Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

Page 31 text:

' In f 1 'f' ,- , A . , . , , I . , .. , 1 f, ' Q ' v A v l,'41' ' gl 1 fr! -If , 1 I K I lr 11:5 iii' . A Y ' I ' J' , ,yi 4 r l I ' 1 a Q 1 i 5 f Y! I If A 1, A I L 4: 5. I .-, x 14.19, ' 'x 1 L-'iv ,ft . , ,, . .--gf Hx..-Q. -1.3.2 :,ff,, nr .4 1 --rg w 1 .,rI1fQ,ip.4,, gg 'f ' 1 f .Q 'I I5 'Mg ,, .'., '3?':,4..'i4TFS.Mig mfg 'K I 'sri L11 A I -f

Page 30 text:

ot just a handout It's true we make a better day, just you and me . . . Let us realize that a change can only come when we stand together as one. -From We are the World, By Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie he song floated across campus as the line of people stood, their hands joined together, their voices echoing from the top of the hill to the bottom and lingering there. The human band stretched its way across campus from Wetherby Administration Building to Poland Hall. Individuals descended the sidewalk and zig- zagged down the steps. The sun shone brightly on clutched hands while a soft breeze blew hair around faces. There are no barriers here, jlohnetta Stagner, a Bowling Green senior, said. You are either a West- ern student or just working for a cause. It brings everybody on campus together. The cause was hunger in America, and the event was Hands Across Western. On Sept. 6 about 700 people formed a chain which helped to raise more than 51,500 for the National Hands Across Amer- ica fund and the local United Way. The line did not reach all the way across campus as organizers had hoped it would. Originally the line was to begin by Cherry Hall and end near the front doors of Pearce-Ford Tower. Each person paid to stand in the line. Many greeks and organizations bought blocks of the .Zz student tickets which allowed them to stay together 26 Student Life in 'one area. We wanted to stand together as a group to show our supportf' Rhonda Powell, a Franklin junior, said. I know other countries have hunger, too, but our country has its own hunger. I think it's a great thing to come together and help our own. Tommy johnson, a graduate student from Frank- lin, began coordinating the event three months in advance after he and a few other students thought of the idea. He said he had been unable to partici- pate in the national Hands Across America and wanted to plan something similar for the university. We wanted to make a dent in the hunger prob- lem, johnson said. That was our first objective. Our second goal was to see diverse student groups on campus working togetherf, johnson said that as far as he knew, Western was the first university to stage such an event. He said he would like to see the college continue to be a paceset- ICT. We would like Western to be the catalyst-the start of something big, johnson said. I hope we got the point across that we can make a difference. During an address to the crowd of participants at a welcome ceremony, johnson issued a challenge to other universities to join hands across their campus and to help fight hunger. Let's make this a start and not an end, he added. The national event, Hands Across America, oc- curred on May 25, 1986. Although that line did not stretch from coast to coast, more than 820 million was raised to aid the hungry and homeless in Amer- ica. One student who participated in the national event said he enjoyed Hands Across Western more. Leim Boland, an Elizabethtown senior, said he thought people could relate to this better because it's done on a local level. The day got started at IO a.m. on the south lawn on Downing University Center. Tables were set up for those who had not purchased tickets in advance. About 51,000 worth of tickets had been sold before the day of the event, and another S500 was made J hands, directing students to their designated areas and keeping the line from getting bunched up. Once everyone had linked hands, some began having fun by doing the wave with their bodies and singing along with songs coming out over the loudspeaker. Patriotic songs were led by former Miss Western Beth Delap Hamby and associate professor of music Elizabeth Volkman. We are the World and That's What Friends are For were sung by the Amazing Tones of Joy and Miss Black Western NaTasha Watkins. Some standing in line took the event as a serious commitment. It was ' nice as a service project and for the community as a whole, David Jones, a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., said. jones had joined the from ticket sales that morning. The strong student body turnout made it a Y, ' success, johnson said. Fewer faculty members came, but johnson said the ones who did We would like Western to be the catalyst-the start of something big. Tommy Johnson a Morganfield freshman. I just bought my ticket The WKU Spirit Masters helped people to join t0day-U showed enthusiasm. chain along with other members of Kappa Al- pha Psi. Other students were just along for the fun. 'Tm tagging along with the Poland Hall staff, said Kathy Holt,

Page 32 text:

G C 5s ss. XQ5 x . get Xl X i ' , X I he 1987 Girls Sweet Sixteen State High parking facilities first. . A s 3 I School Basketball Tournament brought The university followed the same parking proce- X X , , sl X . X h more to campus than excited teams and dures for this year's tournament as it did for the i' XV X XX I' X coaf ei- previous one. Students were asked to move from . ,WS I X X t 3 50 brought Cars- Diddle Arena Lot to accommodate those visitors X I if n X Lots of them- coming to the games. Q I- X ax S Lots of vans. Lots of trucks. And lots of buses. Cn campus, fliers were put on cars the day before x, Ig XXX in X! X a result, students were forced to move their the tournament asking students and faculty mem- X m , . Q vehicles out of areas where they normally parked. bers to cooperate with parking adjustments. Those 3 fl, l X Many reluctantly kept their cars in the same spot adjustments included having students on campus A . 0 p throglghlout thlgl fopr-day touripangent, mainly to move their cars from Diddle Lot to the parking I - avoi t e trou e o trying to in another spot. structure and Se,-,din facult and t ff b in H , , , , 1 H g y sa mem ersto g' i l my - I didn I think If W35 falfiu S-ifldfa Rose, an grassy areas at Pearce-Ford Tower or Downing Uni- ! ' A C Owensboro sophomore, said. These events are versity Center's south lawn. ' ' v, good for the school, but they have too ipany. They They blocked everything off faround Diclclle gl I , , p are HIWHYS making the students move. Lotj, Drakesboro sophomore Kim Johnstone said. ... Ill, .The foufnflmemi held Malfh I8-21, was the The worst thing was that they didn't even restrict AA. . third Sweet Sixteen to be hosted by Western. The people from parking in our lots. D 4 I firstltournament held here in 1985 presented 'no It was not a plan for visitors to park in those ll -it parking problems since it occurred during spring Qregular lotsj, Director of Public Information Fred A f S' t 'ea - Hensley said. ll' -. The Controversy began last year when tourna- However, he acknowledged that it was entirely . 1' - U mem gHmCS were SCheCluled on the same days stu- possible considering the 3o,ooo estimated atten- I I' ff v Q , dents had classes. A group of university administra- dance. He also said the tournament had probably h b ' 'm - tors were concerned that all the parking spots would brought more people in individual cars to campus M a . be filled by students, leaving none for guests. than any other evgnt, ll'-it g g l 99 The group decided to ask students and faculty The fliers placed on cars explained that thou- M Y Y - ,J to park on the grass, said Horace Shrader, chair- sands of high school students, teachers, parents and W W ' 5 man oflthe 1987 .Bowling Green Sweet Sixteen other guests would visit Western for the statewide ,l,:,.:,-', ' Orgamzmg Comrmttee. event and said the cooperation of those involved L A .wwf 1 Z I ' I was pleased with the way the university ad- would be appreciated. l ' ' dressed the ISSUQH. SChl'21ClCl' Said. 'Tm sure there Given the statewide tournament's PR value, stu- il 1' f 'Ill-A was some inconvenience. for the students, 'but since dent recruitment value, publicity and prestige, 4 u V - ' they know the community better than visitors, it is Hensley said, the advantages far outweigh the S r' null better to inconvenience them. Pin-king inconvenience. Ill ,' ' I fffliny Students dlsagfffd- Marsha Blacklock, a Beaver Dam sophomore, ' T go It 5 riot SUI f0l' the ,students to have to move realized the importance of the university presenting A -. I I I V from their parking spots, Fort Thomas freshman 3 good image as hggt of the tournament, ' .1 gb Sue Lother said. I think the students should be the They had to park them somewhere, Blacklock Db 1 I' L university's first priority. They should get their said. If they let us fstudentsj stay where we were l I fin! l H X U, ' A -, X A3435 v ' . .3 'dm , , xl.. - l I G ll I iff? - 0 1 ,l S f 31,319 I- ll F in. s - 3 S Q! x ' 1 1 f W N x ' 1 D I 1 Z 4 g gm 0 T K x ' ' , J nf' 'Inns . X FU ' N. --1 Q ' 'I f I L - l ' -if X I gli siflpifl wr' D if if mi If 8 RQ V I al flu A g X s X '0 ' Huh- ' fl- if i ' e f X S A X i 'iw r Q ' E ,Q:Qiffii',. H 's I .J l l I I we .LADIES f S .ei 1' ,i ' .f'uQiffT' '- -im ' PJ it ff W is Ml . J- 0 All , l X . 1 L l 1 S xi. . XXXX i GIIHDL 6 -7 QA M6292 28 I Student Life