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

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Experimentors Hit The Strip For NIGH T 5 TUDIES Nocturnal creatures by nature, stu- dents inhabit every chair and table of every establishment on the Strip, dri- ven by instinct to congregate with oth- ers of their species. In an attempt to explain some of the student's bizarre rituals, scientists are conducting an extensive study of this bipedal, sometimes quadrupedal, ani- mal in its natural habitat. Scientists pri- marily are interested in students found in bars because their behavior tends to be the most unusual and difficult to explain, and therefore, the most in- triguing. For one aspect of the study, three bars on the Strip, Gabby's, Antonio's, and Old College Inn were chosen as a representative cross-section of all the types of bars and students in the area. Gabby's, the first site of behavior stud- ies, was monitored during its Wednes- day night, 4 for 1, Animal Hour. Dr. Clark Barr, director of the He- donistic Student Studies institute, re- ported that on many occasions he has seen students line up by the dozens outside Gabby's door waiting to get in- side. Barr described Gabby's as being a good place for students to meet other students and form short, meaningless relationships. Jerry Breeden 2 ' Jerry Breeden 25 F Student Life

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7 Molly Harrell 1. Pete Scarmoutsos, junior in adverti ing, Steve Johnson, finance senior, and history senior lay Good show their Homecoming spirit. 2. With show- manship and verve, the ever-classy Pride of the Southland marching band sets the pace for the Homecoming parade. 3. The no-frills, SAE generic float. 4. ACE member Jennifer Zehner, senior in nursing, prepares to award trophies during halftime. 5. Almost anything can happen during Almost Anything Goes, and it usually does. 6. Hanging between some of the more detailed banners, the generic banner of SAULittIe Sisters of Minerva is an attention getter, no less. 7. Almost Anything Goes featured a shopping cart slalom course race. Student Life Molly Harrell 25

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5; The most unusual ritual Barr noted in the complete study involved students of the opposite sex facing one another while gesticulating their limbs wildly in no real pattern. There was no clue as to any meaning behind the sporadic movements, Barr said. A colleague of Barr's from the Insti- tue, Dr. Graham Cracker, reported oth- er interesting behavior at Antonio's, which he said was distinctly different in decor, cost and'student rituals from Gabby's. Dr. Cracker said students at Anton- io's were more prone to sit rather than stand, and they stayed in small groups around the vessel containing the aco- hol. My personal hypothesis is that the activity may be in some way a religious ritual, Cracker said. At the final study site, the Old Col- lege Inn, dim lighting made it difficult for scientists to see to write, however, they said it made it much easier to get in among the students inconspicuously. Alan English He characterized OCI as the quietest bar under study, with a middIe-of-no- where feel of intimacy. We're beginning to notice differ- ences in behaviour, which may indicate students have a higher mental capacity than once believed, Cracker said. Each place has what we call a 'different atmosphere' that attracts a variety of students. This attraction has led both Drs. Barr and Cracker to believe the bars are ei- ther religious sects or places to come and socialize. Both Barr and Cracker, however, lean toward the former hypothesis. It's sort of a gut feeling. They plan to continue their studies to be sure. - Scott Keeton 1. These women prepare to enter the Excuse Booth at Gabby's and use one of the many re- corded backgrounds, which range from airport sounds to orgy cries to rodeo noises. 2. Alison Winston, communications junior and advertis- ing senior lohn McMiIlen raise their PGA's at Ruby's, a popular off-strip studying den. 3. Ges- ticulating their limbs wildly in no real pattern is a common activity students engage in at Lord Lindsey's, located a few blocks off the beaten Strip. 4. Using plastic to obtain more refresh- ment are Kim Gallian, political science sopho- more and Jennifer Smith, senior in paralegal studies. 5. The atmosphere at Ruby's On The Fair Site is apparently to the liking of John Cen- ter, senior liberal arts major, Lori Presnell, hu- man services junior and Lissa Burton, Law stu- dent. Student life i 27 r