Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508240001
SECTION: WELCOME STUDENTS PAGE: WS-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TERRY PADALINO SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
What is residence life all about? In part, it's about living with another person for a whole year in a small space.
But there's more.
Friendship, for instance, especially among those who share the same bathrooms and hallways.
"It's harder to get to know people off-campus," said Jason Seas, a Virginia Tech civil engineering major.
True, said Andrew Rybak, a freshman in civil engineering, and Joe Stockage, a freshman in mechanical engineering. In the dorms, it's impossible for people to stay in their rooms all the time, so it's easier to meet people.
Rybak, Seas and Stockage, who all live on the same floor, talk as they toss a hackeysack, ankle to elbow, biding time before an upcoming spelunking trip.
Other students study, alone or in groups.
A student from down the hall wanders up and asks Seas (still hackeysacking) about a homework problem.
The game stops. Within minutes, the problem is solved and the hackeysack is back in play.
On the first floor, two female students discuss whether to attend an off-campus party.
"Who will we know?" one woman asked. "How are we going to get there?" asked another.
The phone rings - an invitation to another party.
Through all of the halls in Newman, computer keys clack over music and television shows.
Students check e-mail, write papers, or play computer games. Welcome to the technological age.
Seas said computers - and computer games - are an integral part of on-campus living.
"Doom," a computer game which allows up to four people to play using the Internet, is one of the most popular.
by CNB