Everyone should know Skyler Meredith. Unfortunately, he is not a highly visible guy. He has yet to appear in a St. Olaf yearbook.

To increase his celebrity, he is the first male senior spotlighted in the Messenger in the year 2001. This self-proclaimed "country boy" recently discussed his soon-to-be-over four-year career at St. Olaf with me.

Meredith is a Midwesterner at heart. He chose to attend St. Olaf College because he grew up in Illinois and liked the idea of not spending the rest of his life there. He also likes the snow. In May, Meredith will graduate with a degree in sociology/anthropology with the hope of finding a job. His dream is simple: to have a career that makes him happy (and that helps pay back his student loans). He also expresses interest in becoming a stay-at-home dad.

Meredith currently holds a job in the Lionıs Pause as the Technical Staff Director. This much-loved member of The Pause Family (unofficially housed in the Pause office) can often be found wearing a T-shirt and baggy pants, sporting his "fat rock of keys." St. Olaf students would be forced to endure dark, soundless concerts and performances if not for Meredith and his crew.

Taking care of the Pause is quite a commitment, and because Meredith is such a studious person, often waking up at six a.m. to do homework, he doesnıt enjoy much free time. When he does manage to find a little, he enjoys strumming his guitar and skateboarding.

Meredith is a campus sidewalk cruiser, not preferring one spot on campus more than another for practicing his tricks. When he tires of fleeing the security officers, he travels to the Twin Cities, specifically the U of M campus, for better sites.

Meredith's skateboarding career has given him happy memories and many scars. In addition to skateboarding, he enjoys what Minneapolis and St. Paul offer in the area of music. He will proudly admit that he has seen Ricky Martin perform at the Target Center.

He enjoys pop music, while adamantly proclaiming that he is not a fan of the Backstreet Boys, but usually prefers to either "rock out" to Social Distortion and the Pixies or "mellow out" with Tim McGraw and Cat Stevens.

Meredith, a Virgo, had a difficult time choosing his favorite book. He finally settled on The Tell by James Michener. Grape juice with ice is his favorite beverage. "Ice makes it better," he says.

He enjoys watching cable television at the Pause while reclining on the couch, and is generous with his soothing backrubs. He is willing to sit and chat through the night to help friends avoid studying for gut-wrenching finals, and is usually ready and willing to give out hugs.

In others, he values sincerity, honesty, and the readiness to wear pajama pants. A quiet, friendly guy and a wonderful friend, Meredith has one message for the student body: "Iım not as mean as I look." For those of us fortunate enough to know him, we know thatıs true.