University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Politics Disturbs Summer Peace lyhili during suf :-io.whidi nic-smcb 10 liitnh ' Bee Gees, lit Irani , embirketl i more than begin their irfomdin screaming jits Center lor ticket), idky.llic iv calls tha falkklfca Salvatuxi Sandwich vendor Mike Klcinman is confromcd by a UT policeman who warns that selling at the comer of 23rd and San Jacinto Streets is a violation of University rules Students Spit for Gain, Glory Enjoying their last carefree day of summer, dormitory residents i unversed at the Andrews, Blanton, druthers Quadrangle for the annual Labor Day Watermelonfcst Dis tance spittcrs competed in the seed-spitting contest. Junior RJV IVrr came in a whirling first pl.uc finish with a spitting diM.irur I s feet. Non-iontest.ints pl.iyt-d yoilevlull .ind l- ' risbec in the 9() degree he.r off. they consumed do ens i f watermekxu and g.illons cit Icnini. Alys IVxloin, head of women ' s resuk-nce halls, first orgjni?cd the event lo years agn after being approached by girls who jskni Mrs IVxioin. how do you meet a gm came up with the watermelonfcst All resi- dents of men ' s and women ' s dormiton- invited Watermclonfest became an annual event, with over 400 residents attending this year. The budding romances seen by have proved the annual event successful. Oumpiun RJV 1 Vir uv . pu. kcr rx cr August September 21

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August September Ah, summer. Whether they were enrolled in classes or not, students always seemed to find time for fun and frolic. Trips to Barton Springs and McKinney Falls took precedence over study sessions the combination of bright Texas skies and cool waters was too potent to be ignored but brief moments of study were squeezed in ... somehow. Long-awaited escapes from classes began on a sad note, however, as the entire world mourned the passing of film legend John Wayne. Duke died of cancer on June 11 at the age of 72, after having been awarded a special gold medal by the U. S. Congress. In the summer campus scene, i Union fee hike referendum was narrowly defeated by students. Many persons criticized that such an important issue should have been voted on during a regular session, when more students were in attendance. Nevertheless, on July 10, 990 people voted in a decision which would affect 44,000. This increase would have added $1.2 million in revenue to the Union budget by raising student fres from $10 to $12. The vote was 559 against and 430 for, with one vote, none of the above. The real political interest, however, was in Iran. In the beginning of June, Moslem leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ' s gov- ernment had executed 277 former officials of the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Later that month. President Anastasio Somoza was thrown from power in Nicaragua during a revolution. Labor Day School starts Salvation Sandwich man arrested President Jimmy Carter hits all time low in public opinion polls Union steps serve as a sundeck and study hall during summer A May 25, 1979 crash of a DC- 10, which killed 275 people, resulted in panic-stricken airplane passengers and all DC- 10 aircraft being grounded. In the entertainment field, the Bee Gees, the number one group of the decade accord- ing to Billboard record surveys, embarked on their first major concert tour in more than three years. The Brothers Gibb began their three month tour in Dallas, and performed in Austin before a packed house of screaming fans on June 31 in the Special Events Center. Many waited in line for 72 hours for tickets, and all 17,500 seats sold out in one day. The Dial-A-Ticket line received so many calls that it jammed the nearby Buckenridge Hospital telephone lines. Joan Holland Adorned in glittering jackets for their SEC concert. Maunce, Robin and Barry Ciibb sing Too Much Heaven ' 20 August September

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By Air, Sea: Texas In July, 1979, Skylab space station came tumbling back toward earth, but the world awaited its arrival with more glee than trepi- dation. Skylab-watch panics were the latest rage on campus, and many students sported official Skylab target t-shirts and survival kits including plastic helmets, targets and Chicken Little first aid kits. The event occurred at a good time. World news was slow, and summer students had lit- tle to do except speculate where the celestial workshop would land. Although guesses near the Indian Ocean would have been more cor- rect, UT students usually chose targets nearer to home. Projected orbits showed that Skylab would pass over San Marcos in the latter part of the week and many students eyed the sky carefully as they walked by taller buildings. But where would it land? The tower? Math class! After all, the plummet would take care of the professor and next week ' s test at the same time. No, wait! Hope against hope . . . Please, let one itty bitty piece land in the Jester cafeteria PLEASE! Oh, well. Missing Friday the 13th by a mere day and a half, Skylab returned to earth on July 11, 1979, six years after being launched into space. After 34,981 orbits, the space labora- tory landed in the Australian outback. Although the largest pieces of debris weighed more than two tons, no injuries were reported and not one of the expected lawsuits material- ized. The final crash did nothing more than give fortune hunters a field day and put an end to the party. Joan Holland Marine biology students Marcia Ewcll, Brian Fry and Walter Sohl examine data while tracking the oil slick ' s progress. 22 Skylab