Back into the Skies

Moving forward a few years, a student's college career has come to a close. They have taken in all there is to see here at Clemson and have become proud, successful Tigers. It is now time for them to enter the real world, and leave Clemson behind for now. This picture represents a graduating Clemson student in a few ways. First, the picture is taken in front of Perimeter road on the outskirts of campus. The airplane points towards Perimeter road, displaying the plane's flight from Clemson into the outside world. The plane is also at a higher point of the hill and is traveling downward towards flatter ground. This symbolizes the height at which the student has risen from freshman to senior, within the collegiate ranks. However, the student now must take off into the working world and begin once again at the bottom of the ladder. Although this will be a tough task, Clemson has prepared them for the journey.

Truly at Home

After leaving for winter break and returning back to the small town known as Clemson, freshman students begin to realize that this is their home. They have successfully completed a semester in college and have developed a strong attachment to the campus and community. In this picture, the nose of the plane is driven right into the ground symbolizing that the airplane (student) is here to stay. It is permanently in the ground and shows no sign of falling over, or moving in any way. Also, the sun shines its bright light on this metal airplane showing a turnaround from the previous dark, wintery picture. This represents the warmth and happiness brought upon by the spring semester and its wonderful South Carolina weather conditions. The school year has almost come to an end.

Dark Winter

Before you know it, the semester is in full swing and winter is approaching. Days get darker sooner, the temperature drops, and those students attending Clemson from a distance may begin to feel that first bit of homesickness. Students may start to feel alone, and in need of someone to talk to. The lack of color in this picture represents the cold, dark winter. A student's life may not be as bright as it was just a few months ago. Also, the seclusion of the airplane in this picture symbolizes the loneliness many students experience. The plane is pointed in the direction of the green grass and hopes to find that thick patch of grass it had landed on not long ago. The direction of the plane's nose also acts as a sign of hope, that the green grass and spring season is right around the corner.

In the Thick of Things

The next airplane lands directly in the center of a patch of thick, long, green grass. This symbolizes the plethora of opportunities all around students here at Clemson. There are clubs, teams, and organizations every which angle one can look. Each is distinctive in its own way, but all are interrelated into the pattern that is Clemson. The student body acts in a similar fashion. All students are alike in that they have the same interests and hobbies, but deep down they are all unique individuals. Notice how each blade of grass may look identical. They are the same color, the same height, and all laying in the same direction, but if we were able to look closer at each blade individually; they would all tell a completely different story. Some are a bit longer, a bit wider, or have a chunk missing from a neighboring bug. Each student at Clemson will work together to make up the entire patch of grass, but will never lose its own identity as a single blade.

To Land or Not to Land?

The first airplane touches down just outside the front doors of the Hendrix center as students begin to take part in the Clemson community as soon as they start their very first classes. This plane seems like it is soon to land, but is not quite touching the ground. The downward slope of the hill in front of the plane would force a somewhat turbulent, speedy landing, but also allows for another lift into the sky. This symbolizes the skepticism students may have when first enrolling at Clemson. Some feel they won’t fit in, while others are quick to land maybe a bit too fast. With a bit of help from professors, advisors, and their peers, the majority of Clemson students find themselves to truly be Tigers at heart. They agree it’s time for landing, and before they can blink they’re caught up in the thick of things.

The Runway

In 2002, two years after the creation of the Hendrix Student Center, former Department Chair of the Arts Department, John Acorn, developed a creative art project titled Friday Flyers. Initially known as the John Acorn Project, Mr. Acorn designed and erected six, eight foot aluminum airplanes replicating the form of basic paper airplanes. At first, the airplanes were planned to be hung from the ceiling of the Hendrix Center. Upon student suggestions, the airplanes were scattered around Clemson’s campus as if they were each thrown from the Hendrix center in all directions. One still hangs from the ceiling of the main entrance to the Hendrix Center. The meaning that Acorn hoped to portray from this project was far more than just a randomized tossing of paper airplanes. Acorn said, "the random placement of these six forms symbolizes the importance of diversity and chance, innovation and human perseverance. The release of a paper airplane and its subsequent course parallels academia in the function of sending out the seeds of an idea for others to discover and explore.” One can look at the initial photograph of the airplane hanging in Hendrix and notice its direction towards the windows ahead. It is as if the airplane could take flight right from its hanging wires and venture off onto Clemson’s campus, just as freshman do upon arrival. Freshman visit Hendrix early in their first year, pick up their books for the semester, and all begin their unique flights which will last over the next four years. This series of six pictures will symbolize the journey taken by each student at Clemson University.