers live there? The truth is that the Northeast area prides itself on being a small living community of nine dorms built around a quadrangle of grass ---a quad that becomes a mirage of volleyball players, frisbee throwers, sun worshippers, and baseball tossers in the springtime. During the fall semester, area dorms welcome Freshmen, plan barbeques, and throw dorm parties. As winter slowly creeps in, students slide down the snow-filled hills in front of Thatcher on sleds (well, ok --- DC trays . . .). NEWSFLASH Northeast challenges Southwest to snowball fight in quad With the spring semester comes tradition — Crabtree ' s annual Academy Awards, Leach Semi-Formal, Thatcher ' s Golf Open, Lewis picnic, and of course, Northeast Area Quad Day. But more than events, the sacrificing of grades takes precedence while worshipping in the sun. A cacophony of sound envelops the Quad as stereos blast in a war of the radio stations. Thus, the quad becomes a mini beach — minus the waves. A strong sense of community can be witnessed here in Northeast. Many students share a loyalty to their dorm, or a loyalty to the members on their floor. Whether it be sitting together in a particular spot for dinner at Barracks or choosing teams for basketball, this sense of friendship persists. Even yelling matches are eventful and full of spirit. But keep in mind that Crabtree people do not have to yell -- they just party together outside on the veranda ' til the wee hours of the night. The students who live in Northeast are serious about their studies. A popular place to do homework is in Grad Research because of its close proximity. Oh yes, many Engineering students can be found in Northeast, but students with other majors do exist here! Many dorms in the area stress social awareness, friendship, and group activity. It is said that good things come in small packages. If this is true, then I have enjoyed my three year home-away-from- home in Northeast, the SMALL dorm area. It may be quieter here, but one is never lonely. And when a battle between the dorms arises as to who rules the quad, perhaps the answercan be found that all in Northeast share the quad. Equally. Tracy E. H lcb 27