University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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Commuters: Runners in ' the Rat Race PAGE 30: Center: A commuter's lounge in the University Center offers a respite from noisy surroundings, a moment of silence to cram for a test. PAGE 31: Above: Ap- parently. every little bit helps One com- muter grabs a few seconds to study while waiting on a bus Left: Even the student so lucky as to have a car faces a long walk to class, thanks to UT administration's safety fence between the Neyland Drive lot and campus. 31

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choosing a lifestyle . . . Because UT traffic is frantic, every student who has ever run across a street knows that there are two types of pedestrians: quick and dead. Yet many campus residents are un- aware of the dominant, driving force of the motorized melee; they stroll to class, or catch a bus, unaware of the fierce struggle in which fellow human beings are participating, risking lives and property to accomplish the goal - finding a parking place. Yet commuting may actually be an acceptable mode of life, the foremost benefit being that a commuter can live somewhere other than in the UT vicin- ity. A constant emigration from cam- pus housing to cosier, more distant digs indicates that, for many students, the comfort or saving compensates for a twice daily battle. A commuter may also come to enjoy a new outlook on life: those who cheat death on Alcoa Highway may worry little about such trifles as low grades. As a third bene- fit, veteran rush-hour drivers can fit a car into a small space of any descrip- tion. lgnoring all rules of humanity, conduct or road sportsmanship, a driver may trap six cars, close off an exit 0r render a fire lane useless. To park all day in a 15-minute zone or private lot, to know the price struc- ture of every lot tand every parking 30 finel in town, and to back a car over a sidewalk, grass, or patch of ground, are some of the skills possessed by a veteran commuter who knows that CA stickers are oversold two to one. Preparing for the first class of the day, the commuter must allow for a transportation interval. A 7:50 class, for example, becomes a 7: 15 for those riding the Golf Range bus. If they miss the bus by a minute - always one minute, never five - they still must drive or pedal. As the quarter goes by, the commuters trim transpor- tation time to a minimum, knowing that unexpected chores such as coax- ing a cold engine will be notes missed in class. Even if Ol' Nuts and Bolts is willing to run, a sudden dearth of acreage in the parking lot can bring that situation commuters know so well - driving futilely around by one's classroom while one's classmates are already taking notes. The frustrations of commuting - maybe it's the challenge, or opportu n- ity to release inner academic frustra- tions, that keeps these diligent people on the road insearch of higher educa- tion.

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choosing a lifestyle . . . Go Greek - the small placard screamed out its message from every UT cafeteria table at the first of Fall quarter 1975. Greek groups rushed for the cream of the crop to join their ranks of docksiders and khaki pants at Friday night beer busts. In rush, an- other side of UT student life was open for view on The Row or in the rooms of Panhellenic. Greek at UT is definitely a life- style. Although not made for every- one, fraternities and sororities still offer a diversion from academia for a sizable group at UT. Life at the house, Saturday night formals, date night dinners at the frat houses, little sisters, pledge training, and philan- thropies stand out as marks of Greek life. Carnicus and All Sing offer still other activities for these groups to imake themselves known tand heardt on campus. Why Greek? For every person there is a different reason. For some, it's a place to go between classes, for others, it's the comradeship, the cute little Greek letters on the jersey, or maybe just the free-flowing beer on Friday nights. Whatever the reason, for many at UT, Greek is, at least, something different. Greeks: Being a part of the whole PAGE 32: Above: Two Sigma Chi's loaf around the house. Right: A wish come true - receiving the bid of your choice. PAGE 33: Above: Reputedly serving the best food on campus, Gibbs Hall cafeteria brings a smile from at least one guy. 32