Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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THE WORLD AND TECH Events capture interest of sheltered students Many world events go by Tech students each year completely unnoticed. It is ver easy for students to become sheltered from happenmgs off the Tech campus and many students just don ' t care. However, this year seemed to be an exception, students became more involved in world events, maybe not by choice, but because the events were there, they were real and they were happening and no one could change them. The United States was shocked when militant Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran, overpowered the Marine guard, and took those within hostage Nov. 4, 1979. First reports were confused and scattered, and it was thought that appro.ximately 100 persons were being held. Later reports indicated there were approximately 50. Tech students responded to the situation with an anti-Iranian attitude. A call Nov. 7 to KTXT-FM program director David Bickford reported someone in Clement Hall had taken an Iranian student hostage and was holding him for the release of the American hostages in Tehran. A police investigation indicated the call a prank. In addition, a city-wide letter campaign was initiated by KEND radio in an effort to induce the Iranians to release the hostages. Iranian students holding the Americans hostage demanded the return for trial of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. who was in a New York hospital receiving treat- ment for a gal! bladder disorder and cancer. Precipitating the attack was the emergence of Ayatollah Ruhollah Kohmeini, a religious leader of Iran, as the new political leader for the Iranians. The Shah was moved to a San Antonio Air Force hospital Dec. 4. bringing world problems even closer to Tech students. This day also brought another wave of desperation for Americans as Iranian students decided to place the American hostages on trial for alleged crimes. On the home front. Beta Theta Pi fraternity demonstrated its distaste by hanging an Iranian in effigy outside the lodge on Broadway. Students retaliated against anyone with an accent or who even resembled a person from the Mid- dle East. Letters again were sent by Lubbock residents to Iranian officials in an effort to free the hostages, but to no avail. National interests turned to cam- H as elec- l l l l approached. One during the campaigns became the pos- sible reinstatement of the draft. Presi- dent Carter announced in his State of the Union address that he wanted to begin registration of the draft age youth but expressed hope that it will not be necessary to reimpose the draft. This brought a myriad of responses from students ranging from a hell-no-we-won ' t-go attitude to fierce patriotism and loyalty to the U.S. Students also became fearful that women would be included in the draft. There was an anti-draft rally Jan. 22 at Memorial Circle in an effort to stimulate discussion. Nuclear energy again became a topic of interest when the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported there are potential evacuation problems in case of emergency at many of the already existing nuclear power plants. The scare stemmed from the nuclear accident at the Three Mile Island power plant outside Harrisburg, PA March 28, 1979. Students sponsored an Anti-Nuke rally Nov. 13 to protest the build- ing of nuclear power plants and to advocate alternative sources of energy supply. At the beginning of the fall semester the Lubbock chapter of the National Organi- zation for Womensponsored a march through downtown Lubbock advocating sup- port of the Equal Rights Amendment. Many Tech students, male and female, joined the march. Tech and the world were shocked when the Soviet Union invaded neighboring Afghanistan Jan. 15 with thousands of troops and weapons, forcing the underdevel- oped Afghans to submit to its rule. The U.S. countered by taking the Russians to task in the United Nations General Assembly. The Soviet Union, however, did not withdraw its troops. These actions led to discussion of a boycott of the Summer Olympics scheduled in Moscow. President Carter, although resisted by the International and U.S. Olympic ' Committees, called for a boycott and was willing to take strong measures to insure the athletes followed his lead. Amid the confusion of whether or not to boycott, the U.S. hosted the Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid, N.Y. The total U.S. showing was disappointing in comparison to that of rival USSR. However, there were some bright spots. Speed skater Eric Heiden netted an unprecedented five individual gold medals and the U.S. Hockey team defeated the Soviets and Finland to win a gold medal. At this point, the Iranian students, it seemed, were willing to turn the hostages over to the Iranian government. However, the Ayatollah opposed such a move and the agreement fell through. In response. President Carter imposed strict sanctions against Iran . ' pril 7. This year more than any other, students became involved out of necessity and world events indeed affected each individual. 4 1

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cheer began stringing approximately 47.000 feet of wire and 28,000 lights on seven buildings, including Chemistry, Home Economics, Math, Science, Mass Com- munications, Administration and Hol- den Hall. Each year the event is sponsored by the Residence Halls Association, Sad- dle Tramps and Alpha Phi Omega fra- ternity. Response to the Carol of Lights was reflected elsewhere on campus in Sigma Omega Beta ' s Hymn of Bulbs, a parody. The group used Christmas bulbs to light several windows of sec- ond floor Murdough spelling out NOEL and SOB. The Carol of Lights, a Tech tradi- tion, has received national recognition and has remained a fond and pleasant memory to residents of Lubbock who attend each year, sustaining the Christ- mas spirit not only for them but also for almost all Tech students. ' Vi tpf tm ' wieimi

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