uniquely delaware Undergraduates Divider DIVERSE STUDENTS Undergraduates — they the differences and unique Shelley Straight — came from all over the coun- Undergraduates Editor qualities of others. In the best try, some came from different firts year on a college year- situations undergrads had alot book staff ... first year as parts of the world. They ar- a college yearbook section to teach and at the same time editor .. belongs to the rived speaking different lan- School of Agricultural Sci- learn from one another. guages, from diverse cultures. ence. .. freshman year. Students walked their own Undergraduates at the univer- paths at the university, but sity came in with different somewhere along the way levels of ability, ambition, and those paths and ideals con- focus on their goals and future. Some had to overcome nected with the paths of others. In those moments stu- obstacles to get here, and would have to continue the dent experiences were crystallized, some common fight to stay. The differences in their backgrounds ground was met. When it happened, the university was helped shape their experiences and growth through not such a big, cold place. The students fit somehow. successes and failures at the university. Whether in a favorite class, in a club, or in a group Many students reached out to one another, in times of friends, each time undergraduates felt something of trouble and in times of triumph and celebration. "click" for them, the more they felt something was Many students overcame their differences to form added to or enriched in their experiences here. friendships, to form some community, no matter how Meeting in Smith Hall was a popular technique for spending time with friends small. Other students would not come to appreciate that did not see each other on a regular basis. Undergraduates Divider uniquely delaware Beginning to Taste the Power As children our parents "Choose or Lose" segments picked our clothes, chose our were two of the projects schools, and made decisions aimed at getting us to vote. for our benefit. Our structured As 18 year olds, we showed existence made us dependent. at the polls in record number. Eventually, we began to ac- We knew our voice was need- cept responsibility. At 16 or ed, so we spoke. As we con- 17 we ran for mom or dad's tinue to adjust to our new car to take the driving test that freedom and exercise our lib- would give us that first nibble erties, it is important that we of freedom. Then we started remember the glory of living looking at colleges and decid- in a nation that allows us to ed where to embark on our fu- choose. ture. Hesitantly, we packed Among those that felt the our clothes, radios, favorite need to be "... a part of pillows, sports equipment and change," (Larry Johnson teddy bears and found our- ASFR), opinions were unani- selves at the University of mous that voting is crucial to Delaware. About this time democracy. Still, others wa- most of us turned 18 and con- vered as to the effectiveness fronted our first taste of power of voting. "... many people and responsibility, the right to today do not vote. They do not vote. think their vote will be lis- Finally we had a voice in tened to." (Brook Ervin the adult world of politics and ASFR) However, we can not government. In 1992, the year let this waylay us. Every vote of our 42nd presidential elec- counts and those who do not tion, who better to choose our vote should not criticize the leader and change the world system that they have made Making friends is than we 18 year olds. As no effort to change. "We're important George Bush and Bill Clinton the future generation ... it's when starting a new phase spurred politically, young our responsibility to elect a of life alone. Many adults everywhere registered leader that has the appropriate freshmen can to vote, and the candidates qualities to govern us." (Jo- be seen exchanging worked hard to win the youth hanna Shanley ASFR) phone vote. Voting, still a privilege numbers or We as freshmen were un- yelling "See denied in some countries, is dergoing dynamic changes ya at the Abbey." Soon abused in the United States. that shape our future. Its no they get to An estimated 2/5 of the citi- wonder at times we were fran- know the people with zens of the United States vote tic. We made it past the first whom they regularly. MTV's "Rock the step in adult responsibilities, will be spending the Vote" commercials featuring voting. next four music celebrities and the — Molly Birmingham years. 240 Freshmen Frenzy Freshman Frenzy Before the Class of '96 arrived at Delaware, they were bombarded with advice: "Watch out for the freshman fifteen," "Never walk alone at night," "Beer before liquor never sicker," Phone bills are high first semester because of those and, most important, "NEVER trust calls home or keeping in touch with your best friend dining hall food if the server can't tell in Florida. Janet Dierwechter (ASFR) makes a phone you what it is." However, nothing can I call to keep up with things at home. prepare a freshman for what actually awaits him or her at college. First, the new student saw his room and won- dered how the worldly possessions of two grown people would fit into a space the size of a walk-in closet. Next the problem of roommates occur. One liked Barry Manilow, the other pre- ferred Suicidal Tendencies. Somehow a compromise was reached before the situation got out of hand. From the beginning everyone had to adjust to life in a dorm. No one under- stood why there was always one toilet that would not flush, or why the ther- mostat was set to 92 degrees. Of course, most new freshmen love the idea of coed dorms until the first not- so-perfect body walked by in boxer shorts. Eventually, classes began and eve- ryone had thousands of questions. "What does she mean, there's a paper due next week?", "Where do I go to drop Spanish?", and, of course "What exactly is QDH?" Once the weekend had begun, it was time to party. There were endless op- tions. "Should we go to a fraternity party, or that house party down the street?", the inexperienced freshman asked, "How do I find my way back?" or even, "What's my name?". How- ever, with the help from friends, stu- dents made it home in one piece. Last but not least, was the reality of campus dining. Yes, this was the only "food" a freshman was expected to live on for the next four years. While the exact constitution of some of the meals may be debated, students were faced with a wide variety of choices. Making the decision between the Lone Ranger sandwich and the turkey cro- quettes could be extremely difficult. To some, ordering pizza at three AM was Decorating the cubicle called a dorm room is crucial popular. when adapting to unfamiliar surroundings. When it The adjustment to college life at the looks like home, it feels like home. University of Delaware was profound. By the end of their first year, freshman had learned how to balance responsi- bility along with their need for frenzy. — Keri Csencsits Undergraduates 241 The Freshman Class, approximately 4000 members, filed into their seats at New Student Convocation. The yellow and blue signs pointed the freshman class met President David Ro- way, as a long line of cars containing selle at a reception, attended more semi- soon-to-be freshmen and their parents nars on a variety of topics, and met with made way to Laird Campus for New Stu- their advisors. The university also spon- dent Orientation, Phase 1. Not knowing sored events designed to help the adjusting what to expect, the Class of 1996 and their and overwhelmed students meet each oth- family members took their seats and lis- er. tened intently to the opening remarks. On the third day, the freshman class, ap- After welcoming the parents, the first proximately 4,000 members, filed into move made by university officials was to their seats at the New Student Convoca- separate the parents from their children. tion ceremony. Baking in the hot sun, the Unburdened, the new freshmen took the students listened to the Devon Brass Quar- dreaded placement exam, discussed diver- tet, watched the processional of distin- sity in a required seminar, tasted their first guished faculty members march in cere- installment of campus food in Pencader monial robes, and listened as the freshmen Dining Hall, and scheduled their fall se- were welcomed formally into the univer- mester courses. Many incoming students sity community. Upon completion of the were heard, pleading, "Please, please, ceremony, the Class of 1996 scrambled to don't sign me up for an eight-o-clock grab lunch at a nearby picnic. The prepa- class!" Finally, at the end of a long, hot ration was over and the real work was summer day, the new students had their about to begin; however for the remainder identification photos taken. The wear and of the day, the energetic individuals en- tear of the day was apparent in these hast- joyed their newly obtained status as col- ily taken photographs, popularly referred lege students. to as "mug shots." — by Keri Csenesits When the freshmen finally arrived at the University of Delaware in September, The eagerness to start a new phase of life is apparent New Student Orientation, Phase 2 began.