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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1994)
25,1994 muon )nday. 'lub: Car; ng or par- ■ le and as! | .m. at the I formatio: \ : Demon- f uitable for! t 260 GRW. Valdes ai f ion: Dailv 11 Faith's 1 :all Tonya rmational m 10 a.m.- :all Liz at Resource ■efing an 11 ckerllb | rvice that; d faculty! should be!: .ays in ad- 1 Applica-|| not events j. Jp. If you I « call the I' ilor tor or o editot ons editot pher, |a rnsi ;manus, Melt ssa Tuesday, January 25,1994 MM Page 3 ^^ Living with Ma and Pa Kyle Burnett/The Battalion Mr. and Mrs. William Lancaster have provided Aggies with a Christian living environment near campus for 24 years. Housing Aggies a tradition for Lancaster family By Paul Neale The Battalion here's a waiting list to live with Ma and Pa. In fact, each year between 100 and 300 Aggies try to secure a place under one of Ma and Pa's roofs. Mr. and Mrs. William Lancaster, known to Texas A&M students as "Ma" and "Pa," are in the business of housing Aggies. Their student housing, Lancaster Place, is located across the street from campus on Dexter Drive. The dining room of their home brings to mind the works of Norman Rockwell. The late-afternoon sun spotlights the plates hung on the walls, and the scent of Pa's peach cobbler lingers in the air. They began in 1970 with two houses for women Aggies, in addition to their own house. As more women started to attend the formerly all-male University, there was a need for women's housing. Within walking distance from campus, Lancaster Place now consists of 10 houses and provides housing for male students, also. However, Lancaster Place isn't like any other place, Ma said. As if on cue, a student enters the dining room to ask where the bleach is kept. The scene makes Ma and Pa look just like, well, Ma and Pa. Their home is open around the clock to any student, Ma said, in an attempt to provide a home-like atmosphere. As stated in the contract a student must sign to lease a room, the purpose of the Lancasters is to provide "an atmosphere that is conducive to study, that encourages courteous and cooperative living, and that promotes the highest of moral standards and Christian principles." "We feel that it's kind of a ministry," Ma said. Students are encouraged to be involved with a church, she said, but are not required. Amy Ruth Arnold, a history major from Seguin, has lived at Lancaster Place for three years. Arnold said she prefers Lancaster Place to dorm life since each house has a living area and a kitchen and her neighbors share common values. "The selection process guarantees a Christian environment," Arnold said. When she graduates, she will miss the sense of camaraderie, she said. Ma and Pa's ardent countenances are testimonies of their rewarding position at Lancaster Place. They agree that there haven't been any major difficulties during the last 24 years. The biggest problem, Ma said, has been housekeeping. But even that is only a minor obstacle. Since 1970, Lancaster Place has been home to over 500 Aggies. Ma said that one of their main goals has always been for the students to make lasting friendships. In addition to the many close relationships that have developed over the years, more than 20 couples who met at Lancaster Place have married. Three Lancaster couples have been married since last June. Former residents of Lancaster Place still stop by for visits, Ma said. Last July, two women who were residents in 1970 visited. But Ma and Pa won't be advertising vacancies any time soon. Their word- of-mouth approach appears to be spreading the word successfully. The growing waiting list extends up through 1997. Lancaster Place will continue to operate, Ma said, "as long as we're physically and mentally able." THANKS! From the Aggie Orientation Leader Program Adkisson, Megan An, Yvonne Andress, Rachel Arnold, Shannon Atkinson, Johanna Austell, Susan Baber, Shannon Bain, Brigette Beacham, Mary Benavides, Luis Bosley, Rebecca Bowdre, Kristy Brattain, Shannon Briggs, Christopher Brown, Gerry Brown, Nora Bryant, Craig Bui, Thuy-Khanh Burchfield, Steven Busch, Jennifer Campos, Patricia Carter, Tracy Chavez, Christopher Colbert, Freda Coltharp, Jeffrey Crumpton, Gretchen Daniels, Monica Davidson, Stephen Davis, Bryan Dietzler, Deana Dorgan, Shelia Dowd, Deidre Duecker, Melanie Eastwood, Giles Eaton, Christopher Ely, Angela Emmons, Susan Erwin, Christ! Figat, Christopher Finklea, Benjamin Fletcher, Stacy Gaylord, Lecel Goodrich, Carmen Greene, Leah Guzman, Jesse Hagan, Shelley Hall, Christina Hamann, Jerrid Hamilton, Mark Hatfield, Melissa Hester, Ronald Hoechstetter, Kurils Holderman, Clay Hortenstine, Holly Hudson, Kyle Jacobson, Jessica Jennings, Matthew Jones, Amy K. Knight, James Koy, Amy Lecce, Andra Lee, Holly Lineberger, Sarah Little, Ellen Lynch, Jennifer Marquart, Angele Matheson, Thomas McFall, Shannon McNeil, Bryan McWilliams, Heather Michael, Robert Miles, Michael Miller, Michael Mills, Jason Mitchell, Sylvia Miura, Carrie Mo, Ronald Morton, Jeffrey Mosel, Douglas Nolen, Lisa Orr, Denise Partain, Anna Patel, Jatin Patterson, Amy Pettit, Melissa Picha, Linda Proctor, Matt Putnam, Norman Quan, Freddy Reed, Beverly Rembert, Melinda Roberts, Kellie Rogers, Molly Rogers, Scott Rush, Amy Saenz, Nora Sanchez, Manuel Scheel, Andra Schroeder, Kara Scott, Gary Slocum, Julie Smith, Jennifer Spicer, Susan Spottswood, Suzanne Steffee, Susan Stockton, Benjamin Stockton, Carrie Sulak, Edward Sutton, Elizabeth M. Todd, Deborah Torres, Jennifer Trevino, Leslie Tutt, Sarah Upchurch, Alyson Valdes, Santiago Velasquez, Gilberto Vergara, Salvador Walsh, Cobie Weeks, Kamey Westover, Shayne Wiatrek, Rebecca Wiatrek, Stacy Wilkinson, Paul Willis, Jennifer Wolcott, Christopher Wolfe, Darin Yu, Sandra Now it’s your chance to experience orientation the O.L. way! BE AN O.L.! Applications Available: January 23 - February 16 Puryear Annex, SPO, Student Activities, Multicultural Services, International Student Services, and Support Services for Students with Disabilities Applications Due: Wednesday, February 16 at 5:00 p.m. in the Puryear Annex
