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

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Winter storms create fun, havoc by JULIE DEL BARTO With exam week about over and Christmas just around the corner, the atmosphere on campus was one of con- stant change. Students who were ap- prehensive about exams were also waiting in anticipation of a three-week break from classes. The break was extended when winter hit Austin. With four inches of snow and ice blanketing the highways, students were finding it difficult to return to their home away from home. With this in mind, the UT administration decided to delay the beginning of the spring semester. The weather did not have this paralyzing effect on everything, though. As the streets cleared and the city opened up, so did the 69th session of the Texas Legislature. Representatives from all over Texas had a lot in store for them as they faced controversial issues including the Education Reform Bill, the use of safety belts in automobiles and the raising of the legal drinking age. Because of the federal government ' s decision to cut highway funds to states that did not raise their drinking ages to 21, the Texas Senate passed a bill stating that as of Sept. 1, 1986 the legal drinking age would be 21 years of age. University students were dealt another blow when President Reagan announced that this was the second American Revolution and that the surge in economic growth and tax reform would bring freedom to all. He was not dealing with the reality of what was happening to college students who received the brunt of his budget cut- backs. With the government cutting both the work study program and one- third of a million more dollars in federal financial funding, students were finding it harder and harder to finance the cost of higher education. Financial worries were not the only things on the minds of the UT popula- tion, however, as thousands gathered around TV sets everywhere for the sports match-up of the season - - the A snowy run evokes different reactions from Lydia Foerster (back), Leslie Herzik and Tom Gray as they try a hill beside the LBJ Library. Photo by Morris Goen 24 Winter Calendar

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v In other University new , a graduate student was hit in both ii i,v the stray shot of an APD officer who was trying to apprehend an assault suspect on Sixth Street. lust as both of these events took everyone by surprise, so did the weather. Following a scorching summer that had Austinites rationing water, Oc- tober seemed to be determined to make up for the prior absence of rain. As we licrame used to the rainy days, the East Coast faced Hurricane Diana, whose terrific winds and rain swept over the coast, leaving destruction in her wake. On Nov. 6 a similar phenomenon took place in the political arena as Republicans swept the nation in the biggest landslide victory in history. In Texas, Myra McDaniels became the first Black woman to hold the title of Secretary of State. In India, members of the minority Sikh religion assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, leaving the world in a state of shock. Triumph and Crisis. These two words worked hand-in-hand for the fall of 1984, leaving the country silently waiting for what the new year would bring. With recruitment tables lining the West Mall. Kari Ody stopped to find out more information from Rick Galbreath a member of Young Democrats. Photo by Kevin Cutting Rainy days and Mondays, this became a familiar phrase all through October as the campus became a sea of brightly colored umbrellas. I ' hiitu by flfr Cotton Fall Calendar - 23

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LONGHORNS Local streets became parking loU as a snowstorm the weekend of Jan. 12 dumped almost four inches on Austin. It was the second snow of the young winter season. Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins squared off in a game that pitted two of the best quarterbacks in the league against each other Joe Montana and Dan Marino. As the bets rolled in, the 49er fans celebrated their team ' s 38-16 victory. Though not shouting victory with the 49ers and their fans, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity members did breathe a sigh of relief when their charter was conditionally reinstated. After having the charter revoked for a hazing incident, it was decided that SAE alumni would more closely super- vise the actions taken by the fraternity. Another decision in the headlines during the winter was the English department ' s decision to make English 346 an elective writing course, which caused a great deal of anguish among students who were taking it as a require- ment for graduation. Finally, as with the price of everything else, the U.S. Postal Service again raised its rates to 22 cents per letter. Just when everyone thought it was cheaper to write home to mom and pop, the government struck again . . . Well, as they say, Spring is just around the corner. A paltry three-inch base fails to deter Mary Whiting from her effort to ski Texas. Photo by Hen Itiddick Winter Calendar 25