|
sleeping porches
Sleeping porches were more economical, quiet hours enforced,
and they were for sleeping, nothing else. Girls were never ever allowed to be above the first floor, and the gettin' laid in the house is one, but only one, thing that destroys morale. We felt
one either oughta get a motel or use the back seat, and that the
use of the house for sex was tantamount to a whore house. But
times have changed and the pill has hastened deflowering.
Back in the 50s we only had one TV in the house; the study rooms
would often have a hi-fi but quiet hours went into effect at about
8 and were STRICTLY enforced, really stiff fines. Grades were very important and the flunk out rate amongst frosh was 30%.
Flunk out rates for transfers was high and we took few of them,
'cause there were many and they were not too adjustable to us.
To have a semester with less than a C was a horrendous thing,
and the top grades (Beta) would be about 2.8. No booze in house. The average house at KU in the 50s would accommodate 60 men. We had 88 live ins, but when the sleeping porch was done away with, we could house only 62. Times they were a changin' and kids had TVs, boom boxes and other things which took up room, and soon that house which once would handle 60
was cut down to 45, and great problems ensued due to making
a mortgage payment predicated on the higher numbers. By 1970
our house shrunk from 88 in and say, 25 out to 60 in and 40 out.
Huge apartments, condos, etc. were built and the richer kids lived
in them, paid big bucks--but they had 'em at the big U's.
Pledge duties and room inspections were the rule and the houses
were immaculate compared to today's hovels. Our theory was that mom and dad could inspect the place anytime and for those
'special' weekends, there was an intense effort to have a white
glove-inspection. The sight of a beer can would send an alum to
banana land, cleanliness and pride was the order of the day.
I forsee a lodge-type house in the future, housing about 20, due
to costs, land, risk fees, lifestyle changes, and the never-ending quest for privacy plus more discretional monies available.
|