University of Tulsa - Kendallabrum (Tulsa, OK)

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ii-s M 0 t e W-7' Q1 .. Q- ,Q I CIKIIN I EU BY PAUL FORD Most students know what it means to pack to get ready to go to school. At least students who live on campus do. How many pairs of jeans should I take? Which socks? What'll I do with my toothbrush? Most students go through the process twice a year, once in the fall and again before the spring semester. But there's at least one student who does it every day. Rick Askew. And he lives at home. He backpacks. Backpacking has become a big thing in recent years on the TU campus. lts popularity is basically due to laziness. The idea is to make it easy on yourself. lf you're carrying books on your back, you don't tire as easily and your arms are left free. And if your arms are free, your thumbs are generally free. To Rick, it's the thumbs that make the difference. Because, besides having to backpack to school, for the first half of the semester, Rick hitch-hiked every day. lt's not easy. Ask Rick, he'll tell you. A typical day for him goes something like this: 15 Get up. CA major step5 25 Get cleaned up. Clt's hard to get a ride when you look like something the cat wouldn't even bother to drag in.5 35 Eat breakfast. Clt takes strength to hold your thumb out.5 45 Load the backpack. fTry to leave the heavy stuff at home.5 55 Head off to school. CStart early, give your self plenty of time.5 65 Start thumbing. fUse a lot of smile.5 75 Arrive at school. CHopefully not late.5 85 Go to class. CTry not to fall asleep.5 8a5 Between classes find some quiet corner to sleep in.5 95 Go to lunch. QPreferably find someone who can take you out. Why purposely subject yourself to campus food?5 105 Finish with school, head home. CApply rule 6. Whew!5 These rules, which Rick faithfully adheres to, with cer- tain exceptions, work well for commuters in general. But why hitch-hike? Well, buses are okay if there's a route close, if the bus runs at the time you need it, or if you have correct change. A car is okay if you have money to buy, run, and insure it. But if you don't Things are cooking for Rick. He's got a few friends who give him rides when he needs them. And he really appre- ciates the rides, especially in the cold winter mornings. But Rick still does his thumb exercises just in case. Photos by Theresa Myers

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PARKING I X ANY TIME 4. f I 1 , 4 x ,f 9,1 X W , 7 ' et A ffif W 'f t i A 'fax x Clockwise from top left: Rick Askew, TU commut- er, hitching a ride to school, playing his stereo, studying. Mew- fan.

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Photos David Hagadorn alias Robert Zimmerman, plays Santa Claus for a campus so- rorityg Pool provides a break during the day: Z finds time to study