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Its amazing how things have changed...
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 1:19pm
Perusing the site, I came across this in the "Tuition" section:
"Residence in a climate-controlled dormitory, where rooms contain sinks (in Upper School barracks), are cable television ready, and are network capable for students possessing laptop computers."
Climate controlled? I remember there being ice on the shower room floors some January mornings! The radiators coming on during some of the warmer days ( and having to lay a wet towel over it to keep from getting the "dry-out" bloody noses)
Cable television ready? I was just lucky to kinda get reception from the Charlottesville TV station!
Network capable? 3 words for ya... PX MAIL ROOM
Sounds kinda like summer camp. Im aware that FUMA needs to keep up with the times... but isnt this akin to coddling? NOT having the creature comforts is what kept us on the straight and narrow in some cases. Kept us a bit humbled.
Am I wrong for thinking this?
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 10:21pm
#1
Its amazing how things have changed...
CPT Dan Thompson wrote:
That's right, the video games are gone from the PX. Middle School students with proper conduct status can have video game consoles in their rooms, but none are allowed in the Upper School. I guarantee that a thorough search of the barracks would reveal a number of iPods and cell phones hidden away. In fact, those shake-downs happen periodically, as reflected in the "Green Sheet" from time to time.
We still have some "barracks rats" that generally try to sit around and do nothing during their free time, but there are intramurals and company activities for the non-athletes.
CaptDan
Well thank God the "Stick Sheet" is still printed on green paper. If THAT had changed then all that FUMA has done in the last 100+ years would be for naught. There was nothing that provided more fear and entertainment that reading the green sheets everyday to see which one of your friends (or you) was written up. Actually, Special Orders were probably more fun because it was generally a 50/50 chance of somebody getting busted.
SamW, I have warmed memories of GLOW. It always seemed wrong to go to Chapel/Mass on Sunday and then watch GLOW.
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 12:07am
#2
Its amazing how things have changed...
WHOA!!! No i-pods? Forget it. I'm not going to attend in my dreams anymore.
Wed, 09/17/2008 - 12:05am
#3
Its amazing how things have changed...
I, for the life of me, can't remember forming up for breakfast. Not syaing it didn't happen, I just cannot remember it, for some reason. But, I remember little about Radcliffe's policies. He stuck me for in bed after reville, let the guy in front of me do push ups instead of demerits, only to sock me with ten d's (or whatever the penalty was).
Those of us on third platoon Bravo could get the UHF channel that showed GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling). It was sad and pathetic, but it was female and scantily clad. We were teens and would have crawled through glass to see it.
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 5:31pm
#4
Its amazing how things have changed...
That's right, the video games are gone from the PX. Middle School students with proper conduct status can have video game consoles in their rooms, but none are allowed in the Upper School. I guarantee that a thorough search of the barracks would reveal a number of iPods and cell phones hidden away. In fact, those shake-downs happen periodically, as reflected in the "Green Sheet" from time to time.
We still have some "barracks rats" that generally try to sit around and do nothing during their free time, but there are intramurals and company activities for the non-athletes.
CaptDan
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 12:14pm
#5
Its amazing how things have changed...
Not only was there ice on the shower floors but if you didn't get a shower withing the first five minutes after reveille then there was ZERO hot water (at least in Memorial Hall). A few cadets got in trouble for sneaking over to the gym to get "unlimited" hot water. Life was good my junior year as the lacrosse team was the first to use the (at the time) not-yet-completed Estes Field House with all the hot water we could possibly use.
Jack, you lived on First Platoon Echo so you'd only get one channel. Up on the third floor you could usually get the NBC channel from Charlottesville, and sometimes PBS and some other random channel with a good antennae and a tin foil "flag" on the end of it.
I've seen pictures of the new dining hall. I'd gladly eat there then the old mess hall under Hatcher. I remember marching around the circle many times before my company was deemed "good enough" to eat but the officers got to go eat early.
My last year there (88-89) Colonel Radcliffe started the fine tradition of forming the companies to march to breakfast. If I remember right, the companies formations would be staggered so everyone could eat and have a seat in the dining hall. I can remember roasting in the classrooms in the back of Snead Hall due to their radiators blasting in warm springtime.
Capt. Dan, does this mean there are no video games in the PX anymore? What will a cadet do to get his "fix" for electronics? Does FUMA still have compulsory Intramurals for non-Athletics cadets?
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 9:12am
#6
Re: Its amazing how things have changed...
StarryJT wrote:
I'm aware that FUMA needs to keep up with the times... but isnt this akin to coddling? NOT having the creature comforts is what kept us on the straight and narrow in some cases.
It does seem that parent expectations change from generation to generation. Today, creating a reasonably comfortable living environment is generally expected. The "spartan" atmosphere now is generated by our lack of cell phones, iPods, video games and other such critically-important life necessities.
:wink:
CaptDan
Sun, 09/14/2008 - 4:20pm
#7
Its amazing how things have changed...
if it makes you feel better, remember the Tuesday night early CQ and then we could have an hour or so to our selves? Well, I think they still do the early CQ, but they clean after CQ and no tv....I may be wrong. They also have formation for every meal, breakfast and dinner, lunch on weekends...I think. If Faculty eat in the dining hall, they eat with the cadets, not in their own area.