�� I was Resident Advisor at Seymour Cottage during the Fall 1966, on leave-of-absence from the military to complete the requirements for my degree.� Thirty five men lived in a cottage that had formerly been a fraternity house.� Many of them were on probation, or not allowed to reside in their own frat houses for various reasons.� I have the original roster, but will not publish their names.

�� These are the weekly reports I made to the Dean of Men, then posted on the House Bulletin Board for all residents to read.

�� We held our first house meeting September 12th and selected the Social Chairman and Intermural Chairman.� A House President will be selected sometime during the next two weeks.

September 30, 1966

�� Two incidents marred the tranquility of the cottage this week.� Monday evening an Individual expressed himself by causing all the lights to blink on the front side of the cottage,� He achieved this by installing a time‑delay device behind the Light bulbs on the first, second, and third floor lamps in the rooms nearest the front of the cottage,� The spectacle drew a crowd of ten or twelve people across the street.� Seymour blinked like a Christmas tree for about five minutes.

�� A more serious note was sounded Thursday evening at 5:30 P.M. when I went to a room to admonish a man for having left his tray on the table in Shaw Dining Hall.� A young lady was found in the room, a violation of University rules.� After rather strained introductions she left, somewhat earlier than her friends expected.� Actually she had been present for only about one minute, because the people concerned left Shaw Dining Hall immediately before I did.

�� Wednesday evening Seymour beat Sibley 13‑0 in football.� Our average this season is better than the University's.

�� One of the residents is learning to play the guitar.� Unable to resist tuning it for him, I found myself surrounded by a banjo player, completely equipped with a well-tuned banjo, and accompanied by an assortment of singing volunteers,� They had a songbook of folk songs.� We went to the basement and carried on with great enthusiasm, after sending a monitor back to the first floor.� He reported the noise level was acceptable, but did not rule on the talent,� The next day one of the residents said he would like to set up his drums and join the group In the future.� This has possibility.

�� With the requirement to have the outside doors locked, some people have recommended doorbells should be installed.

�� No big complaints about the food in Shaw Dining Hall.� When I hear any comments, I begin to describe food in military service.� Of course the number of salads needed is miscalculated by the dining hall, but not often.� Service is slow sometimes, especially around noon when many students get out of class about the same time.� Some thought might be given to the problem of second helpings.� People coming back for seconds make the rush hour even slower.

�� I have noticed people wanting second helpings generally do not eat all the items offered.� These are meat and potatoes men.� If they would eat the salads, fruits, and desserts, they would possibly be comfortable without second helpings.� It might be too harsh to require second helpings include fruit and vegetables.

�� One resident noticed the "Complete Works of T.S. Eliot" sells for $6.95 at the Corner Bookstore, while the same book costs only $4.95 at the Main Book Store.

�� One of our residents had his wallet stolen while returning from Albany by bus last Sunday Evening.� He lost his meal card, I.D. card, and eleven dollars.

�� The shower on the second floor combines with the urinal to overflow into the first floor.� The residents say it did this last semester.� This is the same probable source of our water problem reported last week.

October 7, 1966

�� Condition of the Cottage - The bathtub on the first floor drains so slowly you are ankle deep in water when finished showering.� Work Orders reported this September 9 and September 29.� Water draining from the second floor shower backs up into the urinals in that bathroom.� This combines to flood into the first floor hallway.� This condition existed last semester.� This problem was reported by Work Order September 30.� Both problems are still with us.

�� Discipline - The two students who were found to have a girl in their room were given a month's probation by Student Court.

�� Library - The Main Library has very noisy steam pipes.

�� Programming - The House President elected Sunday Evening, October 2, has launched a campaign to purchase a T.V. set for the lounge.� He is also examining the feasibility of getting a water fountain for the cottage.� The students have discussed several types of fountain and seem to favor the bottled-water type.

�� Strike of Building and Gerunds Personnel - While standing in line for the noon meall at Shaw Dining Hall, Wednesday, October 5, I was asked to sign a petition favoring the strike, that will be published in The Promethean.� Some students who signed it said they did it with the specific opinion the Building and Gerunds employees should have the right to representation in the Syracuse Labor Council.� General opinion about the strike is this.� The people concerned with the problem have all the facts, have both the University's and Workmen's interests in mind, are not playing a waiting game, and will solve the problem in the best interest of all concerned.� As usually happens in these situations, everyone has an opinion and expresses it in many forms before the thing is settled.

�� Dean of Men Visits Shaw Dining Hall - When asked to sign the petition at noon Wednesday, I declined because I felt a Resident Advisor should remain impartial.� Dean Tatham and Mr. Harrar were just ahead of me in the line.� The students were pleased to see the Dean and Mr. Harrar having lunch at Shaw.� None can remember anyone from the Dean's office having lunch in the students' dining facilities.� They feel this is a good idea.� It demonstrates the Dean's interest in everything that affects students.

October 15, 1966

�� Condition of the Cottage - Immediately after the strike was settled, our plumbing was repaired.� The workmen were at the cottage promptly on Tuesday.� The third floor shower has become popular.

�� Programming - The cottage had open house Friday, 7:30-10: P.M.� Several residents showed slides they had taken during the summer.� Two especially interesting were a trip to Europe and a logging camp in Maine.� The student who went to Europe took advantage of the flight to Paris sponsored by the University.� He left the States three days after school ended, toured Europe with his brother, and returned on the same flight arrangements three days before school began this fall.� He made about two hundred slides taken hitch-hiking in France, England, Wales, Scotland, Holland, and Germany.� The audience was very interested in the travel arrangements, cost, and so forth.� They were pleased to learn that Youth Hostels are to be found everywhere in Europe.� This student may have done something to stimulate tourism.� The slides from Maine were taken by a Forestry student who spent his summer working as a tree marker for a paper company.� He had about a hundred slides, which demonstrated the art of tree farming, logging, and life in the north woods during the summer.� Half our students will log and half will tour Europe next summer.

�� Fraternities - We have some residents who were once in fraternities and some who are waiting for space in fraternity houses.� These people have a different attitude from other students.� They swagger into the cottage talking loudly.� They yell up and down the corridors.� They act as if this is a place to sleep, compared to those who act like it is a place to live.� We may have erred when a fraternity man was appointed Social Chairman.� He made very little effort to register the Open House in one very important respect.� It was necessary to secure a female Resident Advisor from the Dean of Women's office.� The House President accomplished this.� The Social Chairman procrastinated and reported her name late.� He didn't have a date that night.� Two fraternity men showed off for the benefit of the R.A. from the Dean of Women's staff.� One of the men appeared to be one beer ahead of his friend and decided to test the fire extinguisher.� His friend then squirted him.� Practicing our very best diplomacy, we congratulated the two men for volunteering to mop the floor during Open House.� One of the seniors had his date here, but soon left with her.� In fact, none of the fraternity men brought their dates to Open House.� I may be observing a very special type of fraternity man, and I may be too subjective.� But sometimes I wonder if fraternities are motivated to get an education, or if they are just fun-loving boys.� Perhaps these fellows see Syracuse University as one big summer camp.

October 21, 1966

�� Condition of the Cottage - A dog died last week.� No one mourned the loss.� The owner was under a twenty-four hour ultimatum to rid the cottage of that foul beast anyhow.� He had mothered it since the cottage opened this fall.� At first he kept it chained to the back doorstep.� This created a mess, which required some anxious broken-field walking.� Often in the dark, on a drizzly Syracuse night, a resident could be heard to complain loudly.� One fine day a delegation approached their respected R.A.� Solve the problem.� How?� Make him unchain that pup.� The owner obliged.� But his demonstration of concern fouled the air of this cottage.� He had removed the animal to his room.� It was sufficiently housebroken to appreciate the many uses of our local newspaper.� But afterwards, its master placed the wadded papers in our cottage trash cans.� This stank.� Now the delegation was serious.� To clear the air, an ultimatum was rendered.� Take that dog to the farthermost reaches of Onondaga County.� Meantime, the poor thing had caught pneumonia while chained to the back doorsteps all those miserably damp nights.� It died in the vet's office.� Then the grief stricken owner did a noble thing.� At 4:00 A.M. one morning he laundered the befouled trashbags.

�� Programming - An art student had a studio in the basement last semester.� He now has a position at the campus art studio and does not need the studio at Seymour.� One of our residents is interested in photography.� He is taking courses in Radio and T.V.� Until this year his cumulative grade average had been very low.� In fact, he was only recently removed from academic probation.� The R.A. has encouraged him to convert the art studio in the basement into a photographic darkroom.� He spent six hours one evening cleaning the room.� Now he awaits the arrival of equipment he has ordered.� This man has found himself in the communication arts.� He produces very tasteful photographic studies, traveling the length of the campus and about the city looking for ideas.� Because he has struggled hardest of any resident to succeed academically, we feel the proposed darkroom in the basement will provide a meaningful experience.� Many incidents recorded in his Student Folder testify that he surely does have imagination.� We hope some of his creative ability will be channeled into socially accepted pursuits.

�� House Meeting - At the meeting last Sunday, the residents vetoed buying a T.V. set.� Many reasons were given.� Most prominent was the fear it would disrupt study.� A new Social Chairman was elected at the request of the incumbent who is too busy serving on Student Court to be our Social Chairman.

�� Food Service - Our representative attended the meeting Wednesday at Shaw Dining Hall.� Setting up a separate facility to serve second helpings would be inappropriate in the dining area, he was told.� It was strongly recommended that students point out any complaints, then and there, such as undercooked hot dogs.

October 29, 1966

�� Condition of the Cottage - Last week's inspection by the Dorm Office didn't find as many discrepancies as the previous inspection.� On other occasions the Dorm Office had remarked about a motorcycle being repaired in the basement.� This week the basement was rated OK.� This is probably a tacit recognition that the basement is acceptable, because the bike is in a large unused space and the student performing the repairs is very neat.

�� Programming - Last Sunday afternoon two or three students cooked some meat over a wood fire in the backyard.� They built the fire on the concrete apron near the entranceway to the basement, in such a manner as not to endanger the building.� They didn't create a mess, and very carefully swept up the evidence.� I am told they tensed up several times during the cookout when they heard sirens from various emergency vehicles.� They were probably of the opinion that the local fire company was on its way to Seymour Cottage.

�� Intramural Sports - The Rifle Team competed Wednesday evening against Watson West I, and was beaten by the score of 150 to 123.� Four men from the cottage participated in the match, which was held in the Men's Gym.� Two of the members had attended other colleges or universities and had some comments on the range facilities.� Comparing these facility with their other schools, they said Syracuse had fewer firing points, with less space on each point.� Rifles which were of lower quality, and the spectator and waiting areas were cramped.� Overall, it was not up to the standards of other institutions.

�� Items of Useless Information - Friday night the R.A. went to see a Country-Western musician perform at Memorial Auditorium.� It was Ferlin Husky from Nashville, Tennessee.� There is some truth to the saying that you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy.� That Country-Western pickin' and singin' did this here old country boy's heart good.� I almost feel like studying for next week's mid-term exams.

November 4, 1966

�� Profiles of Cottage Residents - Self-assured individual who can hold his own in conversations about travel in Europe, Fine Arts, Literature, History, Political Science, and relate these to daily events.� Smokes a pipe.� Makes a good cup of coffee.� Wins awards for academic achievements.� Is consulted by other students in his classes.� When he is not studying or discussing his studies, he ushers at concerts.� Clean cut, well-dressed, polite, chivalrous, kind to old ladies and dogs.� Epitome of a Yankee Gentleman.� Compare him to a person who talks long and loud in a fake accent, who's sole aim in life is to get "psyched," leaves the lounge messy, challenges passers-by in a loud voice, "Hey, you going to the Dingleman?"� (Dingleman is a colloquialism for a mobile sandwich seller who drives his van slowly through the neighborhood while ringing a bell.)� Gets upset when no one will bring him a snack from the Dingleman.� Puts up a good imitation of a grown man, has sufficient man-like hormones to sprout whiskers, but not enough good judgement to act the part.� Makes a very good effort to prove that Yankees are more loud-mouthed than Texans (if that is possible).� America, take heed.� These men are your future leaders.

�� Programming - Seymour held Open House last Sunday from 2:30 until 5:30 P.M.� Some of the students and their dates had a sort of cook-out in the backyard, following last week's method.� They prefer their meat broiled over a wood fire.� Seems it would be nicer to have a charcoal burner.

�� Resident Advisor Bulletin - There was not much in the Bulletin for October 1966.� This is an important vehicle of communications.� Why can't someone say something more stimulating in it?

�� Unipalateramism -� I give up.� Seymour Cottage gives up.� If it doesn't give up soon, I will go out of my mind guessing.� What is it?� (1996 update, thirty years later.� I never did find out.)

�� Exotic Dating Practices - Last week The Promethean advised some unique methods of making out (their words).� Some residents have discussed the practice of sitting in a Salvation Army box all night, drinking beer with a girl.� An undercurrent of experience permeated the tale.� Some hazards are involved.� What if the Salvation Army makes its weekly pickup and hauls away all garments therein, including the two beer drinker's?� Then an old lady makes a deposit, just as the conversation is reaching a climax.� She'd faint if a nervous hand grabbed her offering and said, "Thank you, madam."

November 11, 1966

�� Profile of Residents (continued)

�� "RRRing," rang the telephone.

�� "Hello, this is Seymour Cottage," someone answered.

�� "Yes, your son, The Student, is here.� One moment, please."

�� "Hello.� Yes, this is he.� What!?� Jumping around!?� Now, look!� Right . . .�� No . . .� I tell you, I don't need a haircut!"

�� "That was my father on the phone!� He watched the Penn State football game!"� This was the son, The Student, standing accused by his father of appearing on national T.V. needing a haircut.

�� Condition of the Cottage - Our pay telephone breaks down and eats dimes.� The maintenance man re-staples the lead-in wire to the wall.� The telephone works for a week.� It takes this long for nervous wire-puller persons to pull loose the wire.� Then the man comes back to re-staple the wire to the wall.� We took a survey.� More than half the people want a telephone.� These same people agree to roar at the wire-puller-loosers.� (Loosers, or losers?)� Trashbag carryer-outers reflect the trend for America's future leaders, who will seek to avoid work.� Shall we be true to the principle that those who deserve respect should be respected, and those who don't aren't?

�� Morale - Mid-terms are causing much weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth, and soul searching.� Some are considering switching major areas of concentration.� Some are planning to avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the Psychological Services and Research Center.� Wouldn't it be a letdown feeling to have the Center tell you the thing you are flunking is the best career for you?

�� Programming - During the past couple of weeks a sculptor and a photographer have improved the lounge.� The sculptor is also an artist.� He didn't leave his work on display too long, because his paintings were due for submission to his instructor.� His sculpting was functional.� It was a model fuel tank for a motorcycle.� This has possibility.� Why couldn't a sculptor design "chopper" motorcycles?� The photographer will leave his creations on display during Parent's Weekend.� This man has talent.� His efforts to make the world believe he is a rough, impolite, loud, carefree individual are overshadowed by the feelings conveyed in these photographs.� He proves that the seed of genius germinates in the soil of imagination.

November 18, 1966

�� Condition of the Cottage - The First Inspector complained about motorcycles in the basement.� Mr. Harrar said those being repaired could remain until fixed.� Serviceable machines may not be in the basement, because their fuel tanks constitute a fire hazard.

�� Morale - On November 15 we found the front door to Shaw Dining Hall locked.� One of the residents had been waiting outside for about a half hour.� He said it was like that every morning.� A special report was made to Mr. Pufky.� Later inquiry indicates the door is now open when it is supposed to be.

�� Programming - Photography displayed by one of the residents created much interest over Parent's Weekend.

�� Work Orders - The Dorm Office has responded promptly to all Work Orders.� They were especially nice to have replaced our worn out throw rug at the front entrance.� When our piano stool grew tired of living on three legs, the Dorm Office replaced it with a straight-back chair.� We did like the stool better.� It came in very handy in the telephone booth.

December 3, 1966

�� Fund Raising - Last Monday a gentleman dropped into the cottage to request we call a special house meeting in order for someone to make an appeal for the Syracuse Student's Fund for Florence Relief.� He left a letter (which I forwarded with this report).� I am against calling special house meetings to raise funds.

�� Resident Advisor's Bulletin - The Bulletin for November 1966 asked for comments and criticisms from readers.� I feel this is the kind of article we need.� The recent one by Mr. Lippmann reminds us of the purpose of the University.� More articles outlining the purpose of various institutions would be of interest.� Such articles give the Resident Advisor a base from which to argue if called upon to defend an institution, person, place, or thing.� The Bulletin might be an excellent place for Resident Advisors to get to know each other.� Perhaps we could each of us write a short biography for inclusion in subsequent issues.� The Dean of Men's staff might also do the same.� People enjoy reading about people.

December 9, 1966

�� Dining Hall - We must pass through Shaw Lounge to enter Shaw Dining Hall.� It is being painted.� The smell is bad.� They should have done that work during the summer.

�� Academics - I reported earlier about students who were disappointed with mid-term grades and sought help from Psychological Testing.� It was speculated some would find they are presently in the field for which they are best suited.� It happened.� A Chem Eng major was thinking about dropping Chemistry.� His results show he is best qualified in Chemistry.� What is he to do?� Try even harder.

�� Condition of Cottage - The cold weather requiring more heat brought out some interesting symptoms in the steam pipes.� Some rooms clank.� Others gurgle.� Some students thought the University was removing the cottage in the middle of the night.� All of us know the building is temporary.� That dreadful clanking made us wonder if the time had come.� The Resident Advisor's room began to sound like a boiler factory.� That did it.� A work order went in.� Then the weather turned warm.� Will the weather turn cold before the clank has been removed?

�� Motorcycles in the Basement - For the first time this semester the lady from the Dorm Office rated the basement totally OK.� The motorcycles have fled elsewhere.

�� Academics (continued) - A Radio and T.V. student organized half a dozen residents to rehearse his four-minute, sixteen-second play.� Most of the evening was spent getting the hired help to stop laughing.� When presented for a grade, the instructor fell out laughing.� The student received a strong B for the play.

December 16, 1966

�� Condition of the Cottage - Last Friday afternoon the R.A. was away from the cottage, with permission.� Three men had a feast of peanut butter and jelly in the lounge.� One man requested the peanut butter be passed.� A glob was flung to him.� He retaliated by flinging a glob of jelly back.� This glob of jelly hit the third feasting man.� A free-for-all of flinging peanut butter and jelly started.� They flang, flang, and flang the stuff.� It was all over the furniture, rug, chairs, in the hallways, bathrooms, and in all public areas.� The other residents demanded the place be cleaned.� All the foregoing is hearsay, told to me by one of the angry residents.

�� It was about supper time when I got back, so I went to eat.� A few blobs still needing cleaning up.� The three flingers promptly removed them.� The next day they cleaned the rug.

�� The three men were on their way to a formal dance Saturday night, so I didn't delay them.� I sat in the lounge until they got back, about one o'clock in the morning.� Some angry residents were waiting with me.� We held a meeting on the spot.

�� I began, "I will not live with people who fling peanut butter and jelly all about the cottage.� You'll have to move."

�� They replied, "But, we don't want to move."

�� Complain.

�� Negotiate.

�� Justify.

�� Counter-complain.

�� "Complainers.� Do you want to move?" I asked.

�� "No."

�� More negotiating.

�� Complaining.

�� Counter-complaining.

�� "Then you will learn to live together with no peanut butter flinging, nor jelly flinging, nor complaining," I advised the residents.

�� Grumble.

� �� Negotiate.

�� Counter-grumble.

�� This went on until 5:00 A.M.

�� No one wants to move.� All are still speaking.� Peanut butter and jelly are not being flung.

�� The Resident Advisor had a six-aspirin headache when he woke up sunday morning.

�� Conclusion - Seymour Cottage definitely does need a Resident Advisor, a great big, mean one, on duty full-time.� He can never, ever go sight-seeing on friday afternoon.

January 5, 1967

�� Morale - Whoever thought up the policy of Christmas Vacation is to be congratulated.� It is refreshing.� In san Antonio (my home) the grass is green, birds sing, people smile.� I disembarked from the airplane at Syracuse Airport behind the world's largest snowbank.� What happened to this weather?� This is weather?

�� Academics - Quite a shock to return from vacation and realize that finals are week-after-next.� Most everyone did a whale of a lot of reading while at home, including a certain Resident Advisor.� With a little luck and some all-nighters we may make it past exams.� I know of no one in a total state of shock in this cottage.

�� Condition of the Cottage - Jerry Saltman, Resident Advisor at Tilden Cottage, graciously closed and opened Seymour for us over Christmas Vacation.� While we were gone, maintenance refurbished the furniture in the lounge.� We had the only couch on campus with three cushions.� Now we have a standard six-cushion couch.� New cushions were provided for other chairs where needed.� The cleaning people were very thorough.� Someone sprayed the place.� Now it smells of incense.

�� Best New Year's Pun - Let's all take an overdose of LSD and donate blood to the bloodmobile, so we can spread the joy.

January 13, 1967

�� Academics - No.� They couldn't do it.� Make a firm exam schedule and stick to it.� Printed one for the Fall Semester.� Everyone depended on it.� Bought airplane tickets home, and everything.� Now they've lived up to their reputation.� They made a mess of fifteen thousand plans.� This Resident Advisor finishes his last exam at 5:00 P.M. on the 25th of January (and will leave town shortly thereafter).

�� Condition of the Cottage - Not satisfied to destroy Seymour Cottage's image by replacing our three-cushion sofa with a new set of cushions, making it a standard six-cushion model.� The Dorm Office also brought us a shiny new six-cushion sofa with white cushions.� They even brought another overstuffed easy chair.� Doggoned if that lounge isn't getting right pretty.� Fellow could even bring his date there these days.

�� Room Assignments - Attached list is accurate as to rooms occupied by whom.� No changes are contemplated for the coming semester.� No one graduates, no one transfers, no one quits (hopefully), furthermore, they wish to remain in these rooms wherein they are now occupying.

January 20, 1967

�� Final Report - This will be my last report, because I graduate this month.� My final exam is January 25.� I leave Syracuse for good, just as soon as I turn in the Blue Book.

�� New Resident Advisor - Residents are anxious to learn who will be their new R.A.� I have achieved personal identification with most of them.� The attribute most desired in the next R.A. is "Somebody we can talk to."� I admit chewing the fat comes easy to me.� After about three bull sessions I had learned most of their names.� No doubt my Texas drawl caused them to stop and get acquainted.

�� Well, anyhow, these folks are no different from those down home.� Just talk awhile and whatever is bugging them will come out.

�� It has been a satisfying experience.� I appreciate greatly all the patience shown me by the Dean of Men and his staff.

�� Sorry about all those dogs and motorcycles.

�� I will drop by and say "hello" if I come through Syracuse again.

�� Times surely are changing.

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