by Melissa A. Collett
photography by Shelby Wertz

Working on an assignment in Ruth Trotter's Art Experience class in the Art Building, junior Jill Seaton concentrates on a shading assignment on a hot afternoon. / photo by Shelby Wertz

Working on an assignment in Ruth Trotter’s Art Experience class in the Art Building, junior Jill Seaton concentrates on a shading assignment on a hot afternoon. / photo by Shelby Wertz

At first glance, the campus is picture perfect. The trees are blooming with beautiful purple flowers, and crows roam the grass in front of Miller Hall.

Students pepper the campus, sitting on benches in the shade, talking and gesturing, studying at the tables in front of the Wilson Library and walking to and from buildings clad in backpacks. There is an occasional outburst of students laughing, catching the attention of others around.

The University of La Verne from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. is in the very beginning of a closing day. Most commuter students have already gone home. As morning cars begin to leave, student athletes take over the extra parking spaces, making CAPA students search. The second rush of cars for parking spots has begun.

In the weight room, men watch themselves in the mirror as they strain their muscles lifting weights. And sitting at a desk while doing her work study job is freshman Katie Holmes, daydreaming through the tinted window that looks toward the Student Center. Holmes is in the weight room for about as many hours a week as some of the guys working out; yet her mind is on other things.

In the Student Center, a group of male students gathers around a pool table, shooting a quick game of 8 ball before heading into the locker room to change for football practice. Upstairs, almost unnoticed, are sophomores Jennifer Spring and Jaime Corley practicing free throws for the upcoming basketball season.

At the Oaks residence hall, junior Aaron Carlin drags his feet along the sidewalk making a loud shuffling noise heard over the noise of wind and traffic. Carlin is on his way to his dorm room to take a nap. “Cross country takes a lot of energy out of you, and if I don’t sleep now, I’ll sleep in class,” said Carlin.

Ruth Trotter’s Art 100 class, contains the same afternoon sulkiness as the students work on shading projects using pencils. Students Stacy Lucas, Jill Seaton and Ellen Maietta quietly share a table, each working at her own pace. The huge art building overwhelms their quietness as the relaxing flutter of the fans keeps a Casablanca peace.

In the Associated Student Forum (ASF) office sits a lone figure at the computer. Freshman forum member Allison Evans is making letters to send out to clubs for Homecoming. “We don’t have a band,” says Evans, “and people are putting in floats that have nothing to do with the theme.”

This is a quiet time for La Verne. Gone are the rushed activities of morning classes and lunchtime.