yilaking the _ mute

by Channing Schneider

Gone are the days of curfew and white glove check, four to a room and performing science experiments in the shower. Gone are the days of hall meeting, smelling like Marriott, andwaitinginoutrageous linesfor cerealandchicken patties.Gone is the humiliationof squeezing yourself through a tiny cubby hole only to be reprimanded and sent to class without lunch.

Hello to off-campus living. Welcome to freedom, to life in a world with television, closet space, real bathrooms, realfood, reallife, real... responsibility. Yes, dear friends, it is the harsh reality that all "freed" commuters must embrace, their own little "thorn in the flesh." Along withlife outinthe real world comes the

Commuting set-backs like the back entrancetraintries the added benefit of obtaining immediate maturity

Suddenly thereis rent to payand groceriesto buy, not to mention utilities, the phone bill and monthly car payments. Commuters findthemselvesworried about using too much hotwater, whetherto changethefilters on the air conditioner, orwhich circulation patt e r n woul d be the mos t siretoremedy the situation.

More than onecommuter has been greeted withsecurity's autographed pinkslip.

So, whatdo commuters do inthefaceofall these new experiences? They live with them and learn fromthem.Just as others dowhenthey'resurprised withtwo extraroommates in the already overcrowded dorm room or when the vacuu m cleaner explodedin the room after faithfully cleaning 50 others. After all, these exper ie n c es efficient in warming and make up life inthe"real coolingtheir home. And world", whether lived in then, on top of every- thedorms — learningto thing, tragedystrikes! A dealwithothers— or out roommate's friend runs on theirown — learning over the neighbor's cat, to dealwithnew responthe engine blows up on sibilities.Freedom is an the way to class, or worse attitude, agiftthat is recyet, a horrible stench ognized by those who overtakes the apartment learn to appreciate their andfearof whatmightbe own unique situations. found overrides thede-

What everyguywantsto know- how girlstrulylook. KristaFiferand Amy Hawks demonstrate theirfacial metamorphosis aftercurfew

No, this isn't really horseplay JoseChamarvo, Andy Barnes, and Matt Rawlinsplay roommate twisterin their dorm

ByTom Inkel

Roommates have a powerful effect on each other'scollegelives Having a "good" roommate can make collegea highlight, buthaving a"bad" roommate can ruin the year.

Most can relate to the roommate that never showered, washed clothes or slept! Or the one that stayed up all night to typethe 20-page paper,printeditout,then realizedhe forgottospell check and the night just never ends

"We had a roommate that used tocome inat2 a.m.,slam the door and flick on the lights," Steve Weidner recalled, laughing. "So one night we lockedhim out in thehall in his towel for four hours."

Or therearethe roommates thatcan'tseem to grasptheconceptofcallwaiting or delivering Christy Norris gets just a little bitexcited bythis particularphonecall