October 2, 1968 (Letter from Renee)

I was half awake then I read your letter -- but all that talk of sex, etc. sure woke me up in a hell of a hurry.  Your letter sounded just like you when you're drunk -- and I really got a laugh out of it -- besides getting turned on by those lovely poetic passages about my terrestial bod!  The "bod" is in fine shape -- haven't had any good lovin' lately though.  Maybe I might come back to Buffalo again for a booster shot.

All is fine with me.  I'm one with classes every day at 1:00, and I have 3 7:00-8:00 classes at night (ugh!).  I usually drag my ever-lovin' bod back to the dorm to catch a few hours of sleep in the afternoon so that my bod will be prepared for the night life around here which includes trying to make some sense out of the fucking books which are assigned reading.  My courses aren't too bad.  I've racked up about 4 papers to write -- at latest count.  Jesus, do I ever hate writing BS to fill in 10 pages for one paper.

My social life is great.  Had two dates last weekend and have a date this weekend to see Simon and Garfunkel.  Whoopie!  I guess my bod is in mod this quarter.   Anyway, I'm not complaining.

I haven't heard from Mike yet, although the idiot promised to write to me right away.  I imagine he's too busy learning where his ass is these days.  If he doesn't write to me soon, I guess I'll have to break down and write to him.  Got a tear-jerking letter from Mark -- all about his problems and I wrote back and told him to stop acting like a baby and start acting like a man!  Heard from Mardi, too.  She seems to like Humboldt, but hates her roommates.  Well, I guess we all have our "hangups", don't we?  (Except yours is the largest hangup according to the measurements you so generously sent to me, if you remember correctly!)

I'm supposed to be in 3 different places tonight, so I doubt if I can stretch my bod that far.  Guess I'll just have to play eenie, menie, minie, moh -- and see where I end up!  (In bed!  Haha Whoopie!)

Well, I've got to get ready to make my beautiful entrance at the W. Baker Cafeteria for dinner soon (ugh) -- so I'll close for now -- and hope that you can find time to write me another of your "Great Classics series" in the very near future..  Until then...Be good and keep "yours" in shape.

September 29, 1968 (Letter from Gail)

I'm sorry I haven't written sooner but you know yourself how busy things can get.

It sounds like you're having a pretty good life at school.  How's the Jewish pop out there.  Mark V. said the Jew pop at R.I.T. is about 60%.  He said I should come out and stay with him and find a nice Jewish husband.

Here it is a nice Sunday afternoon -- at home.  I hate Sun.  They get to be so boring because there is nothing to do.

In fact there's nothing going on in this whole town.  Last night Bonnie Freund and I went to a Student-Faculty tea at the EOC lounge.  It was pretty nice.  Then we went up to the high school dance.  Boy, that school is getting worse every year.  I'm glad I'm out of there.  EOC is ok.  It's nothing special, though.  They've had a couple of dances.  They've been real groovy.  How are your classes?  Mine are so mixed up.  I've got four evening classes - Mon. to Thurs.  If that isn't hell.  I'm taking World Civ, Speech, Eng I, Psychology, and Principles of Biology.  I've got Mr. Gene Williams for Bio.  Do you remember him?  He used to teach Bio at the H.S.  He's a really nice guy but what a teacher!

Have you heard from Mark yet?  He hasn't written me yet.  Next time you write him, tell him I'd like to hear from him, if he has a chance, OK?

I haven't been doing too much drinking this fall.  I've been to Shorty's a couple of times.  In fact I was there just last Tues.  It was great.  Am I making you homesick?  When are you coming home?  We'll have to have a big reunion at Thanksgiving.  Agreed?

Well, Paul, take it easy, study hard, but have fun.  Write soon.

September 28, 1968 (Letter from Mardi)

Guess what I was doing when I got your letter - reading Psych!  Talking about incomprehensible.  Nancy and I went downtown at 12:30 and spent the whole day there.  I love it.  You really don't realize how dead Warren is!  You're so true.  Nancy and I could never go back, it was so trivial.  I do look forward to going home at Christmas and all, but I could never live there again!  This place is no palace.  Glad you're having a hell of a good time and settled.  Poor Mark is having trouble.  It's really bad when you can't get adjusted, it's so important.  You have to give it a little time.  It took me a good whole three days to get settled and know just what I wanted to do for sure.  Some kids had to leave because they just couldn't make it.  But what in God's name can going home do unless you definitely know you're in the wrong place!

I've heard from just about everyone except Joan.  Mike likes it I guess.  He sent me a telegram the second day I was here -- raining and lonely in Bemus Point, Love, Twenty-seven!  Got a letter from Renee yesterday.  She loves it!  Tina left for school Friday.  Mom said she and Tina had a nice talk at work.  My mother is so sweet.

This week went so fast.  Last night we were going to a dance and all but Nancy and I didn't make it.  We spent the whole night over town.  I love it, I love it, I love it.  We met these really cool guys from the university and we to Luigi's for pizza.  Pace's does have better pizza. though.  We had a good time.  I've got tickets for Bill Cosby at the University Sat.  I'm going to the Minn Vikings vs. Detroit Lions game Sat. too  Donovan is coming!  I can't stand it.  I was meant to be born rich!  Today I bought a furry hat for winter in Dayton's.  It's one of those helmet jobs, it's so cute!  (I bet you're thrilled!)  I shouldn't spend my money, but you should see the shops.  Tomorrow afternoon, Nancy and I are going to spend our time at the Art Institute.  It's right around the block.  All the students sit in the park across the street and paint and study, most of the guys are odd looking types.  We're in a good section of town money wise, huge mansions all over w/ tons of parks.  It's not safe at night though.  We can't go out late w/ less than 5 or 6.  Last Friday night I got caught in a mob after a stabbing.  I was shaking all night, the whole thing was so ugly.  Some girl was just killed in a park too.  I've already ran into some great characters.  Geez!

One bad, bad, bad, bad, bad thing!  I'm going dry!  How about sending a "Bud"! or a few pints of rum!  Huh?  Huh?  Will ya huh?  It's bad here.  If you get caught at a party drinking, you're as good as dead! - criminal record, fine, jail -- the whole bit.  I can't take the chance.  I could get some stuff, being arrested once was enough and that was nothing compared to what they do to you here!  Glad to hear you're boozin it up lush!  Blaaa! to you!  Geez at Christmas I'll get tanked on half a beer probably.  Are you going to go home for Thanksgiving?  There's always a jet leaving for Minneapolis you know!  Hint, hint.  I'd love to have you come out, I don't know if you could go too long without a drink though.

I have got to go finish my psych, I have Eng comp to do yet too!

Listen, if you see Jimi Hendrix w/out me, I'll kill you!!!!  He's really popular out here.  Have your heard "Watchtower" yet?  Minneapolis is good on soul!  "Let me stand next to your fire..."  If you see Janis Joplin, I'll kill you too.  And the Chambers Brothers. 

Take care and study hard and pass!

I think you should pledge to a frat -- good idea.  When do I get to come to your frat party!!  Guess what!  I've just about stopped smoking!  Watch me though in about two weeks.  It really bothers me sometime.

I must go now!  I have to read Lady Chatterly's Lover yet too. 

September 28, 1968 (Letter from Mrs. Peroski)

Thank you for the lovely letter.  I certainly was surprised and enjoyed hearing from one of my (so-called) departed flock.  I am waiting to hear from Mike now.  I just bet he is real busy also.  Renee wrote me a nice letter too.  Tina was in the store one day last week to say goodbye.  She left Friday morning.  I really wonder how Mark is doing? 

Mardi seems to be quite busy with her subjects, as you probably have heard all about them.  I sure do miss her as I know she misses me and all you kids.  She said to me in a letter the other day, that they were having countdown days til Xmas.  85 days!  It won't be long.  At work we received a Kodak shipment, which took me two days to get organized and still I have some to do.

Boy, I sure do have a lot of letter writing to do lately.  I must write my niece tonight also.  Tomorrow I work so in the meantime take care of yourself and study hard and be careful of those parties.  You know what I mean.  I know I sound just like a mother, giving you all kinds of instructions.  When you  get home, possibly some weekend, I would like to see you.  Write from time to time.

September 27, 1968 (Letter from Mike)

I finally made it.  It's hard to believe, but I did.

Hey, it's really terrific here.  I can't tell you how much I love it.  I have to wear a beanie, and whenever an upperclassman says, "Frosh-dink!", I have to lift my hat, bow, and say, "Thank you, may I do it again?"  Of course they say yes, and it can go on forever!  But it's all in fun, and that's the way you get to know the uppers.  They're all really nice.

My roommate is nice, and I think we'll get along okay.  He used to live in Cleveland, so he knows his way around.  I think that will be a big help.

I took a German placement test today.  You have to show proficiency at the 104 level.  Well, I placed at 103, so I only have one quarter of German.  That makes he happy.

[Wed. nite]  I registered today.  I've never seen such confusion.  It was unbelievable.  I've got Psych, German, speech, and art.  On MWF, my classes start at 10:10, on TTH, they don't start until 1:00.  Do you believe it?  I'm done every day at three.  Not bad at all.

I've met some terrific guys here.  You won't believe this, but one of my friends is names Paul Albert - and (are you ready) he's a minister's son.  A music major, and he's got a mustache.  Really a great guy.

Hey look, I gotta go now.  Lots to do.  Classes start tomorrow.  See you later -- about the end of November.

September 25, 1968 (Letter from Kathy)

My schedule is really pretty good.  I never have the same subject two days in a row.  Dental theory, clinic, bio lab, chem lab, and speech are each only once a week.  (They run either two or three hours, though.)  I always have at least two nights in which to do assignments.  Last night I went out to the drive-in.  I was in by 11:30 though.  Curfew is 12:00 on weeknights and 1:30 on weekends.  My roommate and I (Marie is her name) are going to a work party tonight for the mayor of Huntington campaign.  I'm not sure what it is all about yet.  It has something to do with the fraternities.  Five of us girls went to three fraternity parties Friday night.  The first one we hit too early and there were 5 girls to every boy, the second one was shut down by the police, and the third one we hit too late -- all the neat guys were taken.

I've met a really neat prep school guy from Harrisburg - the only other N.U. freshman from Pa.  He's my buddy, and we really talk things out.  That's one of the things I miss most -- some of the old gang to really feel relaxed with and talk to.  Things are getting better here now though as we're all finding our friends.  My roommate and I get along better every day as we find out that we think very much alike.

Our chemistry isn't too bad because the prof realizes that Forsyth girls (dental students) are not interested in chemistry and he only holds us responsible for the essentials (which I do not know like everyone else because I had such a wonderful chemistry teach at Warren Hi!!)

I almost died laughing when I read that part about your laundry.  It sure was funny -- cheered up my day -- as mail always does.

I don't care what you write on just as long as I can read what it says, so don't apologize for writing on typewriter paper.  Be good (huh?) and study hard (huh?)

I haven't heard from Mark yet and he said I wouldn't write!!!  The big fink.

September 25, 1968 (Letter from Mark)

Well things seem to be looking a whole lot better now than they were a few weeks ago.  I guess it was just the adjustment and confusion and it took awhile to get used to it.  I'm in my permanent room now until my final permanent room is done.  Which should be by Thanksgiving.  There is three in a room.  My roommates are normal kids (introverts).  I haven't seen them except at night.

I've really met loads and loads of kids.  I have a date Saturday night to see the American Breed with an art student.  She's a model with hair like Mia Farrow.  She's nice but very different as I find all art majors are. I'm really finding that it is an honor to be an art major (painting and sculpture at this school) there are only 125 of us.  Everyone of my friends is in art and design.  There is only about 500 girls on campus now and of this 70 of 125 are art majors.  Which makes it really nice.  All the boys are hippies.  All of the art kids stick together.  It is really hard for me to associate with kids other than art & design.  Most of the kids consider the art kids as unique, truly individuals, and for the most part hippie-like thinking.  I eat with all these kids and do everything with them.  My two best friends are hippies.  One is form London, England and the other from New York City.  At dinner all the art majors sit together and talk about anything they feel like.  Some are into pot and others aren't.  I've expressed my views on smoking and they respect my views and really understand.  It's really surprising how these kids think and fell about everything.  They are considerate and most of them well bred.  Most of them dress mod, or really grubby.  I at least think they've accepted me for the way I am now and the way I dress.  Their clothes are nothing like what you find in Warren, for the most part they are from wealthy families.  But I like these kids and I'm starting to become very content with these kids.

My classes are starting tomorrow at 7:45 - Western Civilization and then I'm downtown every day till 5:00.  The art students are the only ones that have any classes downtown so this is really going to be great.  My classes are going to be really hard, but to me some of the problems are really challenges.  The push for creativeness and originality is really tough.  All the color scales we have to create, paint, and use.  Figure drawing, 3-d design, 2-d design, abstract formations, and on and on re the list of the classes I'll be taking.  Some of them are really over my head.

It sounds as though you are really having a good time at school.  The dates and everything.  Your roommates seem really great and you probably have a great time with them.  It sure sounds as though you have a great time of it [unintelligible] and everything.  There isn't too much drinking so far because it is really far to go to a bar.  Starting next week they'll have buses into town at night.

Sounds as though you're really having a lot of dates.  Lots of kids up here have friends that go to the University of Buffalo.  I envy you for being there instead of here.   You're at least with friends you've been used to all your life.  That's more than I've got.  It is really hard on me mentally (if you only knew) to know that these kids are going to be my best friends all through school.

Well, at least I'm not in the sea of depression I was before.  I really do like school and everything.  I'm becoming more and more serious about my work and trying hard to become creative and I just hope I can succeed.  Write soon.