New Zealand Student's Opinion of Rollins

This is a New Zealand transfer student's opinion of Rollins, from the Sandspur: "SpotlightDiane Boggs, New Zealand Transfer, Talks Of Silent Treatment, U. S. DressDiane Charmaine Boggs, sophomore transfer, who arrived at the beginning of this term from her native New Zealand, announced in a strongly British-flavored accent that "Rollins is super fun." Diane decided to leave Victoria University in Wellington when she heard her father's job required him to move either to the United States or Canada. She chose Florida because, according to Diane, it has a New Zealand-type of climate. 3,000 Miles - "Next Door"Her parents, now in Nova Scotia, seem practically next door to Diane. "Three thousand miles doesn't seem like much after you've come halfway around the world," she explains. Diane declined to comment on whether it was "super fun" to be stranded in Winter Park after having traveled three thousand miles by train, without any clothes except the ones on her back, due to one of our American railroads' famous baggage delays. Silent TreatmentImmediately struck with the friendliness of Rollins students, Diane was pleased and quickly began to respond in kind. Used to receiving a smile and a greeting from everyone she passed, she was puzzled when a number of girls answered her with silence and a look somewhat akin to terror. It seems many sorority women were uncertain about her rush status (she did not register for rush) and trembled at the consequences of breaking the silence laws. Fraternity system does not exist in New Zealand, and Diane found it all very confusing at first. She even committed the heinous crime of confusing the sororities with the fraternities. We were relieved to hear her add, "I think I've got it all straight now." Apparently young people's customs "down under" do not differ much from those here, but dress does. Teen-agers dance to American rock 'n' roll records, and Johnny Mathis is a favorite. Robed ProfessorsBut Bermuda shorts are taboo, slacks are considered unfeminine, and bobby sox are worn only by children. As in England, university professors all wear black robes. Amused to see that long black stockings are the latest thing here, when New Zealand girls have been wearing them for years, Diane was able to write gloatingly to a friend back home: "Guess what! New Zealand is ahead of America in one thing anyway." U.N. AmbitionsNaturally cheerful, with a sense of fun, Diane, nevertheless, has a serious purpose in coming to Rollins. She is planning to major in education, and says earnestly, "What I'd really like is to do something in foreign relations with the. United Nations.