Jacksonville State University - Mimosa Yearbook (Jacksonville, AL)

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Astronomy students are in best slot for viewing from observatory Halley’s biggest news of year One of the biggest newsmakers of the year was a cluster of frozen gases and small pieces of rock better known as Halley’s Comet. The comet made the headlines repeatedly, and shirts and bumper stickers concerning it were sold. New books were written; there were television specials and binocular and telescope sales boomed. Several cruise lines even offered special rates for the “best view of the comet”. Why all this “comet mania”? Halley’s Comet comes only about every 76 years. Chances are most will not live long enough to see it again. Many people live and die without its ever having been visible during their lifetime. yet, some are fortunate enough to have it occur twice during their lifetime. Mark Twain was born in the year of the comet and died when it next returned. Just what is Halley's Comet? Some have termed it a “dirty snowball”. It is composed of frozen gases and pieces of rock. As the comet approaches the sun, the gases on the surface begin to vaporize. The gas expands away from the center to form the coma, or head. Pressure from the sunlight pushes the dust and gas from the head to form the comet's tail. Energy from the sun causes the comet’s gases to glow. Halley’s Comet is the only comet bright enough to be seen with the naked eye upon each return. It was named when Edmund Halley predicted its return in 1758. The very name has created diversion and excitement this year. Though news writers have clarified the pronunciation by pairing it with alley, numerous people have insisted on saying the word tike Bailey. Jacksonville, of course, both the university and the community, took part in the nationwide craze. Astronomy students had a definite advantage because of their access to the observatory at Martin Hall. There are many modern facilities and instruments there which are used for such things as determining size, magnitude and temperature of stars, as well as photographing eclipses. The JSU library also offered an excellent view of the comet, especially in March when it was nearest the earth and visible in the early mornings. What better purpose could the tallest academic building in the south serve? Mr.Clarence Angclcite shares from Hoping lo catch sighl of Halley’s his file a slide of Halley’s Comet Comet, astronomy class students — made in 1930 at the Hale Qbserva- Troy Hell, Brent Venn and Brandon tones with an IB-inch Tcssar lens. Rich work to set up telescope 22 Campus Life: Halley's Comet

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Cane master Dowdley has nerve and rhythm to lead those men Listen—chants and taps echo Steve Dowdley chants the steps and taps his red and white canc as the other guys follow much the same way square dancers follow a call' cr. The only difference is that Dowdley doesn’t just call the steps; he shows the other members how to do them. The tapping and chanting arc part of a dance better known as steppin'. It is seen on college campuses across the country, primarily among black social fraternities. Dowdley. a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Jacksonville State University and an avid “stepper, is the cane master of the group. As canc master, his job is to set the beat and coordinate the steps the other members arc to perform after he demonstrates them. You know those AKA's (Alpha Kappa Alpha’s), they wear the pink and green. It takes a Kappa man to make the women scream. chants Dowdley as he laps his cane on the pavement. The chants and taps echo on cool, clear evenings as the guys practice in front of various dorms. The fraternity members do not know exactly how steppin’ began, but they have an idea of how it originated. “Steppin' originated in the I950’s, Thad Clarke said. There are a lot of similarities between African folk dance and ’steppin’. What we do could be called mod- ern African folk dancing.” All of the members agree not just anyone can step. It takes a man with a brain to use a cane. ’ Rod Gun said of his skill. Besides brains, it lakes nerves, precision and unity to put on a good show. Steppers practice frequently and have different events at which to perform. The most exciting aspect of steppin’ is the real Greek shows which are sponsored to raise money for the fraternity. the members said. The flashing lights and crowd's roar make the adrenalin flow. No less than 300 people attend each show because usually only one show is sponsored each semester. When the crowd screams with excitement, we get psyched, Gun said. Usually each fraternity member has three or more girls who come to see him perform. White fraternities do not step, they said. Some white people step, but as a rule, the dance is restricted to the black community. “White pocple do not have the African heritage which is similar to steppin', Clark said. Some sororities step, too, but not as often as the fraternities. The chants and taps echo on cool, clear evenings as the guys practice their craft. Students often stop just to watch and admire the steppers. The guys like audiences, but are content just to shuffle along by themselves. Brother Rod Gun and Thad Clarke smile while showing off their talent as steppers to the ladies who came out to watch them perform. Randall Morgan, a fellow stepper, enjoys going it alone to show off some moves he has in front of the Theron Montgomery Building. Campus Life: Steppin' 21

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Doug Drake searches with the binoculars as Mr. Clarence Angclcitc, instructor of astronomy, discusses the comet with him and Carolyn Hendon. Nancy Harris, biology major, and Phillip Rogers in general science plan to view the comet through the big telescope in Martin Observatory, Campus Life: Halley's Comet 23