Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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Limelight 25

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Death and Controversy Get Year ' s Top Billings WO 06 TH£ Cd OcoeD S AVMly Atones MB. ; $0£ mt»tdCy ' w ■ ' A The year was filled with both loss and gain. It was no different for students of Memphis State University as they faced an ex- citing and sometimes painful year. The formation of the new College of Communication and Fine Arts was a major event. The departments of journalism, music, art and speech and drama combined under Dean Richard R. Ranta to better serve students in these fields. As Phase I of the pedestrian campus program, a $226,000 mall was completed. The new addition was not welcomed by all but it helped to make the campus more attractive. Controversy touched MSU as alleged sex discrimination in hir- ing was reported. MSU was saddened by the death of a music professor, Dr. Herbert Hermann, at the age of 47. Dr. Hermann served as piano division coordinator. 24 Limelight

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Tennessee had its share of bad publicity with Governor Ray Blanton tangling with the press over several issues. Nationally, it was a mixed year. Death was in headlines often. Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplain and Hubert Humphrey all were gone but not forgotten. A mer- ciless killer named Son of Sam stalked the streets of New York while in a televised murder trial 15-year-old Ronald Zamora claimed television intoxication was his reason for committing murder. Controversy was prevalent dur- ing the year. Debates concerning the Panama Canal were long and hot while President Carter ' s energy program failed miserably. Bert Lance lost his battle with Congress and anti-gay activist Anita Bryant fell prey to a pie- thrower at a news conference. A bill extending the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70 in private industry was passed and the Concorde jet finally landed in New York. Star Wars exploded on the movie screen and Close Encoun- ters of The Third Kind reminded everyone of the possibility of in- telligent life elsewhere in the galaxy. Album sales turned towards more mellow sounds. Austin rock , led by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, became a suc- cessful trend. Groups like Fleetwood Mac and singers like Barry Manilow and Linda Ronstadt helped to illustrate this easy sound. Bubble gum music was invaded by punk rock and the lyrics of hit songs were often termed sexually explicit . The Sex Pistols arrived in Memphis and gave an interesting show. Vans were the new craze on the roads. Approximately 2 million were on the highways decorated in every way imaginable. Meanwhile, cars got smaller and slimmer while the price tags grew. Citizen band radios made everyone good buddies on the road. 26 Limelight