University of Texas - Cactus Yearbook

“1976 Cactus Yearbook In 1970, the big word in campus politics was " radical. " After almost eight months of continual campus unrest, radical candidate Jeff Jones emerged as the Student Government president. Jones focused on untradi- tional issues throughout the traditional University election, receiving 5,885 of the 10,121 votes cast, with only $40 in campaign expenditures. Many speculated about the future of the University with a radical Student Gov- ernment president, a traditional administration and a conservative state legislature. In the Student Government elections of 1976, Jay Adkins and Skip Sly- field drafted an Arts and Sausages platform for their Absurdist Party. If elected, Adkins and Slyfield promised to change the University ' s motto on the Main Building to " Money Talks " and to sponsor a " different spectacle each month. " Tiring of political antics, voters opted to abolish the Students Associa- tion, April 1978, claiming that the body squandered $42,000 of appropriated funds with little, if any, voice in administrative matters. Despite the stu- dents ' push to abolish Student Government, the final decision rested with the regents ' vote. Where once a scurry of political activity flourished, later an empty mall remained. In 1979, the big word in campus politics was " extinct. " 1979 Cactus Yearbook 9 ”