Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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Story and photos by SAM UPSHAW, JR. GIVING blood to the Red Cross in the spring of 85 turned out to be better than Elaine Lewis, a Glasgow sophomore, ever expected. That was the day she met Freddy Shanks, a Radcliff junior. Lewis had just been to the cellar of West Hall to give blood, before going to the Downing University Center. “I was feeling a little sick at the time and he came over and asked me how I was,” Lewis said. Shanks said he saw her sitting alone in the lower lobby of the student center. “She had on a tag that said, ‘Be nice to me. (I gave blood),’ so I went over to talk to her,” Shanks said. Since that day, Elaine and Freddy were names to be spoken in the same breath. A member of Alphi Phi Alpha fraternity, Shanks convinced Lewis to join the Ladies of Black and Gold, the little sisters to the fraternity. “We spend more time together than anybody on this campus,” Lewis said. “There are some running close seconds, but their love can’t compare to ours.” Shanks was a resident assistant at North Hall. “This is practically her room. She’s here so much.” The couple spent as much time together as possible. They shopped and took classes together when they could. Also, they were both members of ROTC. Shanks was a first lieutenant and Lewis was a staff sergeant. In the spring of 86, Shanks received his commission and the two planned to be married when Shanks grad- uated. Shanks faced his military career after graduation, but was unsure about where that career would take him. “T have no idea where we will be. Hopefully it will be overseas. I come from a military family and I’ve been over there a couple times and I just like it.” Lewis planned to complete her degree and pursue her career goal of being a registered nurse wherever she ll | I ul AT SMITH Stadium, Freddie Shanks, a Radcliffe junior, and Elaine Lewis, a Glasgow sophomore, spend time together. Both were ROTC members. had the opportunity. “I go where ever he goes,” Lewis said. Lewis also liked the idea of living overseas. “I think it’s great,” she said. Although their relationship seemed to be perfect, Lewis and Shanks did have their problerns to deal with. “We fight more than the average couple, but we always trust and care for each other,” Shanks said. “We don’t really fight about big, major things,” Shanks said. “She gets a little jealous sometimes. I might be walking to class with a girl in my class and she might not understand,” he said. Lewis said Shanks got jealous sometimes, too. “He gets mad if he doesn’t know where I am every minute,” Lewis said. Both Shanks and Lewis said that they didn’t feel that spending so much time together caused them to fight more than other couples. Shanks said, “I see our relationship like my parents’. They may argue and be mad at each other, then five minutes later they may be talking and laughing about something different.” Lewis said, “I love him because he’s not as forceful as the rest of the guys on campus. Some guys come up and say, ‘Hey baby, what’s up?’” However, Lewis said Shanks was different. “He gave me some respect..He’s areal gentleman.” Shanks said that Lewis’s personality was what set her apart from other girls. “She’s the first person I've been around who wants to be around me all the time. We spend every second of every day together.” Shanks said that he didn’t think any relationship was perfect, but “If you can make it through the argument, you can make it. We've gone through a lot together. Even though we have a few problems, we stay together.”

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a BR: anette ae he z ly ae BEBE Bem me Bm, ten, © Bg te ie om, : sueq uTAsy Aq sojoUug aizRpu uuor Ad SUPERVISOR Jane Dams takes the ord- REELED BBM ers of students at Unicorn. The pizzeria was in the basement of Gilbert Hall. i) g s O vo ue fs) S| fs) a a fe) nn - = vo | aw ve y Ss cS n v 43) pa a eon rs as nv 2 Ae Z Ay 5 i) ep) Karen Banks, a Millville, N.J., soph- a Hopkinsville freshman, enjoy pizza at and Amy Gardner, Unicorn. The restaurant served 2,000 students a week. Batts and Louisville sophomore LeAnne Whitis place their order. The girls lived in McCormack Hall. TAKING a study break, omore Unicorn Pizza

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“There are some run- ning close seconds, but their love can’t com- pare to ours.” | Elaine Lewis | AFTER taking a stroll around campus, Shanks and Lewis share a laugh together. The twosome were in Shank’s dormitory room. PLAYING around, Lewis pins Shanks to the elevator wal! The two had been playing pinbal l at Downing University Center, the sight of their first meeting in 1985. ON THE fourth floor of DUC, Shanks watches Lewis play pinball. Shanks was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Lewis was a Lady of Black and Gold. OS) Love on Campus