10 U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER
Life And Art FEBRUARY 1989
10 U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER Life And Art * FEBRUARY 1989
From political groups
to juggling troupes,
there's more to
college than just
going to classes.
Students across the
country are turning
L L B S their hobbies into
_.
more broad-based
groups on campus. *
By Judy Sicora
The Minnesota Daily
U. of Minnesota, Twin Cities
U niversity clubs, activities
and sports can be a good
way for students to com-
plement their leadership
skills and improve their social life -
all without guilt.
"Involvement is the key to a suc-
cessful, satisfied student," who feels
that he or she belongs, said Harry
Myers, assistant coordinator of Stu-
dent Activities.
"To wait to get involved is dis-
astrous. Getting, your feet on the
ground is a part of being involved," he
said.
Senior Jodi Du Lac, president of the
Advertising Club, said becoming in-
volved in university clubs is a great
way to make friends and to make the
campus seem like a smaller place.
"I have learned a great deal-
... that I couldn't learn in the clas-
sroom," she said. "I've had a lot of
exposure to what people do in real-life
jobs."
Students who don't get involved
may be making a serious mistake,
Myers said.
"Don't think of yourself as a victim
of requirements. Add internships,
travel, combine majors, combine
work and extracurricular activities to
complement your major," he said.
"Don't associate guilt with fun,"
Myers added. "It's being well-
rounded."
Society relives Middle Ages
The purpose of the Society for Crea-
tive Anachronism (SCA) is to research
and recreate as authentically as possi-
ble the culture and customs of the Mid-
dle Ages, said member Nancee Beattie.
Their activities include medieval.
combat in authentic dress, sewing, dra-
ma and other medieval events. Any in-
terests or hobbies of members can be
incorporated as activities of the SCA as
long as they existed in the Middle Ages.
The SCA was founded in Berkeley,
Calif. in 1966 by a group of friends who
held a medieval feast and tournament
in a backyard. Today, the nationwide
nrraioain h Q ff';Q l m
Tournament, a prince and princess are
crowned as king and queen every six
months. The society also recognizes
other royal titles with their own
criteria.
The heart of the SCA is the weekend
events held in the kingdom. These in-
clude the fighting tournaments and an
extravagant feast featuring authentic
medieval foods. In order to enhance the
authenticity of these events, members
wear the costumes of their chosen
period, and they are called by their soci-
ety name. Chantelle Oligschlaeger, The
Maneater, U. of Missouri, Columbia
Just say "Ohmmmm"
ogaizatio na~ls anUiaid Tmran"Transcendental meditation (TM) is
bership of 11,000. In North America,'d
the society is divided into 12 kingdoms, sadly misunderstood," said Robert. Eel-
with each kingdom subdivided into oc- ly, vice president of the Virginia Tech
al baronies, shires and cantons. chapter of the Student's International
Through successful Meditation Society (SIMS). "The reason
completion of the for our organization is to provide a
Crown means for other students to learn TM.".
The technique "is all about relieving
stress and transcending oneself
C into a complete state of rest," Relly
said.
- '~The Tech SIMS group also provides a
forum for those who already practice
TM to have group meditations.
The ultimate goal of TM is
"pure consciousness or complete
awareness," Relly said, a state that is
attained when bodily functions slow,
allowing the mind to relax itself into a
state of complete rest. Andrew
Smith, Collegiate Times, Virginia
Tech U.
Rollerblade enthusiasts
Welcoming skaters on rollerblades
and rollerskaters as well as non-
skaters, the U. of California, Santa Bar-
bara Rollerblade Club plans to intro-
\ (duce the campus to rollerblades and the
S / -benefits of using them to stu-
dents.
For the uninitiated, rollerb-
lades consist of a boot with four
wheels positioned in a straight line, re-
sembling the blade of an ice skate. The
Transcendental meditation is helping some club hopes to rent out rollerblades to
students learn how to relax. new skaters and also plans to make
Society for Creative Anachronism members square off in traditional medieval costumes.
skates, poles, safety equipment and les- Wittenbrook and meets regularly to
sons available. For the more daring, the practice improvisational exercises. The
club also plans to provide ramps and group is looking to evolve regular
hockey sticks. sketches and performers to put on
In addition to being fun, rollerblades shows in the area. Claire Osborn and
provide good cardiovascular exercise Bobby Ruggiero, The Daily Texan, U. of
with low impact aerobic activity, said Texas, Austin
club organizer Susan Cox. Andrea
Huebner, Daily Nexus, U. of California, San- What a ham (radio operator)
ta Barbara Bob Tidd never leaves home without
his backpack. In it he keeps everything
Remember the Yo-yo? necessary to handle emergency com-
munications for the campus in the event
The Yo Social Club (YSC) is a new of a major disaster.
campus organization dedicated to the Tidd is a member of U. of California,
"enjoyment, preservation and apprecia- Berkeley's Amateur Radio Club, a club
tion of the yo-yo," according to president organized both for emergency prepared-
Tim Johnson. What the group is trying ness and for promoting radio com-
to do, he said, is "provide an escape from munications as a hobby. The club works
reality while having a little bit of fun with the campus police to ensure that
doing it." emergencies can be handled effectively*
Once a person gets their own yo-yo, without having to depend on tele-
theybecome a full-fledged member. The phones.
club is open to anyone who desires mem- All ham radio operators are part of an
bership, short or tall, male or female. international network, Tidd said, and
Michelle Weego, the YSC's first club members have contacted someone
female member, joined the club because using ham radio in 100 countries and
she thought that 'the whole concept is every state. Susan M. Schulten, The Dai-
an excellent idea. Showing all the tricks ly Californian, U. of California, Berkeley
you can do is a great way of expressing
your individuality." Brian McPhearson, Lizards bor to lounge
Current Sauce, Northwest Louisiana State Snce 1983, a varied group of students
have gathered in the University Centel
Go ahead, make me laugh to talk, play cards, throw frisbees ar
just plain relax. To students and faculty
Rusl Flowers, the founder of Campus members alike, these lovers of the easy
Comedians, says he started his club be- life have become known as the Lounge
cause Austin, Tex., has no place for Lizards.
aspiring comics to perform and discuss To ensure themselves a voice on cam-
their work. pus, four of the top Lizards decided to
"I wanted to get a group together of turn their group into an official Greek
students interested in doing stand-up organization. They adopted the Greek
comedy and improvisation together. letters Lambda Zeta Delta (LZD for
Eventually I'd like to put on a show- Lizard) and work towards helping th
case," he said. United Way, their chosen charity.
Another comedy group, Campus Im- Lucia Loeb, The Daily Helmsman, Mem-
prov, was formed last year by Brian phis State U., TN