Eastern Kentucky University - Milestone Yearbook (Richmond, KY)

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Above Left: Nancy Thomas works in the deli section at Kroger ' s. Many busi- nesses in Richmond employ University students. Above: A member from the Association of Law Enforcement helps to renovate the Marc Center by refur- bishing desks for clients and staff to use. Left: Sue Chenault, Director of the Chamber of Commerce; Kim Dobing, an Eastern intern for the Chamber and Mary King, a past intern and present employee review the plans for the Gold- en Leaf Days Festival developed by a University public relations class. Oppo- site Left: Some members from the Bap- tist Student Union visit one of the local nursing homes in the community. Student Life 21

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THE UNIVERSITY An Asset to Richmond I 1 he community ' s qual- ity of life and economy - - is very dependent upon Eastern Kentucky Univer- sity said Sue Chenault, Execu- tive Director of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. Some businesses even close down dur- ing spring, Christmas and sum- mer breaks, she continued to say. University-related jobs and students contribute to one- fourth of the economy of Madi- son County. The University not only brings a source of income to the county, but also industry. She added that the University is a strong selling point with indus- trial manufacturing firms to lo- cate in Richmond. Eastern pro- vides education, cultural activi- ties, athletics, business and volunteer work to the communi- ty, Chenault noted. The University is also diversi- fied in what it offers to Madison County. Mrs. Chenault said that, for instance, a public relations class at the University drew up the proposals and plans for the Golden Leaf Tobacco Festival that takes place in November in Rich- mond. Chenault noted that the festival could not have been a success without the knowledge of the public relations class. In addition to supplying manpower, students also have specific technical skills not pos- sessed by our staff that we ' ve been able to use, said Beverly Fo- gle, director of the Marc Center, which has been in existence since 1969 and is a private agency that provides services for men- tally retarded and physically handicapped citizens in Madison County. The Marc Center is one organization that benefits from Eastern students. They raise money, renovate the Marc Center building, sell the clients ' crafts, and even try and locate jobs for the clients. Students serve as in- terns to the Marc Center through programs such as social work, oc- cupational therapy and voca- tional rehabilitation. Campus or- ganizations such as Kappa Delta Tau, Association of Law Enforce- ment and Student Council on Ex- ceptional Children volunteer their time to help the Marc Cen- ter. The University is a vast pool of resources that offers Madison County an available source of manpower, which enables the community to grow both fi- nancially and culturally as well as meeting its physical needs. 20 Student Life

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RUSH A Different Opportunity It began innocently enough. A meeting here, a committee there, an interview, and on and on. The preparations began before the last semester ended. Nancy Holt, assistant director of Student Activities said, each sorority submitted a detailed report for their fall rush program by April of the last school year. This let each group get organized over the summer. Many of the sororities did just that by con- ducting summer retreats to work on skits and pre- pare scenery. Those that remained during summer session completed much of the busy work then. In the fall everyone arrived the first day the dorms opened to put the final preparations into action. This offered a special chance for each sorority to renew relationships and catch up on summer news. During these few days floors were decorated, and costumes gathered. Skits were rehearsed again and again. Letters were painted, name tags drawn and cut, balloons blown up, gowns ironed, and can- dles counted. The days begin at 8:00 and may end around midnite. In the girls ' spare time they un- packed and tried to make their rooms convey a mes- sage about themselves. One special group of girls served as Rush Coun- selors — Rho Chi ' s. These girls went before a selec- tion board, completed interviews and attended training sessions during spring semester. The morn- ing of the first rush party they disaffiliated from their sororities. For the next five days they lived in a motel room with another counselor not in their so- rority. They could not speak or even acknowledge anyone in their organization, especially in front of rushees. The Rho Chi ' s purpose was to answer ques- tions rushees had concerning any of the sororities, and taking the girls from party to party. Being Rho Chi ' s gave each girl a chance to see her organization and the others operate from the outside — it in- creases their objectivity concerning their own group, said Nancy Holt. The same process begins again and again. For the many women who go through rush it signifies a new beginning; for the actives, it is a regeneration of their sorority. In the end everyone involved exper- ienced a different opportunity in college life. Below: A Phi Mu completes information cards on rushees before the parties begin.