Editor’s Note: This Thursday series chronicles some of the most interesting, monumental and hilarious moments in the University’s history.

In-line skating taking off in Athens as newest street sport for fun, fitness, thrills and spills

For Athens drivers, bicyclists might seem to come out of nowhere sometimes, but in 1993, bikes weren’t the only form of transportation cars had to avoid. On Nov. 3, 1993, the Red & Black listed in-line skating as one sport gaining major popularity in Athens. “Nowadays it’s almost impossible to go anywhere on campus without seeing in-line skaters.” Students were advised to always wear helmets and padding to avoid injury, and learning how to stop was recommended. “It is crucial for bladers to be cautious while blading. Be alert for twigs, acorns, wet leaves, gravel, sand, water, cracks, bumps, holes, dogs and inattentive drivers.”

Alternative clubs seek new members

Today, students who are not happy with the organizations available on campus have the option of starting their own. This week in 1899, the all-male University students were also busily forming new clubs of a “purely social order.” One new organization, the Lion’s Head Club, was founded by students in the freshman class to host social events regularly until the club’s 15 members graduated. Membership in the Bohemian Club was limited to “the twelve most congenial men of the different fraternities in college.” “The motto of the club is ‘Be Ee and Freasy’.” Social clubs were not the only organizations popping up on campus; for the more musically-inclined young men, the new Mandolin-Guitar Club was also an option.

Protests flare up at football game

An article in the Nov. 4, 1975 issue of the Red & Black reported student protests over the Redcoat Band’s decision to refrain from playing the song “Dixie” at the previous football game. “Scores of spectators sporadically booed and threw ice cubes at the band throughout the game.” When one student brought a large Confederate flag to the game, he was escorted away by the police because of complaints that the flag was obstructing spectators’ views. After the student was led away, “a scuffle broke out between two male spectators, one who favored the police action and one who opposed it.”

Tireless Talker … for your benefit

Many people opt not to install a home phone at all because almost everyone has a cell phone, but as an advertisement in the Nov. 4, 1938 issue of the Red & Black confirms, telephones were once a hot commodity for University students. The advertisement for the Bell Telephone System claimed that in their telephone laboratories, machines were constantly performing endurance tests on the phones, including a mechanical mouth that would relentlessly talk into the phone. “Exhaustive testing of Bell System apparatus is one reason you can depend on your telephone always.” The advertisement suggested that students could now call home more often because “rates to most points are lowest anytime after 7 p.m. and all day Sunday.”