No, not the fine 1990 film starring Marlin Brando, Matthew Broderick, Bruno Kirby, and Penelope Ann Miller. No, this one is me from 1971 or 1972. This is my freshman yearbook picture from De La Salle High School in New Orleans. Sorry about the graininess. Do I look like I could pass for a cop or any adult for that matter? Three of my classmates from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grammar School chose De La Salle. One of them, Eric Renz, ended up having the exact same 7 classes as me and the other, James Stevens, had five with us. Mom would drop me off at Lee's Circle in the Central Business District and I'd catch the streetcar to school. It was 43 city blocks. I don't remember much about freshman year but I do remember initiation week. On Monday through Thursday, the freshmen had to wear a beanie and had to do pretty much whatever the seniors told them to do from 7AM until 4PM if I remember correctly. It could be carrying books, singing the fight song, doing leap frog with other freshman, etc. Mostly tame stuff. That brings me to the next photo.
The Line - De La Salle High School - 1971
On Friday, we had to walk the line. The line was a roped-off gauntlet. The seniors would line up along the outside of one of the ropes. The freshmen then walked between the ropes and the seniors would throw stuff at them. 75% of the time, it was a mixture of flour and water. Every fourth year, though, the seniors could throw pretty much whatever they wanted ... within reason. We were the fourth year and the last year this was allowed. Flour and water is nasty, folks. What those seniors threw at us went way, way beyond nasty. We're talking flour and water, rotten eggs, molasses, cat litter (Unused we hope but no one was sure), all manner of non-toxic household products, and the big one. The X-factor. None of the previous components worried us that much but there was one that frightened us big time. There was a fairly new product on the market then called Nair. The ads on TV showed women putting Nair on their legs and then wiping it and all of their hair off with a rag. What??? Our hair was a big deal to us in those days. Scared us to death. Our fears were unfounded. Doubt that stuff would have had any effect mixed in with the rest of those vile mixtures. One of the seniors had a garbage can full of some concoction that was bubbling. I have no idea who those guys are in the picture but I looked just like them when I was done. All of us threw our clothes away. This was the year BEFORE De La Salle got air conditioning. The schoolyard stunk for a solid 6 weeks and we had to cope with all of the windows open in the September/October New Orleans heat and you probably have an idea what heat does for an already noxious odor.
You won't find any rituals like that these days. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Did you return the favor when you were a senior or did you take pity on the freshmen, remembering those horrible days?
I didn't care about any of that stuff when I was a senior. I think I made a freshman carry my books once but that's about it. When Friday and the line came (Flour and water only by then), I just went home early. There's probably something to be said for shared experience but some of these initiation rites, particularly at the colleges, just got out of hand. De La Salle is co-ed now so I'm certain these rituals are gone forever.
Oh, and it wasn't horrible. Freshmen didn't HAVE to participate that week if they didn't want to and I don't remember any peer pressure. I think all of us did it.
This was an excellent account. Strangely enough, I don't have any recollection of it. I have always always (can't underline here, just imagine it) been against that sort of thing. It is so easy for it to get out of hand, for it to become a personal attack, for it to become a loathsome, long-lasting memory. It doesn't sound like that applies to you, though, and that's a good thing.
The graduation picture shows what a handsome boy you were as a graduating senior. I see one of the nephews here, but I'm not sure which one. Jacob would be the obvious choice because of the coloring, but I'm not sure he's the one. Anyone?
This isn't my graduation picture, Mom. This is my freshman picture. I don't remember when the yearbook pictures were taken but I was either 14 or 15 here. I plan to do them in order year by year. I like this one, though.
Nice photo. However I wish you'd have skipped the hazing story. I cringe whenever I read about stuff like that, no matter how tame. If anything makes my blood boil, it's that (and teasing). I'd have pulled my kid if I knew that were invovled. Ok, I'll get off my soap box (as Nicole calls it).
I always equate hazing with violence or humiliation. This wasn't like that at all. Also, we could refuse any command and could opt out at any time. It's not a bad memory for me.
I think I see Matthew a little bit. I always thought Stephen looked like Robbie, but not here. That line did not look like fun! I'm glad they got rid of it, but also glad you pulled through it just fine.
Yeah, we all pulled through. Talked and laughed about it for weeks. No harm done. Glad it's over. :)
Carol, go ahead and get up on your soapbox. I, too, HATE hazing and don't think there is anything funny about it. Some kids might think it is harmless fun, but the person doing the hazing could never know for sure. Some kids may be able to put on a "game" face, but feel scared, humiliated inside. I agree with Mama that too often people get out of hand! Luckily, by the time I got to high school all of the hazing was banned. I know Katie, Janine, and Sue had to endure it.
Great picture, Rob! Glad you don't have any bad memories.
Robbie---Jacob looks like you in this pic. Glad we all survived our high school years.
Hey Rob,
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. That was a great account of your high school years. I love seeing the high school pictures. Your Freshman iniation made me think of mine and Sue's. It was really tame for the girls high schools. No flour and water or rotten eggs - I would have definitely declined. In fact, I have to say the Seniors were very kind to us - really just made us dress up funny, maybe carry books or do something a little silly - nothing major. In November for my 50th birthday my sister did a CD of my old pictures. It was hysterical to see the fashion and hair cuts from my high school years. The 70's were a terrible fashion era!!!!!
I have never seen Jacob in me, Nancy. He looks like Phil to me. I've seen glimpses of me in Jackson, though, and Stephen on occasion, but mostly Dad now.
You're quite welcome, Barbara. Yes, the 70s were awful. I still had the Pit-Frat mentality, too. Always solid colors. Never plaid or stripes. In retrospect, I had good fashion sense for the time. Dad had the most awful orange pants with patchwork squares all over it. He wore them all the time. I didn't want to be seen with him. I think he had a leisure suit, too. OK, enough of that. I'm getting ill.
Rob,
I definitely think Jacob looks exactly like you. I never did see you in Stephen but I definitely think Stephen favors Sue so I'm sure there are glimpses of you in there too. I think Jackson looks like PHil and I think Jude looks like your Dad. Since he was born I think he looks like your Dad with blonde hair. No one else thinks so when I tell them that.