University of Virginia Library

More Practically Speaking. . .

So much for such lilting, idealistic advice.
There are a few things which every first-year
man should know of a much more practical
nature. The first is that if you get the meal
ticket for contract cafeteria you cannot ever
get rid of it unless you can sell it to another
student. In other words, if you get tired of the
food there (on the quality of which we cast
no aspersions), or if you pledge a fraternity,
or if you want a little more variety in your
cuisine, you're stuck. If you feel, however,
that you need to save the money in spite of
the disadvantages we recommend that you not
get the ticket for second semester until second
semester. There are always too many first-year
men who obligate themselves to the meal
ticket without realizing the extent of their
obligation who later want to get out of it but
can't. This is particularly unfortunate in the
case of those who pledge, because fraternities
naturally want their pledges to eat at the
houses. We suggest that you think about these
things carefully before you obligate yourself.
If you already have the ticket and wish you
didn't, you have until Friday to turn it in at
the Food Service office in Newcomb Hall.

Our second piece of practical advice
concerns your life in the dorms and in general.
The pressures of living in a dormitory
situation as well as the daily pressures of life
in a highly competitive academic community
often prove very trying, to say the least. When
such problems arise, and they undoubtedly
will, do not hesitate to seek the aid or
comfort of your counselor. He's there
primarily to help you with your problems,
and he has been selected with that in mind.
You will find that in most cases counselors
can be very helpful if they are aware of a
problem. Making them aware is your
responsibility. In short, do yourself and your
counselor the courtesy of letting him try to
help you before you jump out the window.

In closing, we must admit that we envy
you very much as you enter your first year at
the University. You are entering the best years
of your life, and you have the good luck to be
doing so in a community where there is a
kaleidoscope of opportunity and a myriad of
activity waiting for you. Good luck; we hope
your years here will be as enjoyable and
profitable as ours have been.