Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook

“Students endure heat 109, 110, 111 ... temperatures in Lubbock soared past 100 degrees 20 times during a summer heat wave that engulfed most of the nation from early )une to late August. Students attending summer sessions at Tech walked to classes under a blistering summer sun that set 32 daily temperature records for the area. Students who went home for the summer found the same in Dallas, Houston, Austin, El Paso, New Mexico ... the entire southwest was af- fected. The heat wave caused one of the most severe droughts in the southwest since the Dust Bowl Days of 1936-37. Nationally, the heat wave resulted in 1,265 deaths and nearly $20 billion in damage. Despite the extreme heat, Tech posted increases in enrollment for both summer sessions, as compared to the previous summer. Over 8,000 students attended the first six-week session while close to 6,000 enrolled for the second session. Classes took on an informal ap- pearance as students gave up their Calvin Kleins, Izods, and topsiders for cutoffs, t-shirts and sandals. Outside of class, many students sought refuge from the heat at the Tech Aquatic Center or the air-conditioned Recreational Sports Center. Tech ' s Sum- mer Reportory Theatre offered produc- tions of " 1776, " " Hay Fever, " " Fan- tasticks, " and " Guys and Dolls. " Sym- phony concerts, outdoor carillon recitals and faculty and student recitals were provided by members of the music department. The University Center also provided a slate of movies, sidewalk serenades, free watermelon, dinner showcases and instructional classes ranging from belly dancing to bluegrass banjo. Questions like " What ' s a UC? " " Who ' s an RA? " and " Where ' s the BA? " were asked frequently during the last weeks of )uly and the first weeks of August. The reason - 3,457 freshmen. Tech conducted orientation sessions over a four-week period for incoming students unfamiliar with the campus. During the two-day orientation, freshmen could register for the fall semester, take tours of the campus, purchase football and basketball coupons and attend a disco-swim party at the Aquatic Center. Extreme weather once again made the news as the summer came to a close. A violent thunderstorm moved through the Lubbock area Aug. 3, bring- ing with it strong winds and heavy rain. The storm destroyed portions of the Tech baseball field and the track stadium and caused an estimated $250,000 worth of damage. However, many considered the storm a blessing because it marked an end to the sum- mer heat in Lubbock. id Ventana - 7 ”