High-resolution, full color images available online
Search, browse, read, and print yearbook pages
View college, high school, and military yearbooks
Browse our digital annual library spanning centuries
Support the schools in our program by subscribing
Privacy, as we do not track users or sell information
Page 26 text:
“
I — XiBUMy- WE ' U Go i vc frWtf 1 LW ArtlcMJ UUMy Fuuo TtfiiK . snwono 3 V; -» tKue uTwtrrsmrg 22
”
Page 27 text:
“
“The Great American Library Fundraiser” The spotlight shone on ten men, scantily clad in bathing suits and gym shorts, strutting their stuff across the stage. The loud and sometimes lecher- ous cheering of the mostly female audience drowned the blaring music. The University’s first Mr. URI” all-male beauty contest was underway. A visitor to campus within earshot of the din in the Union Ballroom that Tuesday evening in Feb- ruary might have asked, Why aren’t those stu- dents studying in the library?” The rambunctous goings-on had a more scholarly intent than appearance indicated. Ironically, the quality of studying in the library would be directly enhanced by the Mr. URI show. We just wanted to have a fundraiser that would attract a lot of people to make money for the library, explained Lauren Richard, the show’s chairperson, and we thought a male beauty pageant would be fun and different. The show was part of “The Great American Library Fundraiser, sponsored by students to raise money and create publicity to help URI ' s ailing library. Why is a private fundraiser among student need- ed to raise money for a state- funded library at a university ? Staggering inflation rates of ten percent or more sent prices of library materials to the moon and beyond, even back in the days when people thought they ' d never get used to a 50C gallon of gas. State funding for the URI library hasn’t kept up, and for the past few years, there just hasn’t been money for adequate staff or materials. In fact, a mid-70 ' s survey of nineteen colleges and universities placed URI ' s library near the bottom in professional staff size, total expendi- tures, librarians-per-students and clerical and technical staff. The dean of the library, George Parks, has point- ed out that a library the size of URI’s needs 52.000 new books every year just to keep up. The library has fallen far short of that figure in recent years, and this year purchased only 23.000 new books. Staff problems at the library are just as bad, and have been for several years. There are more statistics, volumes of figures to demonstrate again and again the enormity of the gap between what the library is, and what it should be. As grim as the statistics are, the reality is more depressing. Empty shelves; missing reference books and periodicals; broken equipment and too few staff members to turn to for help distress and anger students engaged in research and study, chasing them off campus and even out of state in search for needed materials. Legislators have seen the statistics, and have come to campus to catch a glimpse of the condi- tions. But the coffers still have not opened up enough and the library sinks deeper and deeper every year toward academic oblivion. So in 1980, the students launched the Great American Library fundraiser, surpassing its goal of $5,000, which is not even a fraction of the dollars needed to bring the library up to snuff. Perhaps the concerned response of students to the fundraising drive will jar loose some bucks for books from the politicians from Providence won ' t be winning any beauty, popularity or maybe even reelection contests if the students in Kingston have their way. by David Gregorio 23
Are you trying to find old school friends, old classmates, fellow servicemen or shipmates? Do you want to see past girlfriends or boyfriends? Relive homecoming, prom, graduation, and other moments on campus captured in yearbook pictures. Revisit your fraternity or sorority and see familiar places. See members of old school clubs and relive old times. Start your search today!
Looking for old family members and relatives? Do you want to find pictures of parents or grandparents when they were in school? Want to find out what hairstyle was popular in the 1920s? E-Yearbook.com has a wealth of genealogy information spanning over a century for many schools with full text search. Use our online Genealogy Resource to uncover history quickly!
Are you planning a reunion and need assistance? E-Yearbook.com can help you with scanning and providing access to yearbook images for promotional materials and activities. We can provide you with an electronic version of your yearbook that can assist you with reunion planning. E-Yearbook.com will also publish the yearbook images online for people to share and enjoy.
