Oral history interview with Troy Richter / interviewed by Tiffany Trimmer (Transcript)
Date published: 2023-04-07
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Abstract Richter discusses the following topics: Decision to attend UW-La Crosse, campus visits to UW-La Crosse before deciding to apply—First day on campus, packing for move to college, moving into dorm room, meeting roommate, parents’ reaction to move-in day, purchasing beer at Burgmeir’s Grocery (1400 Pine Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin)—Orientation activities for first-year students, anxiety about college course workload, preparation for first week of classes—First college classes, note-taking, story about Dr. James Parker smoking and swearing in class (History faculty, taught 1968-2001), anxiety about college course workload, student responsibility to learn in college—Comparing support for student learning ca. 1984 vs 2020s, students helping each other study, math tutoring in Cowley Hall, 1984—Dorm life at UW-La Crosse ca. 1980s, accommodations in Wentz Hall, social spaces in Wentz Hall, diverse student backgrounds in Wentz Hall ca. 1984-1985, watching MTV in Wentz Hall basement, dorm lobbies as social spaces—Selling pizzas at Wentz Hall front desk, comparing student fast food access options mid-1980s vs 2020s, social activities in Wentz Hall, Wisconsin football culture, MTV, popular musical acts ca. 1984-1985—Role of Hall Councils and Executive Committees at UW-La Crosse ca. 1984-1985, “Energy Watchdog” position in campus dorms—Kevin Helmkamp (Wentz Hall Director in mid-1980s), interviewee elected Wentz Hall Council President in 1985, planning activities for first-year orientation week at UW-La Crosse ca. 1985, dorm-wide orientation activities, D’s Donuts (ca. 1967-2006, 123 West Avenue North, La Crosse, Wisconsin), Rudy’s Drive-In Restaurant (1004 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin)—Reasons for choosing Accounting as major, planned transfer to larger university after sophomore year, transferring to Arizona State University for Fall 1986 semester, comparing UW-La Crosse and Arizona State University ca. 1986, Dr. James Parker (History faculty, taught 1968-2001), decision to change major to Broadfield Social Studies and History, transferring back to UW-La Crosse in 1987—Moving off-campus after returning to UW-La Crosse in 1987, off-campus living fostering independence, socializing with friends and roommates ca. 1987-1989—Experience as a Broadfield Social Studies and History major at UW-La Crosse ca. 1987-1989, balancing Social Studies and Education coursework, History curriculum at UW-La Crosse ca. 1987-1989, public history coursework at UW-La Crosse, story about auditing graduate-level history course on U.S. Civil Rights Movement with Dr. James Parker (History faculty, taught 1968-2001), heavy credit load, reflecting on how college coursework led to personal growth—Summer tutor counselor position with Upward Bound at UW-La Crosse, tutoring and supervising high school students, working with high school students from diverse backgrounds ca. 1987-1989, Upward Bound summer trips and events, prioritizing students experiencing difficult situations, tutoring Upward Bound students during school year—Student teaching at Central High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1989, teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at Central High School, story about Hmong ESL students relating World War II lesson content on refugee camps to their experiences in Ban Vinai Holding Center (refugee camp in Thailand, 1975-1992)—Comparing UW-La Crosse campus mid-1980s vs 2020s, campus expansion and new buildings, comparing academic standards and student populations at UW-La Crosse mid-1980s vs 2020s, opportunities for student involvement at UW-La Crosse ca. 2020s—Comparing attitudes towards student counseling resources at UW-La Crosse mid-1980s vs 2020s, academic and counseling resources at UW-La Crosse ca. 2020s, comparing societal pressure to attend college mid-1980s vs 2020s—Reflecting on sophomore, junior, and senior years at UW-La Crosse (1986-1989), story about turning down RA position to focus on coursework, how moving off-campus changes students’ social lives—Comparing financial situation for college students mid-1980s vs 2020s, working side jobs for spending money ca. 1986-1989, financial pressures for college students ca. 2010s-2020s, changing attitudes toward work after COVID-19 pandemic (began March 2020)—Significance of a college education from UW-La Crosse, importance of UW-La Crosse students seeking out opportunities and connections with faculty and staff—Significance of a college education from UW-La Crosse, role of college education in expanding interviewee’s worldview, story about teaching “Understanding Human Differences” (EFN 205) at UW-La Crosse 2001-2013, role of college years as a time for personal growth and development.
IntervieweeRichter, Troy
InterviewerTrimmer, Tiffany
OwnerUniversity of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Type of resource text
Genre interview
Genre authority marcgt
Publisher name University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Place of publication La Crosse, Wisconsin
Date published 2023-04-07
Date captured 2023-08-20
Language eng
Width8.5
Height10.99
Subject topicRichter, Troy, 1966- -- Interviews Authority: LCSH
Subject topicCollege students Authority: LCSH
Subject topicOral history Authority: LCSH
Subject topicOral history -- Wisconsin -- La Crosse Authority: LCSH
Subject topicUniversities and colleges -- Wisconsin Authority: LCSH
Source noteThis interview is part of the UW-La Crosse Oral History Program’s “College Life: What We Remember” project.
Source noteTroy’s first semester at UW-La Crosse was Fall 1984. He graduated in 1989 with a degree in Broadfield Social Studies and History, with a Secondary Education certification.
Source noteAt 00:04:42 Troy mentions the legal drinking age in Wisconsin. 21 did not become the legal drinking age in Wisconsin until September 1, 1986. Wisconsin’s state legislature changed the legal drinking age to comply with the National Minimum Drinking Age Act (1984).
Source noteAt 00:48:48 Troy reflects on his time as a tutor counselor with UW-La Crosse’s Upward Bound program. Upward Bound is a national program funded by the United States Department of Education as a part of the TRIO programs. It helps prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a college education. UW-La Crosse supported a campus chapter of Upward Bound from 1979-2022.
Content00:00:46—Decision to attend UW-La Crosse, campus visits to UW-La Crosse before deciding to apply | 00:02:02—First day on campus, packing for move to college, moving into dorm room, meeting roommate, parents’ reaction to move-in day, purchasing beer at Burgmeir’s Grocery (1400 Pine Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin) | 00:05:20—Orientation activities for first-year students, anxiety about college course workload, preparation for first week of classes | 00:07:16—First college classes, note-taking, story about Dr. James Parker smoking and swearing in class (History faculty, taught 1968-2001), anxiety about college course workload, student responsibility to learn in college | 00:11:05—Comparing support for student learning ca. 1984 vs 2020s, students helping each other study, math tutoring in Cowley Hall, 1984 | 00:13:17—Dorm life at UW-La Crosse ca. 1980s, accommodations in Wentz Hall, social spaces in Wentz Hall, diverse student backgrounds in Wentz Hall ca. 1984-1985, watching MTV in Wentz Hall basement, dorm lobbies as social spaces | 00:19:00—Selling pizzas at Wentz Hall front desk, comparing student fast food access options mid-1980s vs 2020s, social activities in Wentz Hall, Wisconsin football culture, MTV, popular musical acts ca. 1984-1985 | 00:23:28—Role of Hall Councils and Executive Committees at UW-La Crosse ca. 1984-1985, “Energy Watchdog” position in campus dorms | 00:25:42—Kevin Helmkamp (Wentz Hall Director in mid-1980s), interviewee elected Wentz Hall Council President in 1985, planning activities for first-year orientation week at UW-La Crosse ca. 1985, dorm-wide orientation activities, D’s Donuts (ca. 1967-2006, 123 West Avenue North, La Crosse, Wisconsin), Rudy’s Drive-In Restaurant (1004 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin) | 00:32:08—Reasons for choosing Accounting as major, planned transfer to larger university after sophomore year, transferring to Arizona State University for Fall 1986 semester, comparing UW-La Crosse and Arizona State University ca. 1986, Dr. James Parker (History faculty, taught 1968-2001), decision to change major to Broadfield Social Studies and History, transferring back to UW-La Crosse in 1987 | 00:39:58—Moving off-campus after returning to UW-La Crosse in 1987, off-campus living fostering independence, socializing with friends and roommates ca. 1987-1989 | 00:42:52—Experience as a Broadfield Social Studies and History major at UW-La Crosse ca. 1987-1989, balancing Social Studies and Education coursework, History curriculum at UW-La Crosse ca. 1987-1989, public history coursework at UW-La Crosse, story about auditing graduate-level history course on U.S. Civil Rights Movement with Dr. James Parker (History faculty, taught 1968-2001), heavy credit load, reflecting on how college coursework led to personal growth | 00:48:48—Summer tutor counselor position with Upward Bound at UW-La Crosse, tutoring and supervising high school students, working with high school students from diverse backgrounds ca. 1987-1989, Upward Bound summer trips and events, prioritizing students experiencing difficult situations, tutoring Upward Bound students during school year | 00:52:50—Student teaching at Central High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1989, teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at Central High School, story about Hmong ESL students relating World War II lesson content on refugee camps to their experiences in Ban Vinai Holding Center (refugee camp in Thailand, 1975-1992) | 00:55:32—Comparing UW-La Crosse campus mid-1980s vs 2020s, campus expansion and new buildings, comparing academic standards and student populations at UW-La Crosse mid-1980s vs 2020s, opportunities for student involvement at UW-La Crosse ca. 2020s | 01:02:45—Comparing attitudes towards student counseling resources at UW-La Crosse mid-1980s vs 2020s, academic and counseling resources at UW-La Crosse ca. 2020s, comparing societal pressure to attend college mid-1980s vs 2020s | 01:05:32—Reflecting on sophomore, junior, and senior years at UW-La Crosse (1986-1989), story about turning down RA position to focus on coursework, how moving off-campus changes students’ social lives | 01:08:22—Comparing financial situation for college students mid-1980s vs 2020s, working side jobs for spending money ca. 1986-1989, financial pressures for college students ca. 2010s-2020s, changing attitudes toward work after COVID-19 pandemic (began March 2020) | 01:11:40—Significance of a college education from UW-La Crosse, importance of UW-La Crosse students seeking out opportunities and connections with faculty and staff | 01:17:25—Significance of a college education from UW-La Crosse, role of college education in expanding interviewee’s worldview, story about teaching “Understanding Human Differences” (EFN 205) at UW-La Crosse 2001-2013, role of college years as a time for personal growth and development
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Collection UWL Oral History Program Collection / College Life: What We Remember Collection
ID e7897cd9-decb-4ffc-bea3-ee88d6d123fa/wlacu000/00000018/00000326
Doi18-0326
Related itemsOral history interview with Troy Richter / interviewed by Tiffany Trimmer
Oral history interview with Troy Richter / interviewed by Tiffany Trimmer (Index)