Austin Peay State University - Yearbook (Clarksville, TN)

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The 1976-77 basketball season was an extremely successful time for the Governors. Their final record was 24.4, winning all regular season games in the Dunn Center, 1. Team spirit is all red and white during an exciting game. 2. Otis Howard drives toward the basket with help from Calvin Garrett. 3. V During the 1976-1977 basketball season as average of 6,200 fans came to the Dunn Center during each home game. 4. Coach Lake Kelly gives a few last minute instructions to the Governors. 5. Brittnye Parker helps lead the Governors to another victory. building and the health and physical education building highlighted phys- ical changes at Austin Peay in the 1970's. The Margaret F. Trahern Fine Arts Building opened in the spring of 1974. At the same time construction was underway on the Winfield Dunn Health and Physical Education Build- ing and Convocation Center while ticket and seating problems were encountered in Memorial Gymnasi- um, known as the Hlittle red barn. The last basketball game in this building was held on Feb. 22, 1975; the Dunn Center was completed in October of the same year and staged its first basketball game on Dec. 1. Two other campus-related build- ings were constructed in the 70's. The Wesley Foundation, a student center sponsored by the Methodist Church, opened its new center in 1973; in 1975 the Church of Christ Student Center was completed. In November of 1973, the SGA asked for the legalization of alcohol on campus. That request continued to be a major issue through 1977. Academic expansion continued in the mid-70's with the addition of the Ed. 8. Education Specialistt degree and the BFA tBachelor of Fine Artsy A long- awaited counseling center was opened in 1975 to offer pro- fessional help in career planning and academic and personal problems. Women's athletics received a boost from the Title IX legislation in the mid-70's. The first women's golf team at APSU was formed, and also the first women's track team. The intramural program showed marked growth during that time as it moved its headquarters into Memorial Gymnasium and expanded its facili- ties. Dr. Edward Irwin, professor and chairman of the English department, was the recipient of the first Distin- guished Professor Award in 1975. This award was begun as a means of recognizing outstanding faculty degree. the latter of which offers more specialized training for fine arts majors. A new core curriculum was started in 1975 to allow a wider selection of courses from which to choose toward fulfilling require- ments. 15

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14 cation condoned dorm visitation from 6-8 pm. on Wednesdays. These hours were extended the fol- lowing year, and supervised open visitation was granted in 1976. Alpha Tau Omega became the first national social fraternity to organize on Austin Peay's campus in 1970 with the installation of the Zeta Phi Alpha chapter. In January of 1972, the installation of Chi Omega marked the first national social so- rority to establish a chapter at APSU. Fraternities and sororities were not the only new organizations on campus, however. In 1970 the Phil- harmonic University Kazoo Ensem- ble eagerly awaited recognition by the SGA. The group was formed ttto promote the advancement and im- provement of kazoo playing but ap- parently failed to receive recogni- tion as an organization and disband- ed tdis-kazoodn. Several advances in athletics were made at APSU in the early 70's. Women's basketball was reinstated in 1971 after being inactive for over 20 years. The baseball team became the first sports team to win a major sports championship by winning the 1971 OVC championship. Two years later, March 1973, the Austin Peay basketball team won their first OVC crown, and claimed national rank- ings in major college polls, riding the efforts of a fabulous freshman from Brooklyn, N.Y., James HFIy Wil- liams. Renovation of Municipal Stadium and construction of the fine arts

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16 members. With the retirement of Morgan on Jan. 12, 1976, APSU moved under the presidency of Dr. Robert O. Riggs, who relinquished his position as dean of the school of education at Madison College in Harrisonburg, Va. Prospects of Hchange were envisioned by Riggs on assuming the presidency as he outlined plans for beautifying Austin Peay's campus and streamlining the administration. A new faculty organization was created in 1975 2 the faculty sen- ate replaced the faculty council in the hopes of becoming a more re- presentative body for the teaching faculty. Phi Kappa Phi, a national honor society, was installed on campus in the spring of 1976 .2 the first na- tional organization at APSU with the purpose of recognizing academic ex- cellence. Another ttsports first occurred as the track team won its first OVC championship in May, 1976. Fall quarter, 1976 statistics show that enrollment reached an all-time high of 4,479; the faculty numbered 170; and the library contained 184,000 volumes. That is quite a dif- ference from the 1927 statistics! The 1976-77 school year at Austin Peay is contained in the following pages - the struggles and resulting victories and defeats; special events; students and faculty; organi- zations; and much more in the con- tinuing history of APSU. All that is left is the future, and who can predict that? We can only hope that the university will cele- brate many more anniversaries and that we will continue, in the words of the Alma Mater, to be Hforever faith- ful to thy standards and to Hproud- iy sing this song in praise of thee. All Hail to Austin Peay!! F8.H 1. Coach Kelly celebrates his 100th victory after the Governors beat Western Kentucky 92-76. 2. Calvin Garrett is getting ready to pass the bail to Ralph Garner in the Morehead game. 3. Part of the basketball team watches the rest of their teammates play a home game.