University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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INNERVISIONS OF BLACKNESS Choir presents original ideas by DIANA WOLFE Beginning as an informal group singing around the piano in Kin- solving dormitory, Innervisions of Blackness blossomed into a dynamic and enthusiastic student gospel choir. Their membership was still on the rise in 1984. They increased from 50 members to about 80. To join, members only needed a love for gospel music. Innervisions had strong student leadership. Their directors, singers and musicians were students. They made a practice of rotating lead singers to give everyone in the group a chance. This year one of Innervisions ' most important projects was composing com- pletely original music for their spring concert on April 14 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Innervisions was an opportunity for students to develop and share their music. It emphasized both spiritual and personal growth. You could tell that we were a very supportive group; when one of our lead singers performed, the group clapped and cheered them on, said Diana McGruder, president. Innervisions is composed of nearly eighty members. The group contributes a lot of talent through original music scores. Photo by Ken Riddick FIRST ROW: Chester Douglass Baldwin, Kyne Gulley, Gary T. Kelly. SECOND ROW: James Edward Webb, Ray Clayton Woods, Mark Vin- cent Williams, Diana Yvonne McGruder. THIRD ROW: Monica L. Johnson, Beverly A. Henry, Karen Lynn Armstead, Kimberly Gale Lee. FOURTH ROW: Dawna Wilson, Lisa M. Wad- dell, Pamela Lynnette Woodard, Tracy Denise Reed, Juanita Jackson. FIFTH ROW: Kimberly R. Kossie, Tonya Maria Cunningham, Cynthia Johnson, Laquetta Denell Phillips. SIXTH ROW: Regina Nay Drean Hill, Natalie Maria Wilkinson, April Lavonda Smith. SEVENTH ROW: Monthra Rochelle Davis, Rosalyn L. Alexander, Rhonda Michelle Taylor, Rosalyn Marie Shaw. EIGHTH ROW: Paula LaGail Gary, Tammy Olivia Hardge, Robin Barton, Elfreda Renee Sells. NINTH ROW: Felecia Dawn Gipson, Vickie Lynn Nelson, Denise Marie Dunkins, Vanessa Gayle Jefferson. TENTH ROW: Candace Denise Stroud, Nina Renee Nelms, Yolandra Laverne Shaw, Constance Aileen McKinsey. ELEVENTH ROW: Sonja Patrice Pace, Delynn Walker, Jolanda Patrice Barry, Cynthia Marie Crawford. TWELFTH ROW: Hallie Myra Burrell, Theodora Lanell Moten, Lorenita L. Lucas, Artherene Delois Allen, Letisha Ann Wilson, Cynthia Denise Cash. Photo by Robert Cohen ! .c 296 Innervisions of Blackness

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MATCHMATES Scorekeepers get advantage by SUSAN DOHERTY The best kept secret of the UT Men ' s Tennis team could be Mat- chmates, the all-female group that calls the team ' s home matches. We don ' t have too much publicity. We try to limit recruitment so that we don ' t spent two weeks interviewing, said Karen Harris, president of the group. For this reason, the men ' s tennis team drew applicants strictly by word of mouth. The guys and the coach do all the recruiting. They all live in Jester, and word gets around. They also go to sorority houses and announce that we ' re recruiting. Harris noted that many recruits discovered the group through the Texas Union and the athletics office. Matchmates, which recruited in November, generally attracted 200-250 applicants. Out of this number, 58 were FIRST ROW: Julie Anne Newport, Ashley Mackey Taylor, Ashley Elizabeth Wheeler, Amy Susan Achtzehn, Allison J. Snyder, Mary Anne Connolly, Donna Sue Pritchett, Lynn Suzanne Bell, Jamie Page Schoenbrun. SECOND ROW: Angela Mia Pagani, Nicole Abend, Catherine Lee Whitty, Virginia G. Stephens, Jane Eva Perelman, Gail C. Heaney, Elizabeth Del Toro, Adair Peeler Cothran, Nancy Ann Norris, Kari Lynn Stovall, Dana Lee Bielefeld. THIRD ROW: Stefanie Lynn Scott, Carla Bea Stern, Lisa Leigh Newton, Barbara Ann Scroggie, Laura Elaine Gill, Jacqueline Irene Ash, Amaanda Rebecca Thomas, Lynn Schwarm, Karen Kay Harris. Photo by Kathy Gilbert chosen for the 1984-h Our main purpose is to = mat- ches of the UT men ' s tenmo a m, to call the score. We ' re also there to pro- vide support and enthusiasm and to get organizations out to support them, said Harris. We meet the guys at the airport when they come back from tour- naments, too. The Matchmates and the men ' s ten- nis team had occasional mixers during the year. There are only about 10 men on the team, Harris said, noting the shortage of male dance partners. Besides a shortage of dance partners, Matchmates often found themselves short of time. One of the questions on the application is about the time com- mitment, Harris said. There are a lot of matches. Harris stressed that being a Match- mate was not all sacrifice. You find that these guys are ordinary people, not jocks. A lot of girls put jocks on a pedestal and think they ' re unreachable. But you find that they ' re going to make an effort to know you. Another reward was knowing the team ' s schedule so well that the group was able to organize 6 a.m. breakfast kidnappings. After all, they all live together, said Harris, smiling. While calling a match, Jamie Schoenbrun checks her statistics inbetween players ' serves. Photo by Kathy Gilbert Perched high at the Intramural Fields, Allison Snyder watches the volleys during the March 28 tournament. Photo by Kathy Gilbert MatchmatM 295

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These students, through many hours of practice, polished and honed their skills to perfection. Their public ap- pearances helped members to increase their confidence and sophistication. Group cohesion, hard ' V ' i ; and shar- ing helped this group t, -xpress the black experience through MUIJ; and contribute to a higher quality , -: utltnt life at the University. The closeness of the members help to make I IIIHTVISIOHS one of the best choirs around. - Photo by Ken Riddick It is necessary for an attentive singer to watch the director closely if the voices are to stay in unison. Photo by Ken Riddick ispiration for performance is obviously not a problem for Innervisions of Blackness ' piano player ster Baldwin. Rehearsals were held at the second floor Jester Lounge West in preparation for the ; concert April 14 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Photo by Ken Riddick The tambourine is used to keep the singers with the beat of the music as Kimberly Kossie demonstrates. Photo by Ken Riddick Innervisions of Blackness 297