Being an architecture major may entitle you to being a member of an elite student population but what one gains in prestige he lacks in social interaction.
"This is not the typical college experience," said Virginia Byers, a sophomore majoring in architecture. "From Thursday to Monday we only took breaks to shower and to nap. On Saturday we gave ourselves a week-end treat and went on a three hour coffee break."
The major places high demands on its students and the freshman and sophomore years tend to be the hardest due to time spent in the studio.
It is thought by many that the first two years are specifically designed to put a strain on those less serious about pursuing architecture.
"Last year they packed us with work," said sophomore Adam Krywinski, an architecture major. "The professors say after the freshman year you become part of the architectural family. Sophomore year is the hardest because they want the weakest people to drop."
The first half of the major includes a rigorous schedule where students spend the majority of their time in the studio, on South Campus. Students are assigned a space within the studio where they are expected to spend most of their time drawing up plans, building models and working on projects.
"Studio is an integral part of the program; it becomes a home away from home. There is almost always someone in studio working," said Jean LaMarche, the acting chair of the department of architecture. "Other classes provide knowledge which can then be used on studio projects."
"You have no life when you're an architecture major," said Leslie Malaga, a sophomore architecture major. "I wake up and go to studio, I break only to go to other classes, or to eat, or change; then come back to studio, no matter what happens it's always back to studio."
Malaga's fellow architecture majors share the same studio woes and have drawn the same conclusion; they have no life because of the time spent in studio.
It is not uncommon to see a frazzled architecture student returning from an entire night working at studio, nor is it uncommon to see a tiny architecture student walking around with a huge block of wood or some other uncanny piece of material or supply.
"I had to buy a sink today," said Malaga. "$49 and I'll never use it except to draw it for one project. I'm always buying things like hammers and power drills and glue guns and wire; architecture is a very expensive major."
"Hyatts are the people who are going to be robbing you for the next four years of your life. They're very nice; when you have money they'll help you spend it," she said.
The operating of menacing machinery is also a way of life for architecture students. All students must use these tools to complete mandatory projects.
"I go to the shop and use machines twice my size and imagine how they can kill me. I think I know how to use more power tools better than the average guy," said Malaga.
Being female does not afford you special treatment when it comes to operating heavy machinery, or when it comes to succeeding as an architecture student, according to some.
"It's harder for girls because we have to prove ourselves" said Cassie Johnson, a sophomore majoring in architecture. "And we never get to dress up and look pretty. We live in studio."
One might wonder why these students subject themselves to this constant demand on their time and energy, but all of these students wear their studio hours as a badge of pride. Most couldn't imagine themselves doing anything else.
"Heat and pressure is what is used to create a beautiful gem," said Andre James, a sophomore architecture major. "Despite the hardship of the art form (of) architecture, the end result is nothing less than a diamond of blood, sweat and tears fused into beauty."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
