Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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10 Focus

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An existence like none other gained students ' attention. Issues such as proposed parking fees for the Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex, bomb threats to campus buildings and traveling preachers sparked student interest. Those experiences plus other collegiate activities — ordering delivery pizza, watching midnight movies and Late Night with David Letterman, camping out for basketball tickets and partying in Aggieville — made life at K-State exciting for students. 9 For K-Staters, campus life provided an existence that was like none other. Students brought an energy and excitement to the University community that made it a world of its own. It was a world of books and studying, beer and partying, friends and fun. It was a time for learning, growing and planning. Time spent with other students provided K-Staters with the best moments of college. The socially minded student found the Union a convenient meeting spot. A typical scenario might have included bumping into a friend — literally — during the rush between 10:30 and 11:30 classes, going to the Union to have a soft drink and discuss the latest news, and scoping others who were in the Union to eat, shop, study or socialize. But while campus life pro- vided a complement — not to mention a necessary break — to the ritual of classwork, students ' lives were not without controversy or concern. Not only major controversy, but small Campus Life Spring was popular for traveling evangelists to spread news of salvation to crowds. Bible Bob, as he was known to students, evoked many vocal rebuttals as he voiced his beliefs. (Photo by Jeff Tuttle)

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In the Events focus attention upon While shades of gray and uncertainty may have many things at K-State — the proposed coliseum, selection of a new University president, the future of K-State football the Landon Lecture series colored K-State but one shade, impressive. Visits to K-State by Thomas P. Tip O ' Neill, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Vice President George Bush focused the national spotlight on the campus and gave students an opportunity to hear important, yet differing, commentary on American and world politics. K-State hoped that impressive tint would carry over into the selection of a new University president. Duane Acker ' s resignation from the post in June 1985 left K-Staters wondering who would lead the University and address the problems of declining enrollment, student retention and ever decreasing state allocations. While uncertainty shrouded this issue, K-Staters were certain to see this gray resolved. Nichols Hall had that impressive tint as the doors were opened on November 9, 1985, for the dedication ceremonies. Since December 13, 1968, when Nichols burned, it has stood silent and empty. During the ' 70s when the question came up whether to level the or restore it, students rallied to renovate the hall. Nichols lives once more with the speech and computer scence departments filling the halls with activity. As part of the Landon Lecture series, Vice President George Bush spoke to a half-filled Ahearn Field House about better international relations and the upcoming meeting between President Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev. After his speech, Bush traveled to Topeka to celebrate Alf Landon ' s 98th birthday. (Photo by John Thelander) Speaker of the House of Thomas P. Tip O ' Neill, answers questions during a press conference held before the 69th Lecture. O ' Neill, who has been the Speaker of the House since 1977 and a member of Congress for 34 years, said he would retire at the end of his current term. (Photo by Chris Stewart)