Florida State University - Renegade / Tally Ho Yearbook (Tallahassee, FL)

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SLIGER RETIRES lood of emotions iwept across the j ampus as the news ' he weight of one ' ciecisio n impacted the lives of thousands of people. Bernard F. Sliger, who had become a legend for bringing the institution to its highest level of achievements, was saying good-bye. At age 66, the tenth president of the uni- versity announced his retire- ment. It ' s time for someone else to have the joy and the re- sponsibility of the office, said the teary-eyed Sliger. Elected president on Feb- ruary 7, 1977, Bemie, as the students respectfully called him, led the university through many ups and downs. His accomplishments included creating tradition with the ever popular ice cream social, which Sliger first hosted in 1977. When Sliger was in office, enrollment grew by more than one third, an engineer- ing college was added, two world class super computers were acquired, 27 scholar chairs have been established or are in various stages of completion, and the univer- sity was selected by the Na- tional Science Foundation as the site for the new National High Magnetic Field Labratory. As his triumphant closing act, Sliger led the athletic de- partment to a 13 million dol- lar budget, and in September of 1 990, the Seminoles joined the Atlactic Coast Confer- ence. The fifteen years Sliger contributed will be remem- bered as a time of exciting accomplishment. He is not only one of the most beloved presidents in the state uniersity system, but a remarkably strong lead- er, said Joan Ruffier, a member of the Board of Re- gents Admiring students and fac- ulty agree that Sliger ' s great- est qualities include his easy going manner, his wonderful sense of humor, and his com- passsion for the university and the people attending it. He is more accesible at times than many people with- in my own department, and it ' s great to be able to start at the top if I have a specific problem, said Charles Mar- relli. Student Senate Presi- dent Pro Tempore. According to Sliger, his greatest accomplishment in- volved the faculty and stu- dents. He cited the higher quality and the diversity of the student body and faculty in recent years, but it is the cooperation between the two of which he is most proud. It has been my privilege and pleasure to serve as pres- ident of FSU. I have enjoyed the friendship and support of the university family and its many constituencies, said Sliger. His charisma and energy have created a strong bond between him and the student body. It ' s nice to know that somebody who loves the uni- versity, and is willing to give his energies in order to ad- vance the state system, is in charge, senior Will Mulligan said, We will all miss him. Indeed, the entire univer- isty will feel the absence of our president and friend. His honesty, shown by his expres- siveness and concern is gen- uine and rare. Replacement does not seem possible. How could anyone re- place good ol ' Bemie? said graduate student Kyle Colle. It will take the university years before finding someone with spunk like Bemie. That someone else will most likely be a professor, ac- cording to Sliger. Throughout the year, various applicants were interviewed for the presidential position. The ZULMA CRESPO Students agree that whoever is selected will have their work cut out for them. It is not too difficult to fill Sliger ' s position, but no one could take his place in the hearts of the students and faculty. Sliger plans to return to teach economics after tak- ing a year off to do a little fishing with his wife, Gret- ta, in their summer home in Trout Creek, Michigan. Krista L. Marino and Rachel Priest

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ROYAL TRIBE RETURNS ' ears after graduation, : 5 Seminole Royalty continued to spread g ) e Spirit Across the hMd. Fortunately, the sec- ond ten year reunion helped to unite the royalty for the homecoming festivities. The remarkable idea of re- uniting Seminole Royalty was started by Susan Bates Turner, the 1976 homecom- ing princess. Turner said she wanted to recognize the first queen Clara Moffit MacKay, and the other FSU Royalty members, by inviting them back to share the memories with other former homecom- ing queens, princesses, and chiefs. With the support of Alumni Affairs, she was able to pull off the first royalty reunion in 1980, thus perpetuating a tradition. The 1975 Homecoming Prince and the current asso- ciate director of Alumni Af- fairs Phil Barco and Julie Flemming, the reunion chair- man, were the key people in coordinating the second re- union with help from Alumni Affairs and the Student Alumni Foundation. Flem- ming said she felt very for- tunate to have been here dur- ing the time of the reunion, and able to work so close with it. Words could not de- scribe it; it was a wonderful experience. Out of the 56 Royalty members, 41 returned to watch the crowning of the new princess and chief, Lilie Alexandre and Rob Boos. Among those was the first, 1948, Homecoming Queen Clara Moffit MacKay. MacKay had the honor of crowning Alexandre and Boos with their Indian head- dresses at the annual Pow- wow held in the Leon County Civic Center. MacKay took a moment to remember her crowning and said, I was happy then, but every year it means so much more. The Royalty members par- ticipated in homecoming ac- tivities planned by the Stu- dent Alumni Foundation, and the homecoming com- mittees. Many of them rode in the homecoming parade, despite the rain. They were also present at the annual Grads Made Good break- fast in the Oglesby Union Ballroom. The ceremony was held to honor graduates who have made special achieve- ments in their chosen careers. The award was presented by Omicron Delta Kappa, a na- tional collegiate leadership society. The three new honorees were Clyda S. Rent, Davis Gaines and Isabel W. Rodgers. Rent, the 1963 homecom- ing queen, is currently the president of the Mississippi University for Women and is the first female to be pres- ident of a public educational institution in Mississippi. She received her bachelors degree in 1964, her masters in 1966, and her doctorate degree in 1968, all at FSU in Sociology. Gaines, a musical theater actor, was honored for his wonderful dramatic perfor- mances. His most successful starring role was in the Broadway hit The Phantom of the Opera. One of his most recent successes was a new recording of Jerome Kerns 1924 musical Sitting Pretty. Gaines, a former FSU cheerleader, graduated cum laude in 1976 with a bachelor degree in theater. He said he was thrilled to be back in an atmosphere full of love, warmth, and security, and was glad he was able to give something back to the university. Rodgers graduated in 1945 from Florida State College for Women before it became a co-ed school. She earned a bachelor degree in English Literature, a Phi Beta Kappa key, a masters degree in po- litical science from the Uni- versity of Virginia, a masters degree in religion education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and a doctorate in theology and ethics from Duke University. Rodgers is a professor of ap- plied Christianity at Virgin- ia ' s Presbyterian School of Christian Education and the author of five study books for Presbyterians. She is listed in Who ' s Who in America, Out- standing Educators, Who ' s Who in American Religion, Personalities of the South, and the International Direc- tory of Scholars. Another distinguished guest was Vincent Morris Williams. Williams plays the part of Hampton on the oldest running soap opera, The Guiding Light. Wil- liams auditioned for a part in the soap opera, and received a three year contract with CBS, which launched his ca- reer. Being a graduate from Florida State contributed to being the best I can be. You are really able to grow in any direction you choose here, he said. Angela Buress 0 0 o o X

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. ' s the afternoon comes to an end, listens to Sliger ' s opinions and memories, students who attended social were encouraged by his interest in them. STUDENT LIFE ra Last Weekend at Bernie ' s Classic tunes greeted parents, faculty, and students from the Sligers ' backyard as they made their way up his circular drive for the last of one of FSU ' s greatest traditions, the Annual President ' s ice cream social. Since his first years as president, Bernard F. Sliger has treated his students to free ice cream and a day to get to know their president while expressing their thoughts and concerns. The whole reason I started having these socials was to meet my students and hear their ideas. I feel it ' s very important because I didn ' t have a chance to do it when I was in school. Students were filled with mixed emotions when they heard the news of Bernie ' s retirement. When I heard he was leaving it made me sad. I don ' t think they ' ll ever find someone to completely fill his shoes, stated sophomore Wendy Lincks. Jeff Rosen, a junior math major, summed it all up, President Sliger reminds me of Papa Smurf, and I just can ' t imagine the Smurfs without their Papa. Amy Shinn tudents enjoy time to get to ow their president at the qpnual Ice cream social, und the ice cream tasty ne company invigorating.