Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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The Ifear at Crelghton Creighton ' s buildings, tiie relocauon of St. Joseph Hospital to its present site and the establishment of the College of Nursing. The fall of 1984 was an election year. Col- lege students and others between the ages of 18-24 became some of the strongest groups supporting the Reagan administration. A booming economy revealing the lowest in- flation rate and unemployment rate in several years renewed national pride among Americans. Inflation was cut from a high of 12.4 percent when Reagan first took office to 4.2 percent by the end of that term. Americans across the country were asked the question, Are you better off than you were four years ago? Carried by the nation ' s over- whelming agreement to the economy ' s positive outlook, Reagan, along with Vice President George Bush, defeated Democratic presiden- tial candidate Walter Mondale and vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro. Ferraro became the first woman in United States history to run for the vice presidential office. However, the magic and drama of her candidacy was not enough to win. The new optimism created by Reagan ' s ad- ministration was not long-term. Upon taking office, the administration was confronted with the nation ' s largest federal deficit, nearly $200 billion. To deter the deficit ' s steady rise, the administration embarked on an effort to cut spending costs on both state and federal levels. These cuts became more real to Creighton students when the administration announced proposed cuts in college student financial aid. Proposed cuts included limiting to $4,000 a year the maximum financial aid that would be available to any student. This stirred concern among Creighton students, as 77 per cent were receiving financial aid and 51 percent receiving in excess of the $4,000 maximum. Newsmakers during the school year: an early spring and heightened interest in professional schools. 18

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The Ifear at Crei ton Coupled with reduced financial aid was an eight percent increase in tuition and room and board. This hike raised medical school tuition to nearly $10,800 and undergraduate tuition to almost $5,200 yearly. While Creighton still ranked as one of the lowest-cost private Jesuit schools in the coun- try, the combination of less aid and higher tui- tion could have a detrimental effect on the enrollment at Creighton and other private in- stitutions. According to Morrison, the increase was needed to maintain the high quality of educa- tion and standard of excellence. He said that to excel, increased tuition costs were inevitable although Creighton tried to keep increases moderate. Other events also stirred concern among the Creighton community. The university waited impatiently as the Omaha Police Department engaged in a week-long search for senior Arts student Karen Hart, who was reported missing one evening after leaving school. The only trace of her disappearnace was her abandoned truck found at 17th and St. Mary ' s Ave. Almost a week later, Hart was located in Boulder, Colo., and was escorted back tO; Omaha where she relayed her experience. Hart said she was abducted from Omaha and driven to Colorado by two unidentified men. Hart was not harmed in any way, nor was a motive or suspects identified. Vandalism and destruction also victimized other Creighton students. The newly built coach house of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity became the target for a smoke grenade that set Two big winners in ' 84- ' 85; C.U. fans camped out in Lincoln for a weekend to get tickedts for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band; They also gave Ronald Reagan a rousing vote of approval in the ' 84 election. 20