UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #391
KITTLESON, AIMEE

KITTLESON, Aimee (1971- )
Undergraduate Student, English
At UW: 1989-1994

First Interview
Interviewed: May 18, 1990	
Interviewer: Barry Teicher
Length: 01:11:42

Background; Decision to attend college and choice of UW; First impressions of Madison and campus; Courses, examinations and grades; Dormitory life; Extracurricular activities; Sex and drugs on campus; Minorities and women; ROTC controversy; Plans for future.

Second Interview
Interviewed: 1994	
Interviewer: Barry Teicher
Length: 1:22:30

Course of study; Courses and instructors; Anthropology Department; Finances; Jobs; Housing; Wisconsin Product Information Research Group (WISPIRG); Leisure time; Political issues; Alcohol; "Generation X."

FIRST INTERVIEW

00:00:20	Background and education. Home Menomonie, Wisconsin. Elementary school years in small school in Downsville, WI to large high school in Menominee. General college prep courses in high school. Spanish club, class officer, NHS, played volleyball, softball, basketball.

00:03:20	Question: How or when did you decide to go to college? 
Answer: Parents didn’t go to college and always encouraged her. Started looking at schools Junior Year in high school. Chose UW- Madison over the University of Minnesota-St. Paul, St. Norbert, and Marquette. Wanted to go to a reputable school.

00:06:04	Question: Who did you hear about UW from? 
Answer: The first time I ever heard of it was from a cousin who went to UW. She came here my Freshman year. Guidance counselor talked about the process with her. AK made decision to attend UW individually.

00:07:05	Discussion of SAT scores and admissions. Scores acceptable on SATs and other entrance exams weren’t an issue getting into UW-Madison. Summer before 
		visited St. Norbert. Hadn’t visited UW-Madison until SOAR.

00:08:05	Discussion of SOAR. AK found SOAR helpful, well-run. Was her first time on campus. Helped her feel better. Mom enjoyed SOAR as well.

00:11:04	Question: What were your first impressions of Madison?
	Answer: AK found campus to be big. Large size of campus and Madison. Never got used to the size of campus. Masses of people crossing streets. Buildings on campus were fascinating in their structure and antiquity. Bascom Hall seemed to be a mother edifice. Discusses excitement.

00:12:48	Question: Tell us about the new start of registration they started?	
	Answer: Touchtone registration. Register over the phone with touchtone telephone. Everything on a recording, punch in number of courses. Very frustrating. Spent an hour on the telephone. Frustrating because as a freshman you don’t get first choice. Many courses wanted weren’t available. AK felt 
disadvantaged because didn’t know what many classes were. 

00:15:42	Discussion of dorms. AK decided to live in dorms because wasn’t familiar with campus. Good opportunity to meet people. Provides a sense of security. 

00:16:20	Discussion of “Welcome Week” and first few weeks. “Welcome Week” is a week when the school encourages Freshman to come a week early. Freshman can move in early, an extension of SOAR. Programs to attend to familiarize self with campus. Found to be helpful. AK found people and campus intimidating. Overwhelming class size. Music and performance class had over 500 students. Was in a lecture of over 500. AK found discussion sections were better. Made the material more accessible.

00:19:10	Discussion of TA’s. The TA’s were the only people AK had contact with. Had no contact with professors. 

00:19:53	Discussion of classes. AK took a Spanish class, English literature, Sociology, Geology and an ILS course. Courses weren’t first choices. Worked out okay because this year my goal was to fill requirements. I didn’t have a major in mind even if they weren’t my first choices. 	

00:20:35	Discussion of ILS. AK learned about ILS at SOAR. Was interested in it at that point. It wasn’t one of first choices, but turned out to be one of my favorites. Put on a priority list once took class. Offered a different approach to teaching. Included a broader base of teaching material. Got a broader, more related interdisciplinary approach. More to teach how to think about things. Helpful in other classes.

00:22:18	Question: Any other classes that were appealing?
Answer: There were courses that weren’t first choice but still ended up being beneficial. Speaks to the value of education at UW-Madison. English was one of the classes that seemed strange. Preferred to have small English classes. 

00:23:53	Discussion of exam format. AK says variation in exams. With ILS, able to plan out essay in advance. Others are impromptu. Most are allotted 2 hours. Prefers essay—best test of knowledge.

00:27:21	Discussion of homework. AK read a great deal. Doing well with grades. 
Not as well as in high school with GPA. Fairly satisfied, but would like to do better.

00:28:28	Discussion of time management. AK had bad study habits in high school. Problems with poor study habits, procrastination, and time management. Grades improved after personal realization of problems. More of a personal realization. 
Did poorly on first English exam. Very disappointed, scared. Enough to motivate to change. Improved after. Feels grades are personally important. Because at high quality institution of UW-Madison, if do well, it will benefit you later.

00:31:32	Discussion of emphasis of grades. AK feels it is more important what gain personally than letter grade. Mom hasn’t expressed disappointment. Says to do best. Doesn’t push specific agenda. Proud.

00:34:15	Discussion of dorm life. AK lived on Witte, 4th floor in the A tower. Worst reputation. Problem with immature male wing. Four persons reprimanded. House Fellow didn’t take action. No interaction. Not able to study in room. No one returning to floor next year.

00:38:07	Discussion of drinking. Easy to go to parties and access alcohol despite being underage.
		
00:40:47	Discussion of study habits. Often went to study lounge. Discussed how to improve expectations. Believes that House Fellow needs to enforce expectations. Group just needed more discipline.

00:41:54	Discussion of eating on campus. AK often goes to Pops Club and Gordon Commons. Cafeteria style. AK doesn’t have extracurricular activities. More concerned with getting used to classes and life of Madison. 

00:45:18	Discussion of plans for next year. AK is moving to house on Mifflin Street in fall with nine girls. Three of other roommates from Menominee, others met through dorms. 

00:45:45	Discussion of Mifflin Block Party. AK thought it was amazing. Carnival atmosphere. 

00:47:21	Discussion of sports attendance. Attendance at spectator sports. One volleyball game. Wished had attended hockey game. Discussion of Badgers winning NCAA Hockey championship.
	
00:48:08	Discussion of leisure time. AK Reads Daily Cardinal and Badger Herald daily. Helps to keep up with news of day. Not much time for social scene. Fraternity parties and house parties. Wall to wall people. Go in groups. Attended Phi Lambda's gold fish eating champion night. Two tanks of gold fish, 400 fish in each tank. Small person ate 339 live, raw goldfish. Set world record. Oddest experience at any party ever attended.

00:52:24	Question: What are student attitudes regarding alcohol?
	Answer: No one obeys 21-drinking age restriction. Alcohol and other drugs on campus. Alcohol very easy to get. Drink mainly beer. Doesn’t consider it to be a problem. No personal experience with drugs. Marijuana drug of choice on campus. Discussion of death of student who jumped out of window from 7th floor at Sellery Hall on first time experimenting with LSD. 

00:55:09	Discussion of sex on campus and AIDS. AIDS very much on minds. Campus awareness and education.

00:56:42 	Discussion of minorities and racism. AK doesn’t perceive much discrimination against minorities. But notices that minorities make selves known and equal. Doesn’t consider it an issue. Hasn’t witnessed an example of discrimination. ROTC controversy on campus. Students wanted ROTC off campus because didn’t allow gays to sign. Shalala agrees, but wants to sign waiver to prohibit. Protests on Bascom. Police brutality with students staying overnight at University President’s office. 

00:59:53	Discussion of thoughts on ROTC. Thinks it would be good if ROTC was off campus. Seems discriminatory. Off Harvard campus, not sure why isn’t off campus is student body wants it off.

1:00:58 	Discussion of attitudes towards women on campus. Doesn’t feel discriminated against. Feels there is a sense of gender equality. 

1:01:32	Discussion of campus safety. AK initially felt afraid because of size of Madison. But feels that Women's Transit Authority which will pick up women for free on campus at night and other services are helpful. Safe Walk also a good resource. Doesn’t go places alone at night. But doesn’t feel constant sense of danger.

1:03:10	Discussion of orientations. Hasn’t attended any orientations on safety while a student. Address safety at SOAR.

1:03:42	Discussion of State Street and Memorial Union. AK doesn’t spend much time at either. Mostly frequents the Terrace. Doesn’t feel as comfortable at Union.
	
1:06:35	Discussion of Dean and Chancellor. AK has no opinion of the Dean. Believes Shalala gets a lot of static but not sure why. 

1:08:17	Discussion of future. AK thinks will graduate with a degree in three years. Would like to visit Spain to study abroad. As far as careers, doesn’t have a specific career in mind yet.  

1:09:30	Question: If you had to declare a major now, what would it be?
		Answer: Communications/Journalism. Has faded away somewhat since previous year.

1:11:41	End of session.
	
SECOND INTERVIEW

Tuesday, May 17th 1994

00:00:35	Question: Did you have any major in mind when you enrolled at the university?
Answer: First intended to go into journalism. She spent her first two years at UW concentrating on breadth requirements and during this time she became interested in other areas. For a time she focused on anthropology, but decided against it as a major since she was not as interested in the scientific as the cultural aspect of it. Finally became an English major in her senior year.

00:02:02	Question: How did you decide on declaring an English major?
Answer: Had sort of been doing it all along. She had been taking the requirements all along because of her interest in journalism. Would be able to graduate a semester earlier if she declared that major. 

00:02:29	Question: What areas within English did you enjoy?
Answer: AK took some enjoyable writing and literature courses, including creative writing and contemporary poetry. She particularly enjoyed a course on 19th-century American women writers taught by Jeffrey Steele in which the work of Margaret Fuller, Louisa May Alcott, and Harriet Wilson was covered. She likes contemporary literature and getting away from the traditional "canon." 

00:06:06	Question: Who are some of the notable professors you enjoyed working with?
Answer: AK talks about notable English professors: Steele, Heather DuBrou (17th-century English literature), Al Feltskog (Voices of American Humor), and Robert Kimbrough (Shakespeare).

00:10:24	Discussion of notable anthropology professors. AK recalls include Sharon Hutchinson (African peoples), Herbert Harvey (Anthropology of law), and Art and Anthropology. Though she enjoyed anthropology, it did not retain her interest.

00:12:41	Question: Was the large class size was a bit of a hindrance? 
Answer: Yes. Made it difficult to be drawn into the field. It is hard to have an intimate relationship with a professor. Some professors are more available and encourage students to come to office hours. Didn’t feel intimidated going to office hours?

00:13:51	Discussion of a report released recently that was very critical of the Anthropology department. The department is racked with personality attack, ego, and sexual assault that it has become mired in gridlock. AK was not aware of the problems. 
		Harold Scheub contacted AK for an interview, but she did not respond as she was in the process of canceling her anthropology major.

00:16:34  	Discussion of English department. AK believes that the English Department strikes a good balance between the traditional canon and non-traditional courses.

00:19:03 	Discussion of study habits and test questions. AK feels her study habits have improved. She takes a more relaxed attitude to study now. Prefers essay questions to multiple choice.

00:21:16	Question: How would you rate the quality of instruction that you received here?
		Answer: AK rates the quality of instruction at UW as excellent.

00:21:37	Discussion of financing education. AK has financed her education mainly through financial aid — loans and work study. She has received little help from home. Undergrad tuition is around $1300 per semester. It is becoming more difficult to pay for an education. Educational debt is a fact of life. Feels that tuition is still affordable especially when you work. Friends are also working.

00:26:10	Discussion of jobs. AK has worked at the Oral History Project, Noah's Ark in the Wisconsin Dells, at the Archives, and at the Smithsonian Institution information desk. She currently works in the Sociology Department managing a database for a survey on American families.

00:29:52	AK traveled overseas and visited England, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Holland, and Morocco. The atmosphere in Morocco, she felt, was threatening to western women. 

00:31:55	Discussion of Witte Hall. AK considers dorm housing a good place to meet people. She lived in Witte Hall her freshman year. The following year she lived with eight other girls in a house on W. Mifflin Street. They took their landlord to court for withholding their security deposit and won the case a year and a half later. The Student Tenant Union, which provides information on tenant rights and keeps complaint files, was a helpful resource. She and three others lived the next year in a house on E. Mifflin; there were no problems there. She now lives on Williamson Street.

00:37:48	Discussion of student groups. AK was a volunteer for WISPIRG, Wisconsin Product Information Research Group, which works issues relating to the environment and consumer rights. She and other members took a field trip to Washington DC and heard Ralph Nader speak. She worked on a recycling project on campus. 

00:40:36	Question: What is your opinion of the Cardinal or the Badger Herald?
	Answer: Don’t really pay much attention to them. Occasionally she picks up a Cardinal or Badger Herald.

00:41:38	Question: What do you do with your leisure time?
Answer: AK does not have much leisure time. She enjoys movies and listening to bands at the bars. Some of the more popular bars include the Club de Wash, The Plaza, Pinckney Street Hideaway, and The Essenhaus. Weekly Ensemble, a "ska" band, and Booty Fruit are a couple of local bands AK likes. She spends time at the Union, mostly during the day. She talks about the "Union mug," the red recycling mug that is a UW trademark. 

00:45:30	Question: What groups do youth currently listen to?
Answer: AK discusses national musical trends. She listens to the Indigo Girls, an acoustic rock duo. Grunge, represented by such bands as Pearl Jam and Nirvana, is a very popular genre. Hip hop is the popular style of dance music. Her musical tastes have broadened since she was a freshman.

00:49:45	Question: Have your religious beliefs changed since you were in college?
Answer: Her church attendance has become much less regular since she came to UW. Though raised a Catholic, she never held strong beliefs. College and travel have opened her eyes to different religions and ways of living. 

00:51:27	Question: What is your religion?
Answer: She is more skeptical about the religious experience than before, and though she still considers herself a Catholic, she does not agree with some of the Church's views. Had stayed in Menominee, doesn’t think would you have had the same perspectives on things. 

00:53:47	Question: How involved are you in politics?
Answer: AK is not very involved in campus or national politics. The student government on campus passed out of existence for a time, but it has now been reinstituted.

00:55:16	There is an ethnic studies requirement for undergrads at UW; AK took Ethnicities in the US among other courses she had while in anthropology. There is a Multicultural Center in the Union. She deems the concern for multiculturalism on campus to be good. 

00:56:36	Beer is still the "drink of choice." She does not see student alcohol consumption as much of a problem. She goes to fewer parties than she did earlier. Marijuana is the most prevalent drug. The Union and many restaurants in town are now smoke-free. AK agrees with this policy.

1:00:45	Discussion of AIDS. Still a big concern. AK knows people who have it. Some of her friends speak to high school students about AIDS. AK not sure if students listen.

1:02:22	Discussion of athletics. AK does not follow sports. The financial aspects of pro athletics disturb her. AK watched the Rose Bowl. Small party to celebrate the game.

1:05:04	AK discusses the 1993 "stampede" at the UW-Michigan game. Several students were injured and pushed through the barricades. Tickets were distributed and shared amongst students which led to overcrowding.

1:06:41	Discussion of discrimination. AK has not experienced discrimination while at UW. She talks about a recent controversy about a cartoon in the Badger Herald which satirized stereotype representations as mascots; black students on campus felt it was discriminatory. 

1:08:50	Discussion of free speech. She can see both sides of the hate speech issue, but feels that even unsavory opinions should be allowed expression. Having it be discussed could prevent more insidious approaches to racism such as the KKK.
		Discussion was a way of trying to make selves more socially aware.

1:10:55	Question: Did you have knowledge of discrimination against women on campus?
	Answer: AK can’t really. Didn’t feel like any of her friends had. Anti-Semitism and racism against blacks wasn’t an issue.

1:11:42	Discussion of Dean of Students and Donna Shalala. AK saw her in Bascom Hall and on the streets. AK thought she had a positive impact on UW and was viewed favorably by undergrads. 

1:13:07	Discussion of campus personalities. "Scanner Dan" is a character who hangs out on the mall. The same street people have been around UW since AK came in 1989. AK has not seen an increase in street people but has seen the consistent personalities. Doesn’t see it as a problem but not sure she can generalize since hasn’t lived in any other urban places except Madison. Has only been approached a few times. 

1:15:10	AK is working at Yellowstone National Park as a waitress in the lodge for the summer. Avoiding job market. AK tentatively plans to move to Portland, Oregon after with a friend and work temporary jobs for the next couple of years. Doesn’t want to lock into anything. She hopes to do some traveling. She is considering studying law in the future.

1:17:41	AK talks about what being a member of "Generation X" means to her. It is characterized as lost, fragmented, and without an identity. She feels the description applies to her to an extent. 

1:19:13	Question: Every generation has their struggle to shape their identity. What is different about Generation X? 
		Answer: Living in a time when there is an information overload. Hard to put it all together. Discusses movies "Slacker" and "Reality Bites" that summarize the stereotype of Generation X.

1:21:09	Question: How has college changed you? How are you different now?
Answer: AK feels college has made her more aware of the rest of the world and has opened her mind to different opportunities.

1:22:30	End of interview.

End of Oral History #391