Memphis University School - Owl Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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ELECTIONS Candidates ' Week-Long Grasps for Leadership Roles Spring elections for the Student Council offices of the ' 78- ' 79 year breathed life into a student body that was trudging through the post-spring-break stretch. Immediate student interest came with the arrival of election week. Hungry for any break in the routine, students enjoyed a diversion, elections, that is theoretically a serious part of the system. When the Red and Blue conventions selected their candidates, and petitions for office began to circulate, each candidate had feelings of apprehension and enthusiam — apprehension about the load of work that lay ahead and enthusiam about the chance to have a good time and be the center of attention for one week. Many candidates burst forth immediately with their campaigns. The prospective office- holders and their friends organized campaigns based on both traditional objectives and new ideas. Hours of planning were spent at both the candidates ' houses and at school. By the second or third day of work, however, much of the enthusiasm had been replaced by fatigue and worry. Many hopefuls spent much of their time on the Freshman and Sophomore classes in an effort to involve them in the politics of the school. All who took part in the elections plastered the walls with posters and passed out candy in an all-out effort to make themselves known to the student body. Some made phone calls to students whom they did not even know; others used intimidation as a means of getting votes. Most of the last night was spent preparing the all-important campaign speech. The candidates used almost every possible method to attract attention to themselves and to appeal to the students for votes. A few, however, took their quests for votes too far and actually lost popularity. Thursday morning, after the speeches were completed, candidates heaved a sigh of relief. The polls would open soon; election week was almost over. Many of the students who were running had felt, for the first time, that they were really a part of MUS. These students now had a chance to fill the positions that they had admired others in just a year before. Some would leave school that day ecstatic with joy , others with a sense of noble disappointment. But all would depart with a feeling of accomplishment. As the winners were announced Thursday afternoon, the chapel was filled with anticipation. Each candidate waited patiently for his name to be called. He knew that the eventful week would determine conclusively the role that he would play in the school year to come. As the victors ' names were called, one could sense the feelings of elation and accomplishment that filled each winner. But once the celebration time was over, the new Student Council leaders knew that they had to begin thinking seriously about their new jobs and responsibilities in the not-so-distant future. The fun of election week was over; it was now time to be serious about their responsibilities as school leaders. Unable lo cope with election-week stress, candidate Breck Bolton is dnven to Kleptomania. During a free period, Breck makes an ingenious attempt at stealing votes by retagging an opponent ' s candy with his own name. SPRING 17

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John Walt and C ' p Wood join fellow candidates stationed outside the gym in last-ditch attempts to influence voters. Despite then- efforts, both lost close run-off elections. John ran for President of the Student Council and Chip was in the Secretary-Treasurer race. In an effort to sway votes, three candidates brought the well-known blues player Mose Vinson to Hyde Chapel. Anticipated to be a highlight of the week ' s entertamment, his piano playing left perhaps only Mose himself drooling. 16 STUDENT LIFE

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Owls Finish Strong Second in MUS Invitational Despite Key Injuries Peters Takes Fourth in State 880 With Career Best The track team faced a tough schedule. The season consisted of three triangular meets, two dual meets, the Hardmg Invitational, and the prestigious MUS Invitational. The first meet pitted the runners against Catholic and SBEC. It was no contest as MUS outscored second- place Catholic by 82 points, the Owls taking first-place finishes in 15 events. Three days later the trackmen hosted Briarcrest. MUS finished on the losing end of the score as the Saints won 83- 50. Despite the loss, the Owls produced some outstanding individual performances. MUS swept the discus with Tommy Chnstenbury, Brad Adams, and Bob Robmson placing 1, 2, 3 respectively. The two-mile relay team of Tim Greer, Judd Peters, Henry Caldwell, and Jeff Peters won with a time of 8:24.9. In a later contest the Owls faced Bishop Byrne and Memphis Prep. Neither team posed much of a threat as the team ran away with a solid victory Joe Morrison continued his consistently good pole-vaulting with a winning height of 1 1 feet. Other first- place finishers were Robert Ashley, Boyd Wade, Conrad McCrary, Phillip McNeill, and the 2-mile relay team. Injuries kept the Owls from performing well at the Harding Invitational. A partial team was entered in hopes of having a healthy team for the District and Regional meets. A week later MUS hosted Harding and CoUierville in the last triangular meet of the year. Harding proved to be too tough, as MUS had to settle for second place. Morrison won the pole- vault again, and Jeff Peters won the 880-yard run. The most challenging competition thus far was encountered in the MUS Invitation al, next on the agenda. Eight teams were entered. Harding, led by their fine distance runners, nipped MUS for first place, 78-71. Although Christenbury was hurt, he participated in two field events, the shot put and discus, and won them both. Morrison vaulted 1 1 ' : feet, his best effort of the year. Jeff Peters had his best meet of the year. He ran the anchor leg of the 2- mile relay, won the 880, and ran the In the meei against arch-rival Briarcrest, Jeff Peters laces his shoes in preparation for the 880-run. Peters, who dominated the 880 all season long, reached the State where he ran a personal best 1:57.1. final leg on the winning mile-relay team. For his efforts, Peters was awarded the medal for the Outstanding Athlete. After the MUS Invitational, the team competed in the District Meet at Memphis State ' s Kennedy Complex. MUS ' only first-place finisher was Jeff Peters in the 880 run with a time of 2:00. Others that quahfied for the Regional were Adams, Christenbury, Morrison, and Albert Ray. The Regional Meet proved very tough as Jeff Peters was the only runner to qualify for the State. The State Meet in Nashville motivated Peters ' best race of the year. He brought his time down two seconds to 1:57.1 for a fourth-place finish. ' 78 VARSITY TRACK (5-2) 114 Catholic 32 SBEC 20 50 Briarcrest 83 76 Memphis Prep 58 Bishop Byrne 34 54 Harding 68 CoUierville 52 5th MUS Invitational 5 th District 12 18 SPORTS