Austin High School - Comet Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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v 1 'K H. -. Vice Principal John Heath helps Lane Brindley and Carolyn Hooper decide on a company for their senior class rings. Outgoing Governor Bill Clements was defeated on Nov. 2. Mark White was elected to replace Clements as Governor. 7 HRC promotes friendship, understanding The Human Relations Committee promotes friendship and understanding among all students of the school, said HRC sponsor Anna Carroll. The HRC is composed of students who share the common desire to promote positive relationships among diverse groups and faculty, Carroll said. Carroll has been the HRC sponsor for three years and enjoys a chance to work with students from all over the school, and meet people I wouIdn't meet in my class, she said. I like finding out what people are thinking about nonacademic mat- ters, Carroll added. The HRC suffered from nationwide budget cuts this year. Melinda Maldanado, senior HRC member said of the budget Cuts, It's very unfortunate, because it sets restrictions onthe numberofactivities the HRC can have. The HRC members attend several workshops throughout the year. Such topics covered in their meetings are peer pressure, alcohol and drugs, loneliness, dating, and competition. When the HRC discusses the topics of their meetings, they divide up into smaller groups where the members can feel more comfortable sharing their feelings. The members also act out skits depicting situations in which there's a conflict between the group pressures and their own feelings about what's right, Carroll said. Carroll added that the Cultural Showcase on March 11, culminated the HRC activities for the year. Perhaps next year we will have to get involved with fund raising activities because of the district budget cuts, Carroll said. Andrew Alexander, Catherine Arnold, Cyndi Barbour, Sally Bernau, Carter Breed, Scott Brown, Khoa Bui, Joshua Calder, Amy Cogdell, Julie Fulton, Jaana Karttunen, Jon Luckstead, Dudley McClellan, Richard Merrill, Martha Moody, David Schewitz, Karen Tannert, and Amiel Willerman. CULTURAL SHOWCASE The annual Cultural Showcase assembly was held Mar. 11. Acts ranged from Mexican dancers to the Steppers dancers. The assembly closed with several teachers dressed in outfits of different cultures, such as English teachers Sandi Brinkman in a hiking outfit, and Phyllis Rothgeb in cowboy chaps and garb, dancing to We Are Family by Sister Sledge. Human Relations Committee sponsor Anna Carroll said that the showcase culminated HRC activities for the year. The purpose of the showcase was to highlight the diverse cultural heritage of the students of Austin High SPRING BREAK Spring Break came Mar. 12 through Mar. 20. The week was for rest and relaxation for both students and teachers. When students arrived back at SFA on Mar. 21, they had only eight weeks left of the school year. CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS Cheerleader tryouts were held Mar. 24, after a special session of practices for the candidates. All four classes were allowed to attend the tryouts, and Associate Principal John Heath felt the behavior of the students was good. The 1983-84 cheerleaders who were chosen are JeffSanders, Suzanne Schulze, Cara Briggs, Krissy Looney, Amy Frances, Tammi Johnson, Janet Crouch, John Greenway, and Grace Benavides. They will be under the direction of sponsor Jean McMillan. DWIIHARDSHIP LICENSES A growing concern about minors restricted drivers' Iicenses increased drastically following the fatal car accident involving SFA students Lana Tatum and Katherine Rodgers. Legislators had been researching the subject for several years, and felt that the issuance of these kinds of licenses had become too lenient. Many teenagers received hardship licenses when no condition existed to warrant one. Legislators proposed to make these restricted licenses harder to obtain. The Texas Legislator passed a bill in April restriciting hardship licenses from students who have not completed a driverls education course. House changes in the original bill included abolishing the general welfare category which allowed parents to ask for a hardship for their child if there was a family need. The need for the license must be verified before the license is granted. In the case of economic or short-term emergencies, the Department of Public Safety can waive the training requirement, and issue a 60-day provisional emergency license. Another reason for the increased involvment for new legislative actions was the increased number of arrests made for Driving While intoxicated KDWIJ. In conjuntion with the awareness of fatal DWI accidents, the Austin American Statesman began publishing the names of persons arrested and charged with DWI. The Legislature also passed strict new DWI bills in April that instigated programs and punishments for offenders. One program implemented called Weekend Intervention Program fWlPl was an intensive treatment program for problem drinkers. Ten DWI continued on pg. 16

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WI-lITE'S INAUGURATION Democrat Mark White was sworn in as Governor ofTexas on Jan. 18. White succeeded Bill Clements who was the first Republican Governor of Texas in 100 years. The Governor's lnaguaral Parade marched almost unaware of the rainy weather. The Budweiser Clydesdales came to march in the parade, but were not taken out of their trailers because of the rain. SENIOR MEETING A Senior meeting was held Feb. 3 to take cap and gown measurements for Graduation. The robes were delivered May 16. BOND ISSUE Austin voters passed a S210 million dollar bond package on Feb 5 which allocated money for elementary, junior high and high schools. The package included money for the construction of new schools, and renovations, improvements, and additions for existing schools. Austin HighwillreceiveS638,280fromthebonds. The money will go for a science lab ventilation system replacement plus it will provide for the addition of more exterior lights around the school and parking lot. CAPITOL FIRE A fire in the Lieutenant Governor's apartment in the Capitol Feb. 6 killed an overnight guest and did extensive damage to the 95 year old pink granite structure. Matt Hansen, a horse trainer for Lt. GovernorBitt Hobby's daughter Katherine, was killed in the blaze, which was caused by faulty electrical wiring in a television set. Six firefighters were injured while fighting the early Sunday morning fire that caused heavy smoke damage to several senators' offices, and to the Senate Chamber. Damage to the building was estimated at over half a million dollars, and the Legislature appropriated seven million dollars to repair and restore the Capitol. KU KLUX KLAN A near-riot occurred near the Capitol grounds Feb.19 when 30 Ku Klux Klan members paraded down Congress Avenue. The afternoon Klan march followed a morning march for Black Awareness Month. Trouble arose when anti-Klan supporters yelled obscenities and threw objects at the marching Klansmen. Several people, including four law enforcement officers, were injured in the melee, and 13 people demonstrators were arrested. Four hundred law enforcement officials were on duty to protect the 30 Klansmen, and were instructed not to make any arrests. Despite officials' precautions, violence broke out towards the end of the 40 minute march when Mexican-American community activist Paul Hernandez assaulted a policeman. The police felt this action warranted an arrest. Klansmen submittedarequesttotheCityCouncil for another march in June. Yet, while many Austinites don't want another rally, they feel the Klansmen ought to pay for their protection, which cost Austin taxpayers over 870,000 dollars. MERIT FINALISTS A record number of 17 National Merit Finalists were selected from Austin High in March. The students represent more than one third of the finalists from the AlSD. The organization was established to identify and honor academically able U.S. high school students, and to provide college scholarships to many of them. SFA finalists were continued on page 15 Au tin Sen. Lloyd Doggett spoke to students at the Homecoming assembly on Oct. 8. Juniors Karen Becker and Susan Salinas enjoy refreshments during the Honor Fioll reception Dec. 11 Jeff Kelbly placed fourth in state UIL divin competition. Allison Collins and David Jobe place wreath Stephen F. Austin's gravesite in honor of his birthda Nov. 2. 'YV A .kg ff' 4. 'V , Qfl' if Pidge Smith places a carnation at the World War ll memorial stone on Nov. 2 during Stephen F. Austin Birthda celebrations. High Journal ! I i i- 2

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repeat offtenders were chosen from defendants in misdemeanor cases. In place of serving a jail term of the 30 days, the participants pay S200 for the program, lose their drivers' licenses, and remain on probation for two years. ln the program, the participants must spend one weekend in jail, and the four following weekends watching films and participating in group therapy. TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL The new Travis County Jail opening was delayed from six months to one year because of a faulty electronic security system. Inspectors from the Federal Bureau of Prisons recommended the delay until the security system is fixed. MAYOR FIACEICHICAGO The most controversial Mayor's race in U.S. history occurred in the Chicago race on Apr. 12. Democrat Harold Washington became the first Black mayor for Chicago, in a campaign that grew increasingly bitter. The primary issue seemed to be Washington's race. BASEBALL SUSPENSION Fifteen students were suspended on April 18 and 19 because of different levels of involvement with alcohol before the Austin High baseball game against Lanier, which was a school activity, said Assistant Principal Jack Kinkel. The suspensions were decided on by Kinkel and Associate Principal John Heath. Although drinking alcoholic beverages before athletic events has happened before, this was the worst case of studentsgettingdrunk,andSFAadministratorsfeIt the need to take some kind of action to prevent future episodes. Kinkel said that the students' actions had violated district rules prohibiting the consumption of alcohol during the school day, which is interpreted as beginning the morning before school until after the last school event the student attends. Kinkel contacted La Tapatia, the restaurant that served the students alcohol, and said he received a reasonable, accurate explanation. The restaurant said that the SFA students had come in with some older girls, and the students weren't checked because the restaurant thought that they were all together. After receiving this explanation, Kinkel ended the investigation. US EMBASSY BOMBING A terrorists bombing ofthe US Embassy in Beirut on Apr. 17 left 17 Americans dead, and over 40 injured. Moslem Holy War, a fundamentalist Moslem group, claimed responsibility for the explosion. President Fleagan, who attended memorial services for the victims in Washington on Apr. 24, called the incident a cowardly act by terrorists. SPRING THING The fourth annual Spring Thing was held Apr. 22, despite threatening weather conditions that had prevailed earlier that morning. Several activities, includingasoftballtournament,and mud-wrestling contests were highlight events. Four scheduled SFA bands performed at various times throughout the afternoon. A non-school band, the Big Boys, played from 4 until 4:15, when Associate Principal John Heath pulled the plug to the amplifiers. Heath cited the hour delay of the band's performance, and the fear of student injury due to the chaotic slamdancers. many students left the school grounds before then continued on page 17 The Spring Thing was officially over at 5, but A st ' h 'A , ,- Students listen to a speaker during a student council meeting. Student Council role is sometimes taken for granted The SFA student council plays an important role in students' lives, but, that role is sometimes taken for granted. The council sponsors the Spring Thing and the Ugly Man contest each Spring. They also sponsor school dances and candy sales throughout the year. The money that is raised is used to fund projects to help improve the school and help meet the goals of the student council, said Dan Alexander, Senior Spring Student Council President. Alexander said that some of the money raised would buy plaques to honor outstanding teachers. t The Student Council Representatives and alternate Representatives are elected by their sms L Wmwii if' Journalism teacher Tom Prentice dressed as a punk rocker for the Cultural Showcase assembly. Cheerleader candidates wish each other luck aft tryouts on Mar. 24. L. r E H Mr. Brian Schenk's flag collection was displays during Cultural Awareness Month. High Journal --