
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 23, 1990                   TAG: 9006260382
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STUDENTS, CARS: CAMPUS LIFE LESS SHELTERED NOW

HARRIET Hodges (article June 14) asks: "Why does any college student need cars?" Being a modern college student, I can say that perhaps in the days of Wally and the Beaver, a student might not need a car.

Campus life used to be a much more sheltered existence. There were "dorm mothers" and other such authorities about to help in times of need. "Quiet hours" were taken seriously. One did not have to worry about being attacked on campus. All of these factors led to a much less stressful situation.

Having "served time" for a little over 10 months in the infamous Pritchard Hall at Virginia Tech, I can say that it's nice to have a car to get away occasionally from the hectic scene on campus. It's nice to be able to retreat to more peaceful surroundings such as Mountain Lake or the New River.

"The student should be in the library, not on the road." Yeah, right. First, nobody needs to spend 24 hours a day in the library. That would be mentally unhealthy.

Secondly, considering the quality of the on-campus dining facilities, a car is a priceless asset for gaining access to better food off campus.

I could go on listing reasons for student possession of cars, but I'm sure that I would be uanble to sway the schoolmarm's opinion. This is the 1990s, not the '50s. MATTHEW L. HANCOCK Junior, Liberal Arts and Sciences Virginia Tech BLACKSBURG

by CNB