I love my university, and I love my job in the housing office on campus. The atmosphere is generally relaxed, and my bosses understand busy student schedules and listen to our daily school frustrations. They work endlessly to make sure each student is satisfied with their accommodation and, occasionally, pull their hair out when office-related work goes awry. I, and the other office assistants do the small, computer work and help out wherever else we can, which recently included de-junkifying the conference room cabinets. After I and another office aid pulled out every scrap of paper, notebook and yearbook, we discovered some hidden treasures amongst the humongous pile of files: eight tracks, planners, old blue prints, handbooks, a scandalous book that I dare not quote here, newspaper clippings, worn photographs, and co-ed and campus living pamphlets. A 1970-1971 co-ed pamphlet and its campus-living guide offered some priceless regulations that are guaranteed to make you smirk at the aged-advice:
1. Quiet hours
The use of stereo, radios and tape players is a privilege. Remember — a towel over the door means someone is actually trying to do some serious studying.
2. Snacks
Coffee percolators and popcorn poppers are permissible in students' rooms.
3. No soliciting
Should an unscrupulous salesperson, dinnerware, apartment planning, cosmetics, jewelry, plastic ware, etc. contact you about "hosting" a party in your room or building about selling the product door-to-door, REFUSE!
4. Telephone Calls
Telephone calls on hall phones may be made at anytime, but only received before the closing hour in all dormitories. Such calls are limited to a maximum of 10 minutes, to enable other students an opportunity to use the telephone.
5. Over-night guests
Female students should always observe the rule of good etiquette which requires that they receive either a written or telephoned invitation from the hostess-to-be before planning to spend the night or weekend in a home other than their own.
6. Conduct
Women's conduct with men should always be in good taste. Women students, alone or with others, are not to enter classroom buildings, go on the athletic fields or the golf course after supper except to attend college sponsored practices or meetings. Signing out is required for practices, meetings, etc., scheduled after 9 p.m..
7. Dating
A co-ed may leave on a date until 30 minutes before closing time, and boys may call for dates at the following times:
Sunday thru Thursday 6 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 6 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Remember! At no time should a girl make public her private romance!
8. Dress standards
Neat, nice looking slacks are normally attractive dress for most young ladies and are considered appropriate for normal school wear. They are not appropriate, however for church services or Sunday lunch in the cafeteria. Shorts, if moderate length, may be worn during warm weather at anytime except before 1 p.m., on Sunday, and to classes. Hair may be rolled, provided a scarf is worn.
It's 2016, and quiet hours only come once the homework is done or the Greek parties fizzle out. Our choice of snack is more likely to be McDonald's french fries or Sonic's mozzarella sticks versus popcorn in the dorm (though there are some that make it and set off the fire alarms). Unfortunately, soliciting still occurs on campus; thanks, ItWorks distributors for keeping the 70s alive. Telephone calls? Ain't nobody got time for that. Spending the night is as quick and easy as walking across the hall in your sleeping bag. There is much to say about how today's college students conduct themselves, but I'll leave that for you to watch and read on social media. Dress standards? If by that you mean Nike shorts and over-sized T-shirts all day, every day, then we gotcha' covered.
Peace.
