|
|
University of Evansville |
|
||||||||
|
Student Life While Tin City was a part of the University of Evansville campus, then known as Evansville College, veterans were an important part of what made up the student body. They were “alert and industrious” in all aspects of their lives and took advantage of  everything
that college life had to offer them (Condit & Gundling, pp. 92). Many
were even able to juggle jobs and family life into the mix as well.
Their lives at College Courts, the official name for Tin City, were
anything but dull. Many of the veterans took part in activities on campus that included working for the school newspaper, The Crescent, to 
participating in clubs like the Astronomy Club. While there were also
fraternities on campus very few joined, however one example of a Tin
City resident joining a brotherhood can be seen in Mr. Duvall. Mr.
Duvall “joined Phi Zeta which is now Lambda Chi,” in his last year at
Evansville College (Duvall, pp. 10). A more universal group activity
for the veterans included studying parties for their majors. One such
party mentioned included an Engineering Party. “It was such a difficult
subject that everybody, all the guys that were majoring in engineering,
would […] study together” (Kaiser, pp. 5).When the men weren’t focused on their school work they spent time with their families. Quality time was usually spent in “the front yards” where neighbors could also stop by to socialize (Anderson, 2004, Bachman). During this time the wives would do some chores like laundry, cooking, and cleaning while the children ran and  played
outside with their fathers. The families also spent time at the TUB,
otherwise known as the Temporary Union Building. There many would play a
“game of cards, some Ping-Pong, or [stay for] an afternoon coke at the
snack bar” (Condit & Gundling, pp. 93). One last but very important aspect in the veterans’ lives was that of a part-time job in order to support themselves. Some had numerous jobs like Mr. Bachman, who worked at places such as “Crescent Plastics, and Boots Manufacturing Company, and the International Harvester” (Bachman, pp. 2). Holding many different positions was a common occurrence, for these jobs were usually the main source of income for the veterans and their families.
Bibliography Anderson M., (2004) Bachman Interview, 1-6Anderson M., (2004) Duvall Interview, 1-27 Condit P., & Gundling J. (1947) “Veterans.” Linc 1947, 92-93 Kaiser A. (2005) “Rediscovering Tin City.” UE Magazine, 4-5 |
||||||||