Books

Precious Life-Blood

23

Our books identify us as students. After the bookstore lines have disappeared, we examine our investments. At the end of the semester, some are sold, some have the honor of beginning a personal library. Most of them are unfamiliar until we study them in class or a professor mentions them in a lecture. We are assigned research papers and we learn to find one book out of 926,599 volumes in the library.

We become curious. We wander into bookstores just to browse, but we usually leave with a paperback addition to our collection of books and new interests. We become increasingly aware that time will forever limit us in our wish to absorb the stored knowledge of the endless stacks of books at Indiana University.

We Buy and Browse

Books are expensive, but begin libraries.

A reader relaxes in a room dedicated to a true master spirit of I.U.

" "it." '8147.41a&VNif4V.tOr,

The first exam for the freshman is the physical. 10,049 . . . 10,050 . . . 10,051

a.m., p.m., and I.B.M.

Enrollment arouses many of the same reactions as an income tax form. The well-defined procedure is printed and distributed to each of us. It's the exceptions and class conflicts that confuse us. We know it's necessary but wish we could do without it. We clutch our cards and printed forms and somehow emerge from the line minus money but possessing the right to pursue an education at I.U.

Counselors untangle schedule mixups.

Organizations vie for membership and subscriptions after enrollment.

Between the Pages

We all approach it differently. We decide how, when, and how much to study, and we wade into the semester. Some go in over their heads, some just get their feet wet and withdraw, and some start off and finish with nice life-saving strokes.

We dig for the elusive facts while slumped over desks, lying in bed, or bolting hamburgers. We dream through literature and sweat through math. We get off our schedule and promise ourselves it will be different next semester. We become involved in other commitments and studying is neglected for a time but always returned to in the haste of cramming for finals.

The Men's Lounge is removed from distracting influences.

Fitting together stray thoughts. Study time has to be forced into busy days.