Nicholls State University - La Pirogue Yearbook (Thibodaux, LA)

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A,X- ui: 1 , in il 11 lin' W sd, 1 u i 1 ,J ' -we dent leaders in a lecture presentation in the Student Union concerning black his- tainment Board in thetall. Bobby Turner also boosted the spirits ot the intercollegiate teams in his role of cheerleader. Officers are Clarence James, presi- dent, Bobby Turner, vice president, Rachael Borne, secretary, and Betty Brent, treasurer. Advisor to the group is Cora Corcell. mittee chairman tor the Student Enter- tory in terms ot business, education and religion. Many ot the members are also active in Alpha Phi Alpha, the black social Creek group on campus. Delta Alpha Kappa continued to con- tribute to the Nicholls campus. Clarence James served as dance com- Delta Alpha Kappa: first row: Clarence James, Cora Majors, Marilyn Baloney, Eric Davis, Wanda Williams, Daisy Brickley, Brenda Ellis and Bobby Turner, Second row: Ivins Clark, lwanda Lacey, Whitney Edmonds, Leontine Glynn, Kim Bailey and Catherine Mack. Third row: Pam Robinson, Kenneth Majors, Arthur Dillion, Rachael Borne, Jerome l-larrison, Carrie Ross and Betty Brent. Reaching out to minority and foreign students Delta Alpha Kappa 151

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lmagine being a student in a country where the language is different, local customs and habits are strange, even the weather is unpredictable. These are the conditions many stu- dents from other nations find themselves in when they enroll at Nicholls. Each semester an international delega- tion from over 30 nations is represented on campus, Not only foreign students, but minority students sometimes have the problem of associating or feeling they have the opportunity to contribute to the entire university and its community. Two organizations worked to bring for- eign and minority students into the active range of the university, the International Students Club and Delta Alpha Kappa fraternity. Helping the students from other nations studying at Nicholls are the advi- sors whose backgrounds showcase the diversity of the group, An ROTC instructor from the Philip- pines, Capt. Poy Manibusan has been active with the group for several years. An assistant professor of foreign lan- guages, Mrs, Margarita Swetman is a native of Colombia, South America. Dr. G. G. Varvaro has added an Ameri- can influence to the club as an advisor too. Presentations were made at club meet- ings by students who told of their homes and customs. The homes range from Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela to Thailand. Dr. Michelle Francois, head of the Eco- nomics and Finance Department is a native of Guadeloupe, French West Indies. l O International Students The club and its members have also helped foreign students find places to stay during the semester breaks when the dorms are closed, Members also competed on the soccer team, a club sport at Nicholls, With the dissolving of the Air Force ROTC program at Nicholls, Capt. Mani- busan was transferred from Nicholls. Mrs. Swetman took over as chief advi- sor to the club, Several open houses were held for the foreign students and American stu- dents to meet and mingle together. Formed to help minority students on campus, Delta Alpha Kappa worked to give students a chance to feel part of a recognized organization. Helping to improve communications 'x International Students Club: first row seated: Sherry Garland, Teresita Escobar, Maria Arce and Mrs. Margarita Swetman, Second row: Alfonso Arce, Luis Londono, Jesus Roman and Jorge Mar- cano. Third row: Humberto Duque, Carlos Estela, Rosa Arce, Dr, Michelle Francois, Dr. G. G. Varvaro, Alberto Escobar, Rene Caraballo and Capt. Roy Manibusan, between its members and other minority students with the rest of the campus has been the long-range goal of the fraternity. ln observation of Black History Month, DAK joined with Alpha Phi Alpha and the Student Louisiana Education Association CSLEAJ for a series of displays, programs and discussions. The sound system of the Student Union played historical facts concerning black history for a day, while posters and displays were set up in the library. Several faculty members joined stu- N

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OJ O. Student Government All they said was 'aye' Abortion resolution brings out student response in John Weimer's second term John VVeimer's calm and steady method of running the Student Govern- ment Association had its tests in his sec- ond year. But instead of the tests being directed toward his branch, attention focused on the legislative and judicial branches of the SGA: the Student Senate and the Judicial Board. For the Student Senate, all it took was an aye vote to bring out what was described as an apathetic student body. Carl Luikart, a senator from the College of Sciences, proposed a resolution which opposed the murder and mutilation of innocent children through abortion. At the next meeting students ques- tioned if the Student Senate had the right 1 .eeri- to pass a motion on moral opinion. Nine senators voted to rescind the motion, after receiving student feedback. General Studies senator Columbus Williams suggested a campus-wide refer- endum be held. But eleven senators remained behind the resolution, and with three senators absent and two abstaining, the motion to rescind the resolution failed. Attention on campus and in the news- paper brought KVFG-Flvl out to broad- cast several senate meetings live, a first at Nicholls. Wayne Fernandez asked for a ruling by the Judicial Board, the Supreme Court of the SGA. On one side, Carl Luikart and Henry Lalfont, senior class president, were out- spoken supporters ot the resolution. On the other side, Andrew Sioux Hill ques- tioned if the Senate might have acted too quickly without gauging the student body. John Weimer, who had sat quietly for llllllllll CARSON 'lt WN! lvl llXX4l HMB tml-tilt W! ltlttlh - li' 5f.R'fLlu t at Wink fx in-1... The SGA. IS Tfiki ivq Egg lticihts Aw!-xy... l 3 do sonetlwiml about it i One of the stronger protests of the senate's abor- tion resolution, one student in the spectators' sec- tion directs a non-verbal comment to the senators. three weeks finally voiced his opinion in a carefully worded statement, so not to antagonize some senators, who had become rigid believers in their positions. No government has the right to legis- late such an issue, were Weimer's words, which drew applause from the spectator section of the Commuter Lounge, referred to as the peanut gal- lery by some present. Judicial Board Chairman Herman EL E CT IGN Fm ffl.i1idmia1c.'. .fx x. JJIIA ',F4'fl Henry Lalfont, senior class president and Andrew Students check off their selection in a mock election Hill, general studies senator pause at the Nicholls- in the fall. Gov. Edwin Edwards won a large victory. Southeastern Louisiana basketball game in Stopher A voter registration drive was also held on campus Gym. to get students out and register. if-far' XCJxz!fI5I'i-,fslfjitg fjffu-if..