Appalachian State University - Rhododendron Yearbook (Boone, NC)

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Introduction The Rhodo- dendron , as yearbook, has spanned a period of fifty- five years - a time span which has seen World War, de- pression, space ex p I oration, advances in medicine and nealth care, social and racial turmoil, as well as declines in religion and the nuclear unit (family). Since the year 1921, the school, as recorded by the Rhododendron, has evolved from tiny Appalachian Training School to Appalachian State Normal School and on to Appalachian State Teachers College and Appalachian State University. Within that First Yearbook-1921 Rhododendron time frame, the yearbook has recorded the construction of more than thirty-five major buildings and the expansion of the campus to over two hundred and fifty five acres. Appalachian has known change, and the Rhododendron has chronicled the flux and flow in its historical pages. In general, college yearbooks are as varied as the schools they represent. Every school ' s yearbook is the end product of a long process of evolution, yet every yearbook is sure to be modified, whether in form or content, during years to come. Ideas, themes, and graphic techniques constantly come and go, as evident on this campus in the last ten years. Styles have exhibited wild trends such as The Coffee Top Model , where the yearbook was printed in a double width notebook format, or the flip book where half of the yearbook was up-side-down giving it two front covers. But the basic mission of any yearbook, of course, remains its task of chronicling the events of the academic year, satisfying the yearnings of nostalgia, supplying a face where the memory fails, and graphical- ly displaying the events that might have taken place SHERRI BLACKLEY SHERRYWINCHESTER DEBORAH MORGAN FRANK HUNNICUTT ANDRE WOODS JOHN SNYDER BRAD MICHALOVE ERNESTTEDDER LEON HILL Bart Austin - Editor-in-Chief of the 1977 Rhododendron.

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V r ■on v DODk: 1976-1977, appalachian state university, boone, n.c, volume 55

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during one ' s college years. In what manner should this be done? Which events should be recorded, and which ignored? This is the task of the Rhododendron staff - to pass judgennent on what is relevant to the University scene. Today many colleges have grown so large that it is impossible for a yearbook to cover all of the events which occur during an academic year. The range of students ' interests now encompasses a much broader spectrum. It is no longer feasible to record all of the year ' s events in the pages of a single volume. Traditionally, yearbooks have performed one or more of six different functions. First, they may simply serve as historical journals, emphasizing the events which occurred in the school year. Yearbooks are also reference books. Pictures of people, clubs, sporting events, etc. are usually organized and indexed for ready reference now or later. Third, the yearbook can use the theme of nostalgia. If it can accurately record the fads, customs, and whims of any one school year, in later times one can look back and laugh at oneself and others. The yearbook, indeed, is often tangible proof of the good ol ' days which occur in people ' s lives. The yearbook is also a public relations tool. Not only does it publicize the school and community to outlying areas, but may also strengthen the all-important ties between the campus and its local community. The potential impact of a yearbook in this respect was demonstrated by Appalachian State University ' s Rhodo- dendron of 1976. Today ' s yearbook has acquired a new role in the structure of a university. Besides serving as a record of occurrences, it can also be a source of campus satire and irony. It can be way for students to publish their works, and by doing so, add to their understanding of the many aspects of producing a camera-ready publication. Finally, the yearbook adds a measure of permanence to the students ' school experience. Long after the report cards are lost and the football games are forgotten, a yearbook remains ready to take one back at the turn of a page. As a collective project it remains behind us as a statement of who we were, what we were like, and what we did in these years. So, here is your copy of the 1977 Rhododendron. The staff and I have worked hard to produce a yearbook that will please the greatest majority of students. Hundreds of work hours - writing, photography, layout, typesetting, and administrative work have gone into this, the final product. We sincerely hope that you will cherish this volume now, and for the many years to come. jM- ' Bart Austin Editor-in-Chief 977 Rhododendron TERYLSHOCKLEY DOUG WESTON SUSAN MOSS PAMSTEGALL SPENCER SHARPE PAUL CLARK CECIL REID HOWARD KATZ MARK COFFEY TOM TESTER BOB DOMAN MIKE CLARK JACKDILLARD BART AUSTIN GARY ABERNETHY LESLIE MORRIS JULIANN MORRIS BILL WHITE LEO STOREY PAT STOUT