UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #237
PURDY, CHARLES

PURDY, Charles (1956- )
Undergraduate Student
At UW: 1973-1977

Interviewed: 1977	
Interviewer: Laura Smail
Length: 0.5 hour

Reasons for coming to UW; SOAR program; Courses; Relationship with professors; Dormitory life; Difficulty making friends; Jobs; WSA and student apathy; Course requirements; Intramural sports; Leisure activities; Plans for future.

Tape 1/Side 1   

00:00:01	Reasons for interviewing him. 

00:01:21	His background.  Now lives on a beef farm in Luck, Wisconsin.  Had lived in 	other states until he was about 12.  

00:03:46	Reasons for coming to UW.   

00:05:31	Attitudes in his community toward UW.  Where his high school friends went.  	Belief that Madison is impersonal; radicals and homosexuals.

00:08:09	CP's comments on values of Madison community. 

00:10:13	People in Wisconsin undervalue the University. He hasn't been able to change negative view of UW in his community.

00:12:09	His parents.  Father a stockbroker.  Believes in liberal education.  Don't go to 	school to learn a trade. 

00:13:52	SOAR program.  Two days of orientation.  Great help in meeting people.

00:16:40	Spent first two years in Tripp Hall, Lakeshore dorms.  Liked his roommate.  	Tiny room. 

00:17:43	Likes the week interval before classes begin. 

00:19:06	His freshman courses.  Took Sterling Fishman's course in history.  Also English, math, Spanish.  Second semester, George Mosse. 

00:21:12	Became friends with one of his TAs. 

00:22:04	His preparation compared to other students.  Had to study hard to catch up. 

00:23:42	Has liked almost all of his courses.  Professors very informative.

00:25:07	Has made it a practice to talk to a professor before enrolling in his course for history and political science courses.  David Adamany best professor he has had. 

00:27:21	Decided major in sophomore year.  Loved history.  Comments on people who major in business.

00:30:10	Has to do science requirement next year.  Thinks it's valuable to have science.

00:31:26	Opposes language requirement.  A semester equivalent spent on Spanish.  More beneficial to have same time in history.  Friends agree.  Hurts on grade point average, too. 

00:33:32	Freshman English needed by everyone.  He took it, though didn't have to. 

00:35:58	Student life--meals at dorms.  Made many friends.  Now lives in an 	apartment. 

00:37:45	Played on intramural football team while in dorms, soccer team.  Now doesn't get 	much exercise. 

00:38:56	Meeting girls. 

00:40:46	Regarding depression, he had no problem but had friends who did.  Often had, in 	fact those he knew had good grades, but had difficulty meeting people.  Have to 	make an effort here to make friends. 

00:44:20	His activities: studies, has two jobs, one working at Armory and one working in a sorority dining room.  Another job was working as referee for intramural football.  Works to have money for the extras.  Jobs easy to find.  He earns $25 to $30 a week. 

00:47:44	Doesn't go to concerts--too expensive.  Spends a lot of time in the classical music room at the union.  Likes to sail. 

00:49:53	Last summer CP worked in a cheese factory for 48 hours a week.  Made $4.60 an hour.  

00:51:05	On the Cardinal.

00:51:56	Thinks people very apathetic on campus.  Very few people voted at WSA elections.  WSA is important; provides EPC notes--lecture notes.  All students contribute to WSA, that's how it is funded.  WSA is looked on by people outside UW as spokesmen for UW.  

00:59:29	His views of the TAA.  Values them as teachers.  Has been in a section with 27 or 28 other students.  

01:02:52	Hasn't paid much attention to merger.  Thinks Wisconsin residents should have 	priority in admission to UW, but should be qualified.  

01:06:07	Is going to law school after graduating in 1978.  

01:07:03	His two major professors are David Adamany and David Fellman.

01:07:57	End of interview.

END