Interview with Tiffany Taticek, 04/24/2018

UW Oshkosh Campus Stories
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00:00:00

CM: Hello, my name is Cole Mueller and I am conducting an interview for the UW-Oshkosh Alumni Oral History project with Tiffany Taticek. If you could just say your name and spell it out for me please?

TT: Tiffany Taticek T-I-F-F-A-N-Y T-A-T-I-C-E-K

CM: And can you go ahead and tell me today's date and time?

TT: It is Tuesday, April 24th, 2018 at 1:04 P.M.

CM: Alright, So I just want to start with a simple question just to start things off. So where are you originally from?

TT: I am from Plainfield, Wisconsin.

CM: Okay, and can you describe to me the area you grew up with?

TT: It's a small town of about 900 people, about 20 minutes south of Stevens Point, and about an hour west of Oshkosh.

CM: Okay, did you have any siblings that you grew up with there? Excuse me 00:01:00sorry. Do you have any siblings, and can you describe kind of your time there?

TT: Sure, I do have one older sister, she is a year older than me. My time growing up with a typical small town you know we left our doors unlocked and we knew everybody. My school was K-12, so I went to school with the same people for my whole schooling. You know, it was very slow, fun, and simple.

CM: Yeah, with a small - I come from a small community as well, it's kind of nice to have that small, placement of a community.

TT: Yeah, I miss it a little bit now.

CM: Oh yeah?

TT: Yeah.

CM: So, was that community more rural or urban? Was it close to the city? Or was it like, you know filled with farm houses? Can you explain?

TT: It was mostly farm houses, so the closest city was Stevens Point which is 00:02:00about 20 minutes away, everything else around us was you know farmers and other small towns.

CM: Alright, uh yeah, thanks.

CM: So, can you describe to me your household? What kind of household as in: How would you describe your parents? How were they towards your well-being along with your sibling like your older sister?

TT: Sure, well my parents own their own business. They owned a Christmas tree farm. So, a lot of early mornings and hard work. If we had off from school then we were helping my mom in the office and for two summers we had to sheer trees, so we were always helping with the business.

CM: Alright

TT: which is, good and bad

CM: Okay. Did you take anything good from that experience? Could you elaborate? 00:03:00I mean, the struggle of having to get up in the morning is tough and what not, but did you get any sense of goals or worth from doing it going through it?

TT: Yeah, Work ethic. I was taught about taking pride in your work and making sure that your work is done well the first time.

CM: Yeah

TT: You know being the boss's kid I didn't have any -- like, there was no glamour to it. I was treated the same or worse, I guess, than everybody else because my dad expected more of me.

CM: Your dad expected more out of you?

TT: Yeah.

CM: Alright.

TT: Yeah and like I-I, we didn't get the easy street. We had to work harder than everybody else.

CM: Oh really?

TT: Mhm.

CM: Was there like an expectation just for you guys to better than they had? Or was it just the pressure of-

TT: Meaning there were other employees, you know they knew that we were capable, 00:04:00they knew that this [unclear] this wasn't what we were going to do our whole lives. So, they needed us to understand that they were going to be hard on us.

CM: Mhm

TT: Because you know shearing trees for 2 summers I did not want to do that.

CM: Oh yeah, I know.

TT: You know so-- so going out and getting an education was-- that--was the one thing I needed to do because I knew I didn't want to do that the rest of my life.

CM: Mhm. And that had a good toll on your.. Like.. high school you know.. Or.. when you were in school that basically was kind of like your motivation to go out and do something good in the world right?

TT: Yes--Yeah.

CM: Okay.

TT: Yeah..Yes.

CM: Alright.

TT: Yeah, I didn't want to deal with trees forever.

CM: Alright.

TT: So..

CM: No, I got you there. Let's see.. So other than the tree..or family tree business, what sorts of other activities did you do with your family? Like on a good day I'd say.

TT: Well we.. we traveled a lot. My parents would go to.. [unclear] like nursery convention.

00:05:00

CM: Mhm

TT: so, we had to do a lot of traveling with them-- I don't know, on the weekend my dad would just kind of relax so..

CM: Yeah.

TT: ..so my mom and my sister and I would go shopping. Play board games together.. You know we had fun.

CM: Nice! Well that's..that's..good you know? You got some family bonding time there.

TT: Yeah.

CM: Let's see-- so we already talked about the community, and..so a higher education in your family. So that meant something rights. Have your parents previously gone to school?

TT: Yep, my dad graduated from Madison.

CM: Okay.

TT: And my mom-- my mom had done a couple years at Point [Stevens Point] and then-- she-- I think she - she dropped out of point and then she did a nursing program.

CM: Okay, alright-- I did see that you are a major in journalism and also 00:06:00advertisement and personal affairs. So I just want to know like before you went off to college and.. You were in high school is there anything that influenced you to choose that route? Or did you not know what you want to do in high school yet?

TT: Yeah I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I liked to write, and that was about all I knew-- about what I wanted my future to look like. I don't do any of that now.

CM: Oh?

TT: But-

CM: Okay.

TT: Yeah. But at the time, that-- that's what I knew that I liked. So I had to figure out how I can get into that.

CM: Okay.

TT: I started my first year, I was undecided. I then figured it out from there.

CM: Alright. Okay. Let's see--so from some of the value, can you explain to me the finite values that you learned from growing up, overall? Just going into 00:07:00college, you know, if you were to pick and choose any experiences from your childhood and family? Just, yeah.

TT: Yeah definitely the hard work. Making sure that you how you act in public is how you want to present yourself. You know if you see it now there are kids that act crazy.

CM: Yeah.

TT: Like I didn't want to be part of that because I didn't want that to be how people perceived me. I kind of grew up with that because in a small town everybody sees everything.

CM: Yeah. Do you think with the time and era when you look back, and say that had to be before 2000 so going into college, the kind of-- I'm sorry. I lost 00:08:00myself there. What I was trying to get to was did you see a tone or attitude in people in general about their-- I'm sorry. It's too broad. Anyways, we're just going to go on.

TT: Okay.

CM: So, you know, why don't we go into your thoughts and feelings way before college. So I want to know when you got accepted, and it's still probably 3 or 4 months into going to college, what were your thoughts and feelings? Did you originally choose UWO?

TT: [Unclear] My dad going to Madison, we grew up with my dad telling us "You can go anywhere you want to college. As long as it's Madison."

CM: Oh?

TT: And I didn't want to go to Madison. I felt that it was too big. I thought 00:09:00that I would kind of get lost there. And you know, my parents had Badger football tickets forever. So I've been down there. I know how sprawling the campus is and how many kids are there. I didn't want to go somewhere that big.

CM: Mhm.

TT: My sister being a year older than me, she went to college first. She went to Madison. So, kind of, pressure's off a little bit.

CM: Okay.

TT: And I had this thought of going into something like communication or journalism. Something with writing. And I kind of did some research about how Oshkosh is kind of a better a choice, I thought, than Madison. So, I applied to two schools, Oshkosh and Madison. I showed my dad my acceptance letter to Madison and said "Hey look, I got in but I'm not going."

CM: Oh my.

TT: I gave him my reasoning and he said "As long as you know that you have a good program

00:10:00

in Oshkosh, that's fine."

CM: Mhm. That's great you know.

TT: Yeah. I was a little nervous.

CM: Definitely. I would be too, you know, with that amount of pressure.

TT: Yeah.

CM: So I just want to know, let's see, when you were going to campus, did you live right off campus? You didn't commute?

TT: Yeah I was in Donner for two years. And then lived right close to campus.

CM: Do you want to elaborate how Donner was as to your experience? How did Donner help you, I should say? Or can you just explain to me what happened while you were in Donner.

TT: Sure. Going in, being from a small town, I was kind of scared because my thoughts process was, well, I haven't had to make friends in thirteen years. How am I going to do this?

CM: Mhm.

TT: You know, but all the girls, well not all the girls, but the girls that I 00:11:00made friends with, were so welcoming. I liked that the freshmen moved in first, so we kind of go to know each other a little bit before everybody else got there. And then I met some sophomores and juniors who were still in the halls and they introduced me to Hall Government. They introduced me to the Reeve Union Board.

CM: Mhm.

TT: They introduced me to all these things that I think that if I hadn't meet them, kind of I wasn't shy but I felt like I was, I wouldn't have done anything.

CM: Mhm.

TT: But I think that commuters really miss out because they don't get to do all that or they don't always know what's available for all that extra curricular stuff. And that's where I really thought that I had the best time was through all these people that I had meet.

CM: Mhm.

TT: You know, you get to know the people in your dorm and even hall government.

CM: Oh yeah. Mhm.

TT: You know you get to know all sorts of people.

00:12:00

CM: Yep

TT: I thought that Donner was great.

CM: Alright.

TT: I worked at the front desk there for three or four years.

CM: Oh yeah?

TT: So I liked it. Yeah even after I moved off campus I kept working there.

CM: How was that for you? Just trying to balance school and basically having the time to also not only work at school but paid to guide and you know, be on this front desk?

TT: I thought it was great because I don't really consider myself to be an extrovert, so it kind of forced me to have to talk to people. Like share my expertise, my directions, my what not.

CM: Okay. Mhm.

TT: I would always work at the front desk when everyone was moving in.

CM: Yeah.

TT: And so, I had parents asking for directions to Cub Foods or whatever the grocery store was. It forced me to kind of get out there and talk to people that 00:13:00I normally would just sit in my room and watch TV. Or something like that. And then--

CM: Oh yeah. It's definitely a hard transition. Sorry, go on.

TT: And it's so, the job is so flexible. You know, if you're open from like 9 o'clock in the morning until midnight.

CM: Mhm.

TT: So you take a one or two hour shift depending on what your schedule is. So I found it was great. I don't know how kids who work off campus and have to find their way to Target or whatever, I don't know how they do it.

CM; Yeah. Yeah definitely, I live off campus but, you know I'm moving closer to campus. That'll be good. Anyway, you did say you were involved not only with Reeve Union Board and the PRSSA, but you said government hall?

TT: Yes. Yeah, my sophomore year, I was the promotions chair. So I would make the posters promoting all of the, like we had a theme night at the government 00:14:00hall meeting that week, I would make posters for it.

CM: Okay,

TT: I would kind of do the general promotions [unclear]

CM: Mhm. Nice.

TT: Yeah

CM: So, let's see, could you describe the attitude of the average student on campus. What things were you seeing that other people like yourself doing? Kind of like trendy or influential.

That's just pretty much describe how students were interaction wise, socially, with not only the school but people like you and others. So the diversity.

TT: I think most the kids that I interacted with really motivated. You know, I 00:15:00spent, like I said, I spent all of my time with hall government or with the Union Board. Or with kids who are putting themselves out there to learn more, to do more, to be more.

CM: Okay.

TT: Does that make sense?

CM: Yep, that does.

TT: Okay.

CM: Did you at all embellish yourself with any bar time or what you were doing outside of campus?

TT: Not a lot. I don't think I ever went to any college parties.

CM: Okay.

TT: Maybe one or two. But I didn't really drink much until I turned twenty-one. My friends and I other stuff.

CM: Oh yeah?

TT: What that was, at this point, I don't know. It was a long time ago. I was never really motivated to do that.

00:16:00

CM: Mhm. I getchu. Some people, you know, they have their choices. And others people will wait. To go on, let's see, with the Reeve Union board, can you describe to me some of the activities you guys had to do besides the ads and posters? Was there any, I don't know. I guess what I'm trying to ask is was there any controversies on campus at this time? Major issues that you could remember?

TT: September 11th. That happened my sophomore year.

CM: Okay. Where were you on September 11th?

TT: I was getting ready for Spanish.

CM: Okay.

TT: And I remember walking into the bathroom in my dorm. And one of the girls that lived on my floor was in the same class as me. She came in in her towel and I said "Erin what are you doing? We have to go to class."

CM: Okay.

TT: And she said "Are you watching TV?" And then I went and turned the TV on and 00:17:00spent pretty much the rest of the day just watching the TV.

CM: Wow.

TT: Mhm.

CM: So with that, so you reached Erin first correct?

TT: Yeah, yes. She's fantastic.

CM: Alright. So what was going through your mind at this time? You just, I'm sure you were in disbelief of what was going on.

TT: Yeah

CM: But I just personally want to know, how could you handle that or how were you rationalizing that in your head?

TT: It was just total shock. You don't know what happened or why it happened. Then the second plane hit and you're like what is going on? Are there other places that are going to be affected?

CM: Mhm

TT: I called my mom. You know, why would I call my mom? She's fine. But, you know, you just go through all these things like are your loved ones ok?

CM: Mhm

TT: You know, it's just disbelief. Because you don't know what's happening or why?

CM: Yeah. Definitely. And Facebook wasn't a thing at this point. I don't know if MySpace was either. Did you guys have MySpace.?

00:18:00

TT: No I don't think it was.

CM: Nope. Alright. So, there's no way or form of connection. Did you parents, what was the reactions from your parents? Did they think something was going to happen with the school?

TT: I kind of remember my mom being really calm. She's like no " We're fine. We're going about our day." It was a Tuesday, so they were working.

CM: Mhm.

TT: They couldn't really stop their day. They had stuff to do. Yeah I just remember her being really calm and so that was helpful. Ok, my mom's not freaking out. So that's good. She knows more than I do about life.

CM: Mhm

TT: I [unclear] called my sister but I don't remember that.

CM: Okay.

TT: I'm pretty sure I did.

CM: Well I mean, you know, reassurance. Absolutely.

TT: Yeah

CM: Another thing I want to ask is, what was the, after the whole event, how was the campus handling that? Because you had to have been on campus that time. I 00:19:00just want to know the reaction, not only of the student body, but facility and the administrative office. How were they addressing this to people?

TT: You know, I don't really remember. I do remember going to class that afternoon. And stepping out of the hall and walking to whatever class I had. And just thinking "Well things are normal here. That's weird."

CM: Mhm

TT: You know, life is going on. Kids are going to class. Everything is--cars are driving down the street. Because I've been watching TV all day. I think I finally went to class at two o'clock.

CM: Mhm

TT: That I remember. I don't remember the reaction of the administration.

CM: Yeah. With an event like that, I forget that you guys didn't have the student emails. We get spam mails every day. You'd think there'd be something 00:20:00that they would do. Like make a public announcement to what's going on. Because even though it's on TV--

TT: Yeah, I think that's what they did.

CM: Yeah. I'm sure there were other students on campus that didn't have that form of media. And if they did, it was only--

TT: Right.

CM: So--

TT: Yeah I was kind of in a bubble.

CM: You were in a bubble?

TT: [Unclear] I was nineteen. I don't, you know.

CM: Mhm. I understand.

TT: I was doing my own thing.

CM: Yep. Let's see. So nothing really changed after that day really? Besides, the University didn't make an effort to tighten up any curfews or strict guest policies or anything like that?

TT: No, not that I remember.

CM: Okay. Alright. Did you see if there was--was there any controversy because, I don't want to go to far into it but, with an attack like that and with the 00:21:00mindset of people at the time, I want to know if there was any racial controversy around campus? People who were Muslim or Islamic?

TT: No, not that I saw.

CM: No?

TT: No.

CM: Okay.

TT: I don't know if that was maybe because, for a long time we didn't exactly what happened or why.

CM: Mhm.

TT: And then all of a sudden, we were in a war. We were like "Go America" So maybe the people who were on campus and that setting and the people were more willing to accept that, you know, my neighbor who's muslim didn't do this.

CM: Mhm. Definitely.

TT: They were more open minded.

CM: Yeah. Okay. So, yeah. Let's see. Alright. And let's see. Do you remember the anthrax attack? Were you in school when that happened?

00:22:00

TT: I do. Yeah.

CM: Yeah?

TT: Yeah.

CM: Could you tell me or describe to me how you learned about that? And how things went at the school? If there was anything controversy or policies or you know anything happening with that?

TT: All I remember is people just talking about being careful with opening your mail. I don't know if anything, I think I was still in the dorm then too. I don't remember people, I don't remember anyone having an issue at our school or with dorm mail or anything like that. I just remember a lot of talk, you know, this is happening so you have to be very careful.

CM: Okay. Alright. Yeah definitely. I mean, that's quite a scary event. Just having that. That's got toput some fear into the community.

00:23:00

TT: Yeah. Yeah you know if you get mail from somebody you don't know maybe don't open it.

CM: Yeah, no. Never. Let's--why don't we talk more about the type of student you were on campus? I already know that you were very well organized. I know that you take part in partying or the Greek life. I just kind of want to know your management of time and determination. What kept you going? Your motivation?

TT: Well I remember from the first [unclear] because high school came really easy.

My high school didn't prepare kids to go college. They prepared kids to go to tech school or being farmers. So when I got to college and I had to study, I didn't really know how to do that.

00:24:00

CM: Yeah.

TT: I remember that being a little difficult. Because my thought process was well if I go to class and I take a notes about what we talk about in our lecture that is what will be on the exam. Right. No, like everything in the book. You've gotta read the book too. And I was like I can't possibly do that.

CM: Mhm. Okay.

TT: So I kind of struggled. I was a straight A student in high school and then got B's and low

B's in college and thought that I was a really bad student.

CM: Mhm.

TT: That was lots of gen ed's. Once you get into your major classes and you're excited and you're motivated because it's something that you like to do--

CM: Mhm.

TT: Then I started getting better grades. Because, I enjoyed it.

CM: Yeah. And do you want to elaborate more on those general education classes and how they were set up for you guys?

TT: A lot of big lectures. I took early civilizations or something like that and 00:25:00it was me and 150 of my closest friends.

CM: Mhm

TT: You know, that's kind of hard to be motivated to because the teachers not talking to you. They are talking to all these kids and you know, there's very level [unclear] participation and varying levels of you know motivation.

CM: Yeah. Mhm.

TT: I know that they are important. But I found them more difficult because I wasn't as excited to be there for most of those.

CM: Yeah-- but it wasn't a topic that really resonated with you so you are just kind of like:"ehhh" is what I am feeling?

TT: Definitely.

CM: Yeah.

TT: Yeah.

CM: Alright.

TT: Yeah.. you know I like.. I-I tested out of math classes, but I still had to take some science classes, science isn't really my thing-- so-- I struggled a lot. People, classes too because I just--that-- that is not where my interest is.

CM: Mhm

TT: You know, like, what is important about learning about geology?

00:26:00

CM: Yeah, so with that-- both tied with the journalism and AD and Personal affairs, what was your entire goal with that? Like, I just want to know the career plan option you had as to.. What did you try to do with it?

TT: I--. don't know. I don't.. I don't think that I really have a clear idea of this is what I want to do with my life.

CM: Okay.

TT: um-- I.. it was.. It was something that was interesting and I knew so I liked the journalism program but I didn't want to go into the news editorial.

CM: Okay

TT: I didn't..I didn't want to be a reporter and I didn't think that I-- that was a direction I want to go and P.R. [Personal Affairs] would be more fun.

CM: Alright.

TT: And I liked the people, I liked the professors, the program was good, but I 00:27:00didn't really know what I wanted to do when I was done.

CM: Could you tell me some of the professors or people in that that community that really helped you out with-- you know progressing through it and taking you to where you want to go?.. Just help me-

TT: Uhm, Yeah.

CM: Go ahead. Sorry,

TT: That's okay--Julie Henderson, she was my PR professor. I actually drove up to Oshkosh when she retired. And went to her retirement party--she-- like-- meaning she was motivating she was fun she-- she made me feel like I could do it.

CM: Yeah.

TT: She treated me like I wasn't just a number-- I was, she was going to help me-- and yea she was the major-- factor for me.

CM: Well that is good! I am glad you had somebody to look on to or helped you with your direction-- why don't we talk about--Okay--so were you dating at all 00:28:00on campus? Did you have any relationships?

TT: I was not-- I was always "The Friend"

CM: The Fr-

TT: Which was kind of disappointing, but I did meet my husband at Oshkosh after I graduated.

CM: Nice! There you go. How did you meet him?

TT: Technically we met on match.com.

CM: Okay.

TT: But we had mutual friends-- and-- so-- we had both graduated-- and because we had mutual friends, we chatted for a while. And then we met at one of their houses because they were having some friends over. So I just invited him to come over--

CM: Okay.

TT: And then he-- he ended up-- at-- like at the end of that night he ended up telling me he was going to be moving so he wasn't going to have internet for a while and then I ask him where he was moving it was actually just around the corner from where I was living.

CM: Yeah.

TT: And I was off campus at this point because like I graduated. And I was like 00:29:00"oh I was-- were-- right there! So here's my number!"

CM: Mhm

TT: "So, tell me when you move in!" and then we left-- so-- the rest is history.

CM: There you go!

TT: Yeah.

CM: Nice. So some other things just like some activities or things you did also did on campus-- Did you go to many sport events at all? Or were you not a big part of that?

TT: I always wanted to, but I chose to do the Reeve Union Board then over sporting events. I think I went to one gymnastics meet and I think that was it.

CM: Alright. Okay. Well that's not bad. Let's see--

TT: Yeah every year my friend was like "We should go to a football game this year!" And then-- It never worked out.

CM: And I am assuming football at the time was a big thing for Oshkosh too?

TT: Yeah.

CM: Alright. Okay. So-- let's see-- was there any problems with gender at the 00:30:00time on campus? Let me reiterate that again-- Was there bigger guy to girl ratio on campus? Like

either or.

TT: I think so. I think there were more-- more men at the time, but I can't say that for sure.

CM: Okay. And were most-- Did you notice like a majority or a "trend' in degrees or majors-- at like-- at the time?

TT: No I didn't.

CM: No?

TT: [Unclear]

CM: So they didn't have all like they didn't have many people going to nursing or psychology, it was just still kind of random and whoever wanted to take it? Or whatever they wanted to take.

TT: Yeah I think the-- the nursing program has always been huge. But yeah I 00:31:00can't [Unclear] the-- the-- RTF has been big there. I know a lot of people who graduated from that department, but I don't really think anything else

CM: Okay.

TT: Really stands out as being big

CM: Alright-- Let's see--.so at-- at the time there was-- there wasn't any other organizations you could think of that interested you? Like before PRSSA and RUB? Like interested you but you did not take it?

TT: I went to one. I don't know if it was like the broadcasting society whatever, one of the organizations the RTF department has-- I went to one their meetings but, it was-- it was interesting. but I wasn't in that major so.

CM: Mhm

TT: I figured I didn't really need to go to their meeting because I wasn't a 00:32:00part of that.

CM: Alright, okay. So-- let's see.. I also know that in around 2003, we went to war with Iraq. Could you explain to me your thoughts and feelings about that at that time?

TT: Well at the time-- I think I used this phrase before we were all "Go America!" and you know everyone was really supportive of it and I don't really remember seeing a lot of dissent. You know there weren't many demonstrations of "Let's not go to war!" Everybody-- that-- that-- I mean-- my-- my - it wasn't something that my friends and I really talked about.

CM: Mhm.

TT: This wasn't-- in our-- in our purview you know? When you had other things going on.

CM: Yeah.

TT: But I don't really know-- I-- I don't remember seeing, and I don't really know anybody who was really against it because everyone wanted to-- get the guys who..

00:33:00

CM: Mhm.

TT: Did September 11th--You know?

CM: Yeah.

TT: Whether or not, and you know apar - apparently we had all of this-- information about weapons of mass destruction that didn't actually exist.

CM: Mhm.

TT: But yeah, I mean everyone was all "America is going to get those guys!" So everyone was really excited about it but-- we thought it was not the worst idea..

CM: Mhm. Okay. So there were no peaceful protests? There was no form of fighting back on it is what you are you are saying?

TT: No not really-- not really. And I mean I know that, college students-- Are not--You know we-- we - we pay attention to the news. We know what's going on in the world but--

CM: Mhm.

TT: I don't remember seeing it. And - and sure, there were people who didn't agree with it, but I don't remember seeing any form of protestors. [Unclear] Any 00:34:00kind of defense at all for it.

CM: Okay, alright. So with that said-- Is there anything--let me just-- You know what? I totally just-- I am sorry-- Can you explain to me couple weeks at Oshkosh? I am so-- I.. wanted to get to this question because I wanted to know like--we had already talked about your thoughts and feelings at the initial time but like.

TT: Yeah.

CM: Once you started to get into it it's just-- I mean that first semester is always like a make or break point and I just want to know-- what were the total challenges of that?

TT: Yeah.

CM: Yeah.

TT: I-- I had a tough time my first semester I was-- moving in the dorm with my cousin.

CM: Okay.

TT: She was my roommate and she was a sophomore, and-- the like online chatting was becoming a huge thing so she actually spent a lot of time chatting with people she didn't know-- and--

CM: Okay.

TT: It was-- it was - it wasn't really a widely accepted thing,

00:35:00

CM: Mhm.

TT: To-- do that? --And so I thought that I was going to come and we were going to have a great time and she was going to show me all of these things-- and she didn't.

CM: Oh.

TT: I kind of struggled because I-- I-I was kind of scared. I didn't know anybody.

CM: Mhm.

TT: Like this was before I could think I could make friends but I didn't know how. So that helped me branch out and meet people on my floor because-- you know like " Hey my - my roommate kind of stinks-- let's go meet somebody else."

CM: Yeah.

TT: And then she ended up leaving school at the end of the first semester. Another girl moved in with me who I had made friends with.

CM: Okay.

TT: And then, that's when things kind of opened up, then I met the friends that introduced me to-- to Rob, you know, I met some friends that-- who have been my friends since then.

CM: Mhm.

TT: So kind of-- After I got out of that. Like [Unclear] wasn't me my cousins not showing me around.

CM: Yeah.

00:36:00

TT: But things got a lot better. But yeah first semester was hard.

CM: Mhm. Alright.

TT: And there's so many posters and there's so much going on. That you kind of don't know where to look like you kind of need somebody sometimes to point you in the right direction. So yeah I think I was overloaded. Wow. Yeah. After she left that things got a lot better.

CM: Okay, Well that's - that's good, you know. I mean, I'm sorry that happened, however, I mean I am just glad. You know things change for you for the good.

TT: Yeah

CM: Yeah. So see other than like as you were going through college like let's say it was sort for the midpoint of college were you live, it's kind of like a midlife crisis but like, student lifestyle. Were you having that, like, you weren't sure if you want you to change your major at all or was it just see you. Was it also another weird transition process and the halfway mark or did you 00:37:00feel adapted enough that you were going to go with journalism.

TT: I do think I kind of had a midlife crisis. My friends who are a little bit older had graduated. So I was kind of making some new friends or not making friends but making better friends with people that I had known before. And so I started - my friends and I would go to concerts all over the place. And we created this company that would sell band's merchandise for them and like weird stuff that would never do inside couple years before because I have these other friends who I spend my time with so, they kind of got not really associated with the different groups but you know branched out a little bit more, and I was - I remember thinking "All this is me now. this is really me. This is who I want to be."

00:38:00

CM: Okay.

TT: But know you know your friends come and go and the people who graduate people transfer out. And so you're always kind of reinventing yourself.

CM: Yeah.

TT: So yeah my - my junior year, I definitely had some reinventing going on.

CM: Okay, Nice! Alright so let's move on, so how - how did your parents feel about the journalism major. Just like I know they are glad that you're going to college and that you know I mean Oshkosh was a good option for you. But can you just reiterate what like how they felt about it just that

TT: I don't think they ever said anything good or bad and I don't even remember them what I wanted to do with it when I was done. I think that their point of view and that it-- it makes through the day that as long as I got a degree, that 00:39:00I would be better off. It didn't matter what I got as long enough to say that I graduated from college, doors would be opening for me that -

CM: Yeah.

TT: - wouldn't be if I didn't have a college degree.

CM: Do you think that kind of nostalgia is still carrying on over from today? Like it's the same as it used to be when you were in that old school.

TT I-- I do a little bit. I think is. I don't think that it's quite as strong though because there are so many people who can -- who, you know, get, you know, go to tech school or, you know, get to do 2 year programs. I don't think so many people are going to college that is no longer be no longer the exception.

CM: Mhm.

TT: You know what I mean?

CM: Yeah, it's also I mean it's almost like going that's like your GED is what you are saying?

TT: Yeah.

CM: Alright.

00:40:00

TT: Yeah, like everyone is going to college and now you can't look and say, "Oh, she graduated college," because everybody that you have in front of you graduated from college.

CM: Just getting into, besides just RUB, all that is there - and well actually. Why don't we go to a PRSSA again? I just want to talk about your involvement, and I want to ask: was there anything there - is there any critical movements or events that you felt you helped, like, you helped impact that personal relations had you with.

TT: When I was there and involved in the society?

00:41:00

CM: Yeah.

TT: I sort of floated through that organization before I was there and they won a bunch of awards. And after I left they won a bunch of awards, But I had floated through it because I had so many other things going on that I didn't participate in everything that they were doing. So I didn't know the society for my major. I was having more fun.

CM: There you go.

TT: With the other things I was involved in. So I kind of floated through that.

CM: Okay. So why don't we go to and just come - I'm jumping around a year because you got most of what I wanted to ask actually. And yeah. So-- so why 00:42:00don't we talk about like the - the - toward the end of college. Like, your senior year, how did that go for you. Did anything like crazy happen that year that really stuck out to you?

TT: Not-- not news worthy. I think I was having the most fun.

CM: Okay.

TT: Just because I sort of reinventing myself and you know doing things that doing things for me.

CM: Yeah.

TT: But yeah nothing news-worthy and nothing that I can really think of.

CM: Nothing on campus nothing that happened around campus as a controversial?

TT: No, nothing I can think of.

CM: OK. All right. So why don't we go on to like-- Let's start talking about 00:43:00your post college experience. So like, a couple months after you're out, when you left or when you left UW Oshkosh, like one of the things that you - think you would - have you taken away from that has shaped you today?

TT: That's a good question. Like, I don't know if I can put it into words very easily.

CM: How about we go like this-- what don't you think of a time-- like a teacher said something-- you are a student that has been very influential. You know, something that-- like, resonates with you still today, or even, you know, an event or the little things-- that really still just remind you of who you are today.

00:44:00

TT: You know, nothing specific. I think it's just more kind of what I was taught growing up. Like being involved in so many organizations. And having job on campus and keeping your grades up. And you know you have to work hard. You kind of have to keep it together. You can't start partying until 2 A.M. every night and expect to make it to your 8 A.M. class.

CM: Yeah.

TT: You know, and I did go through some months of, you know, "I don't care, I'll do what I want." And I was negatively affected by that. So I think just you know being able keep all of the things that you're doing all the things that you want to do in check, so that you can move on and you know that you can do it. Know that you can participate in all these things, hold up a job, get good grades, you know have friends, you know, you can do it. Well like a lot of good time management.

00:45:00

CM: Okay. You know, through your experience, I just want to ask if you could relive the time that you were there - would you change anything or would you keep it exactly as?

TT: I think I'd definitely do an internship in my major. I did sort of an internship with Oshkosh Symphony but wasn't exactly what I needed. And that was the only thing that I did. And so I think that kind of negatively affected me in my career and after that because I didn't really good experience behind me when I started in the work force. Honestly, I think that's probably the only thing I would change.

CM: Alright, yeah.

TT: Especially in the last couple of years. I love my life. I love my friends. I 00:46:00was having a lot of fun. You know I was involved in a lot of things. I think that's the only thing I would really change.

CM: Did you go to homecoming or formals in Oshkosh?

TT: I participated in some of the homecoming events when I was in the dorms. And then because one of the RUB committees did all of the events, put on all of the events, so I would help that stuff sometimes after I was out of the dorms. But not a whole lot.

CM: What kind of events were they doing for homecoming at your time?

TT: I don't remember Homecoming for sure. There were some like winter fests kind of thing to where there was like ice carving and like different snow Olympics things. Was there a parade or did people make floats? I kind of remember that.

00:47:00

CM: Yeah we don't have that here. I haven't seen any floats around campus. Kind of wish I did. Maybe I'm making that up. There was a lip sync that I participated in for one of those events. That was interesting.

CM: Okay.

TT: That was when I was in the dorms. That was fun. Yeah. That's all I can remember. We're going way back.

CM: Yeah.

TT: This was a long time ago.

CM: Yep. Yeah it's a little hard to recollect it. But usually - you talk it out and you can get it all. Let's see. So how was like with the residency life, I just want to know. How are the, like, with guys and girls coming into dorms in and out, like, did the campus like enforce anything particular on that? Was there a problem with, you know, too many guys being in the girls dorm or 00:48:00something or basically what I'm asking, was there a controversy for residency life at all while you were there?

TT: Not when I was there. I know floors in the Scotts had both guys and girls on the same floor. Donner had, you know, these are the guys floor and these are the girls floors. I don't remember there ever been any issues with, I mean unless you're too loud or you know something like that, every few days they'd come by and yell at you. But I don't remember there being any major issues.

CM: Oh one of the questions, another one I forgot to get to. I just wanted to ask you a black Blackhawk on campus at this time right? It was the dining hall.

TT: Yeah.

CM: Did you guys have the Reeve dining hall at all?

TT: Yes. So my freshman year they were redoing the union and then it opened up I 00:49:00think the end of my freshman year, maybe. So we had-- Yeah I think that's right. We had . the Reeve food court. And then we had Blackhawk but, my freshman year, we had Elmwood commons as well.

CM: What was that?

TT: Because I think-- Elmwood commons.

CM: Oh we did not have that here. Do you want to elaborate on that?

TT: Well I think, because when I started they were, I think they were redoing the union and then at some point they started redoing Blackhawk. Because that was very old. So I think you went across the street from Reeve. Is that Elmwood Avenue?

CM: Across the street from Reeve? Yeah. It's Elmwood and Lincoln. Yep.

TT: Yeah. Okay. So yeah I'm at intersection. There was another commons. And they 00:50:00had a lot of people, who had food plans, coming to eat over there because they were redoing Blackhawk. I ate over there a lot my freshman year.

CM: There you go. What do you think of the food there? Do you think-- Go ahead and elaborate.

TT: I mean nothing fancy. It was typical food core, school food. When I was in high school, I ate school lunch all the time. So it was really different then that. You know it wasn't anything fancy. When the Reeve Food court opened, there was Burger King and a sub place.

CM: Really?

TT: Yeah. I can't remember what else there was. Yeah I mean when that opened 00:51:00then everyone would go eat there and we were trying to figure out how to not have a food plan but still live in the dorms. I don't think they would let you do that.

CM: Yeah.

TT: Because we wanted to not have the meal plan, we just wanted money. So we'd go eat at the food court.

CM: Okay. All right. So--

TT: Burger King every day is really good for you.

CM: I can only imagine. They actually changed. I think they changed that out and it's now called-- What is it? A golden, like black and gold grill. And it's just a really nice burger place.

Okay, yeah that's probably better.

CM: Yeah definitely. So your friends, what kind of, just to go into them, other what kind of activities were they into? I know you're a journalism major and you've got ad PR and I just want to know like who did you hang out with that 00:52:00weren't journalist majors?

TT: Yeah we kind of had an eclectic group. One of my best friends was a nursing major. Some girls that I lived with off campus were German and [unclear] majors. My best guy friends were R.T.F and history majors. So I kind of branched out.

CM: There you go. Okay. Nice. How big was Greek life on campus here? Do you have an idea as to how committed people of Greek life were and some of the crazy things they did on campus? If any?

TT: [Unclear] life. There was a girl on my floor my freshman year who was rushing or whatever it's called. And I kind of made fun of her. Wasn't really my thing.

00:53:00

CM: Okay. I get you.

TT: I think my junior year or senior year, there was a boy and I don't remember which fraternity it was but, he like, I don't know if he OD or he fell off the balcony or something. There was something where he died.

CM: Oh no.

TT: I don't remember any other details.

CM: Okay. Alright. I'll have to check that out. So you know now that we're getting close to it like overall what are your thoughts and feelings of Oshkosh? You know like from when you were there to there. What do you think about the experience itself?

TT: I look back on it very fondly. I remember when I graduated I didn't think 00:54:00there was anything for me there anymore because I didn't want to be that person that was still hanging out on campus after I graduated. Even though I had friends there.

CM: Yeah.

TT: But, you know like trying to build my professional life there. I didn't think that there are a whole lot for somebody in my age group and my husband and I have talked on a few occasions, since I moved from Milwaukee area, saying that we would move back there. Now that we are a little bit older and we have kids like we would be fine moving back to a town like Oshkosh.

CM: So you think Oshkosh is a family friendly town? Even with the--

TT: I really do.

CM: Okay. Nice. There you go. So if you did, hypothetically, if you did move to Oshkosh would you want kids go to school at Oshkosh? Or would you rather give them the choice to go anywhere else?

TT: I would love it if they went to Oshkosh. Mostly because I kind of want to go 00:55:00back and see what ' s changed.

CM: Yeah.

TT: there have been a whole bunch of brand new buildings that have been built since I left. The parking structure by Kolf wasn't even built until after I left that's been there for forever now.

CM: Yep.

TT: So theirs a whole bunch that has changed so I would love to see that my kids can experience what I had.

CM: Definetly!

TT: If they chose that.

CM: Alright. So I just want to just to wrap up. I personally like to thank you Tiffany for providing me with not only your time but your interesting recollection of events. Going through you know college and is a very, very nice experience to learn from. You know it doesn't take away much from it go away. You know I still got two years left so it will be fun. Thank you so much.

00:56:00

TT: It was great. And then after I graduated in December of 04 and I stayed there until May 07 and that you know I loved my time there. I think there's been a lot more that has happened in the town that's happened since I left so you know that time-frame of I graduated a is nothing for me to do with young professional. I think that that has changed a lot since I left. That's still thousands of out there and those of people who are involved there. I definitely think that it is a great place to be.

CM: Absolutely. Well thank you for your input today. And so that concludes that

TT: I'll find that article on that boy that passed away. And I'll email it to you.

CM: All right. Perfect. Thank you so much.