College is a time for commit
ment. At Texas A&M you will
find 98 percenters committed to
tradition, study-hound types
committed to their books, and
eighth-year seniors committed
to procrastination. And then
there are those who have made
,a life-long commitment. They
are, of course, the married stu
dents.
In sickness and in health,
through midterms and finals,
these students have and hold
more than the typical student’s
load. In many cases the Mr. and
Mrs. have said “I do” to classes,
jobs, and perhaps even chil
dren.
The University keeps no ac
curate statistics on the number
of married students enrolled at
Texas A&M, according to Don
Carter, associate registrar. But
wedded Aggies can be found in
all areas of campus, blending
easily with their single class
mates.
Fr. Leon Streider, pastor at
St. Mary’s Catholic Church,
says that he assists a large num
ber of students who are plan
ning marriages.
“Here at St. Mary’s, we help
prepare close to 200 couples
every year,” he says.The
church’s regular membership of
6,000 active members includes
approximately 200 married stu
dents.
Dr. Jon Alston, a professor of
sociology who teaches a class
on the marriage institution, says
life will not be easy for new
lywed couples.
Financial strain, conflicts with
in-laws, and a lack of indepen
dence contribute to the difficul
ties of married living, he says.
However, after nearly three
years of wedded bliss, one stu
dent couple says they have no
regrets about their decision to
get married while still in school.
Tony and Mindy Casper
have been married for much of
their college careers. “Two
years, eight and three-fourths
months, ” Tony cites exactly.
Mindy was a sophomore and
Tony was a freshman when he
popped the question. A year
and two months later, they tied
the knot. Now they are both se
niors who plan to graduate in
December.
They say there were few ma
jor adjustments to make in the
transition from single to married
life. Two apartments were con
densed to one and financial
concerns became a shared bur
den.
“The only adjustment we
really had to make was all of the
sudden we were both poor
together,” Tony says with a
laugh.
“Before we got married we
kind of pooled our money a lot
anyway . . . helped each other
out,” Mindy adds.
The Caspers talk about the
hectic schedules that accom
pany student life, but agree that
their lives have become more
structured since they wed.
“Your groceries change too,”
Mindy says with a laugh.
“When you’re single you buy
pizzas and frozen waffles. Now
we buy broccoli and carrots and
potatoes . . . typical Mom and
Dad stuff.”
Tony was in the military be
fore entering college and the
pension he receives goes a long
way toward relieving their fi
nancial burden. Additionally,
they are both on staff at The
Battalion — Tony as photo edi
tor and Mindy as staff artist.
The newspaper staff pre
sented the Caspers with the
Ward and June Cleaver Award
at the Student Publications
Banquet last spring.
Although the couple’s life
style seems as ideal as the
Cleaver’s, Mindy says her par
ents did have some reservations
about her wedding since both
the bride and the groom were in
the midst of earning diplomas.
“They were wondering if we
were going to make it, being in
school.” Mindy remembers.
So far its been smooth sailing
for the duo. They offer constant
support to each other and ap
proach their studies as a team.
Mindy even says that marriage
has helped her grades.
“My GPR shot way up be
cause I settled down, ” she says.
Both Tony and Mindy talk
enthusiastically about the relief
from peer pressure that fol
lowed their vows. They say the
“pressure to party” has been al
leviated, and they no longer feel
the need for acceptance that ac
companies single life.
Life isn’t always a bowl of
cherries in the Casper house
hold, but they are living proof
that wedding bells and school
bells can peal in harmony.