Indiana University - Arbutus Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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Women ' s conference The theme of the National Women ' s Conference was American Women on the Move. The Declaration of American Women, adopted for November ' s Hous- ton conference, began: We are here to move history forward. In terms of participants, enthusiasm and agenda, the convention fulfilled the motto. The 2,000 delegates were not empowered to make laws, but to identify common concerns of American women and recommend solutions for removing the barriers to equality. Mandated by the president, the con- ference observing International Women ' s Year (IWY) was the first to be federally funded. Fifty-six state and territorial meetings and the four-day national con- ference were financed out of the $5 mill- ion appropriated. The national IWY committee was charged with submitting a report based on the convention outcome to President Carter, who in turn would send recommendations to Congress. The 25 passed resolutions dealt with such issues as child and wife beating, rape, employment, homemaking and ed- ucation. The most heated debates arose over the Equal Rights Amendment, re- productive freedom and sexual prefer- ence. The lone resolution to fail involved the creation of a cabinet level Women ' s Department. Delegates and observers formed a di- verse package, coming from every geog- raphical, political and economic niche in the country. Representatives of the highly conservative Eagle Forum had exhibits just feet away from COYOTE, the prostitLition advocacy group. Some among us may prefer a future that simply continues the past. Our pur- pose is not to tell women how to live or what to do. It is simply to say that women must be free to choose what they do, said convention chairwoman Bella Ab- zug. Abzug was joined by a distinguished slate of speakers which included three first ladies (Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson), actress Jean Stapleton and anthropologist Margaret Mead. The vocal minority of conservatives failed in their efforts to change the minds of the advocates of equality, believing as Abzug said, Democracy can only work for the people when all the people are in it. 28 Off-year elections Though 1977 was an off-year on the political scene, elections in several cities and states across the country brought at- tention to some interesting and some familiar politicians. A tough battle in the mayoral race in New York City ended in November with Democrat Edward Koch winning the of- fice. Koch defeated Liberal Party candi- date Mario Cuomo with a narrow margin of only 125,000 votes. Earlier in the year, Koch upset incumbent Mayor Abraham Beome and colorful U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug in the Democratic primary elec- tion. Another mayoral race was won by a little old lady in tennis shoes. Oppo- nents of 73-year-old Isabella W. Cannon described her in that way, so the candi- date showed up at a meeting carrying a pair of sneakers. Despite heavy opposi- tion. Cannon won the mayoral seat in Raleigh, N.C. In other elections, Ernest Morial be- came the first black mayor of New Or- leans. Coleman Young, another black mayor, was reelected in Detroit. November of 1977 proved to be a great time for another political hopeful. Charles Robb, son-in-law of former Pres- ident Lyndon B. Johnson, captured the lieutenant governor ' s office in Virginia. With support from Lady Bird Johnson, Carol Channing and Vice-President Wal- ter Mondale, Robb won 54 percent of the votes. Marianne Gleissner Tony Hulman Anton J. (Tony) Hulman, who purch- ased a dilapidated track on the west side of Indianapolis and turned it into the greatest spectacle in racing died on Oct. 27 Hulman purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945 from Eddie Ric- kenbacker at a price of $750,000. Hul- man immediately set about renovating the old track, pouring millions of dollars into the structure. Wooden grandstands were replaced with steel and concrete structures with a seating capacity of 237,500. The old brick track was paved, with the exception of one yard of bricks at the finish line. Today the estimated value of the speedway is $50 million. Hulman had many other business in- terests, but the Indianapolis 500 was his first love. His greatest satisfaction was the Speedway Museum, completed just before his death. Hulman was loved and respected by many of the race drivers at Indy, but he had a particularly close relationship with A.J. Foyt. When Foyt raced across the finish line in 1977 to become the first four-time winner, it provided Hulman with one of my greatest thrills. At the

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' 3 ii .I;,- mii ' l m. j - iiSf iik ' l iM FAR LEFT) With a little help from mom and dad, this curious toddler samples some watermelon at the Dunn Meodow festival. (LEFT) Being a bit neater than the majority of the crowd, Freda Browne, (left), and Mable Graham try to remain as unsticky as possible while taking port in the melon fest. 27

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time of his death, Hulman was planning on attending a dinner in Foyt ' s honor. Perhaps Hulman was best associated with the start of the race, when he would traditionally approach a microphone, lookout over the crowd of thousands and shout over the roar of the 33 race cars: Gentlemen, start your engines. Al Zimmerman Governor convicted Following in the legendary footsteps of his predecessor, Spiro Agnew, Gov. Mar- vin Mandel became the first American governor in 43 years to be convicted of a crime while in office. The Maryland Democrat was con- victed on 1 7 counts of mail fraud and one count of racketeering. The charges against Mandel grew out of the secret purchase of a race track by four of his friends in 1971. In 1972, Mandel pushed a bill through the Maryland state legisla- ture that added an extra 18 racing days to the track schedule, thus increasing profits. Mandel himself received approxi- mately $350,000 in favors from his cronies, including jewelry, plane tickets and shares in business ventures. During the trial Mandel referred to these financial considerations as inno- cent gifts . . . Spiro must have been pro- ud. Al Zimmerman Steve Biko He was a 30-year-old black activist, a founder of the South African Student Or- ganization, His name was Steve Biko. One newspaper described him as perhaps the most important black leader in South Africa. Biko died of a severe brain damage in a Pretoria prison cell on Sept. 12. Early re- ports of the death were unclear; the gov- ernment claimed Biko died after staging an eight-day hunger strike. But soon, the truth came out. Biko suffered extensive, brain injury, acute renal (kidney) failure and uremia. An autopsy also found evi- dence of an injury to the left side of his chest. In an investigation of the death, gov- ernment authorities discovered that Biko had been shackled and kept naked to prevent him from committing suicide or injuring himself. One day before his de- ath, a naked and unconscious Biko had been transported 750 miles from Port Elizabeth to the Pretoria prison. Police officials were found innocent of any wrongdoing in the case. According to Colonel Piet Goosen, security chief in Port Elizabeth, We work with our own powers. Biko was the twenty-first South African black to die in police custody in the past 18 months. Morianne Gleissner Riots mar Shah ' s visit The Shah of Iran ' s first U.S. visit in over 2 years was marked by a clash be- tween pro and onti-Shoh forces. As the Iranian leader ' s armored limousine approached the White House lawn, the trouble began. Anti-Shah forces wearing white masks and wielding noil-studded boards charged the pro- Shah group. As President Carter began his welcom- ing speech on the South Lawn, police struggled to keep the two sides opart, using tear gas and billy clubs to quell the rioters. Fumes drifted over the White House lawn, leaving the official party in tears. The riot injured 92 demonstrators and 27 policemen. The hundreds of disenchanted Iranians opposed the Shah ' s political prisons and the regime ' s use of terror and torture. The protesters, most of whom were stu- dents, wore white masks to protect them from being photographed by SAVAK, the Iranian secret police. The Iranian government paid pro-Shah demonstrators to offset the effect of the dissidents. A few of the Iranian nationals reported that they hod received air fare, hotel accommodations and $100 to at- tend the Shah ' s visit to the White House. The Iranian leader was here to discuss the purchase of military hardware from the United States. The Iranian govern- ment has spent $18 billion in the post eight years on U.S. military weapons. Al Zimmerman Sadat visits Israel With one bold move, Egyptian Presi- dent Anwar Sadat changed the Middle East situation by traveling to Israel in November. Until the visit was actually accomplished, it was, to most Mideast experts, impossible. Sodot met with Israeli Prime Minister Menohem Begin. The two leaders discus- sed various issues, including what seemed to be the major stumbling block to peace: the issue of a Palestinian home- land. Few actual agreements resulted from the talks. The importance of Sadat ' s visit was that the Egyptian president came to Is- rael, thereby recognizing the country ' s right to exist. This corner is yours, Sadat said. I proclaim to the whole world that we accept a lasting and just peace. Begin replied by saying, We ask for your hand. Our country is open to the people of Egypt without conditions. During his historic trip, Sadat addres- sed Israel ' s parliament, the Knesset, at- tended religious services at a Jerusalem mosque and visited a memorial to victims of the Nazi holocaust at Yod Vashem. Other Arab countries denounced the peace initiative. In some cities, Sodot was called traitor. No other Arab country joined with Egypt and Israel in peace talks. Several weeks later, the two leaders met in another round of peace negotia- tions. Sodot and Begin conferred in Is- mailio on Christmas Day. As in their first talks, the leaders again failed to achieve declaration of principles for a Middle East settlement. Patty Ward 29