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

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A Cuenca with his outlook on government. l'm not against a strong government or strong military, Marks said, But l don't think it should exist at the expense of the freedom ot the people or to be used on them. Ted Howard, a representative of the People's Bicentennial Commission, didn't attack the nation's 200th birthday as much as he did government. Howard explained how his commission was trying to get people to celebrate a Beal Bicentennial and inform them ot the power and influence of big business on government. A way to relax, improve your life and job could come from TM Ctranscendental meditationj in the manner explained by Robert Thomson. A certified teacher ot TM, he held a series of talks on campus, sponsored by Casual in his dress and manner of speaking to the audience, John Marks, co-author ot The CIA: The Cult of Intelligence described some of the CIA findings he discovered. One of many local politicians to visit the campus, Bisley Pappy Triche campaigns in a speakers forum for candidates running for state-wide elec- tion. a local TM club. Improving lite was the subject of another talk, by Rushton Barrosse, southeast area director ot the American Society on Not Smoking. T Dr. Mark Carlton, professor of history at Louisiana State University, came down to give a talk on the state prison at Angola, its problems and probable solu- tions. Tom Horton, executive director of the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau television specials also visited. The SEB lecture series brought in speakers on special subjects, each rising to take the podium for their speech. lt was a moment on the soapbox for manyg some of it was fun, too. Struttin' on the soapbox 61

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Using the chalkboard to illustrate his point, Robert Thomson, a certified teacher of transcendental meditation, gave a series of lectures on campus to students. Discussing the psychological aspects of smoking, Rushton Barrosse, was the guest speaker at a SGA- sponsored program on smoking. -v, 9' M. X u Sitreumiziifirrlt on fkllne 53565202 bl li. in I llir- soapbox ., 4'- if A - h 'Q - I Q . A13-f.. Q They were held in the Union confer- ence rooms, the Union ballroom, Peltier Auditorium, or wherever a podium or soapbox was located. They came to talk about a variety of topics, howto improve your life, what can harm your life, and how is the Central Intelligence Agency affecting your life. Speakers were sponsored by either the Student Government Association or the Student Entertainment Board's lecture series, and sometimes by both. During the election year, the largest number of candidates to reach Nicholls were looking for support and a vote. Seven candidates for sheriff of Lafourche Parish attended a speakers forum inthe Student Union Ballroom. Four candidates for sheriff in nearby Terrebonne Parish also spoke to stu- dents, hoping to claim votes. ,ff XA' N3 I ' ffl ln the state-wide elections, Gov. Edwin Edwards attended a voter registration drive, at which he casually mentioned his ambition for re-election. Bob Jones, a state legislator and son of a past governor also toured the campus. From Napoleonville, State Representa- tive Risley Pappy Triche made a cam- pus stop in his bid for the state attorney generals seat. Campus candidates for student gov- ernment offices also had their chance to mount the soapbox at a forum to express their views before the spring elections. Politicians, successful and unsuccess- ful, were not the only ones to visit Nic- holls. John Marks, who helped to co-author the book The CIA: The Cult of Intelli- gence with Victor Marchetti, came to campus and surprised several students

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Zlmerttaizt 200th Efrtbhap- by Kevin Fambrough After the celebration, speeches and hoopla died down, the 200th anniversary of the United States went down as a spe- cial event. Americans seem to have the preoccu- pation of making an event bigger and bet- ter than anything previously held. Granted, the Bicentennial celebration was the biggest cork-popper for the nation, whether it was better than any- thing else ever held is debatable. The first rumblings of the Bicentennial began on July 4, 1975, with the introduc- tion of the Bicentennial Minute pro- gram by Shell Oil. Spliced in between the regular pro- gramming of CBS, it was the first of many tributes to the nation. And in all probability, it also contrib- uted to the coining of the term Buy-cen- tennialf' Not all the blame should be lev- eled at poor Shell Oil. After all, matching Euell Gibbons to a spot about food and having Gloria Steinem talk about women's rights took plenty of research. The thorniest question raised was who would do the minute on July 4, 1976. lt was decided Betty Ford would, since having the president might mean giving other presidential candidates an equal minute. About the same time many Americans, advertisers and local revolutionary com- mittees were planning salutes, critics were already crying about the commer- cialism and corruption of the event. Anything conceivable which could be built, painted or marked as a Bicentennial item was being produced. Plates, ashtrays, glasses, clothes, hats, shirts, rings, watches, jewelry, coffins and toilets. The president of your choice was avail- able on that item, folks. Americans got into the mood of the celebration. People with noble courage swam the Mississippi for their country, walked around the nation for their coun- try, joined one of several wagon trains heading to Bicentennial cities, or under- took other endurance-type adventures. 62 Americas 200th Birthday Enough Bicentennial accomplishments existed for the people with the Guiness Book to put out a special edition. No word about that project yet. The dollar daze of 1976 brought about several reactions for people. A People's Bicentennial Commission created itself, to let people know the Bicentennial wasn't all red, white and blue. A little of that traditional green stuff was present, according to Ted Howard. Howard, a representative of the Peo- ple's Commission, came to the Nicholls campus, to talk about the celebration, big business and government. One interesting highlight of this com- mission was their offer of 525,000 to the wives or secretaries of big business offi- cials if they would turn their hubbies or bosses in for illegal payoffs, bribes or shady corporate dealings. At this writing, no one has collected any bounty money, yet. Gore Vidal, while safely tucked away in Italy, wrote a novel in tribute to the nation's celebration, 1876. The novel describes America in 1876, at the Chicago Exposition. The government was in the middle of corruption under Grant's presidency. Big business monopolies were starting to control large segments of the econ- omy. New York City was in financial trouble, not from bonds, but from the Boss Tweed ring of Tammany l-lall. Some American institutions haven't changed at all. The systems of higher education in the nation also joined in, with the naming of certain colleges and universities as Bicentennial institutions. Soon, the race was on for Washington legislators to name all the universities in their respective states for the little red, white and blue star. And so it came to pass the Fourth approached. The reason so many people said . . and that's the way it was, on television, was finally before the American people. All the networks gave full coverage, no matter where they had to go to broad- cast. A group of historical sailing vessels called the Tall Ships sailed up the Atlantic coast to New York Harbor for the occasion. Entertainers, marching groups and parades rounded out the long-awaited day: America's Bicentennial. Even in the glut of advertising and crass commercialism, we had to file away one minor scene in the lt-Never-Hap- pened Dept. Charles On the Boad to '76 Kuralt didn't stop in Luckenbach, Texas, to hear the winner of the Bicentennial Bad Taste Award. The winner, a cattle breeder, offering seven vials of bull semen for the price of six, a real Bicentennial sale. So as you continue on the road in '76 Charlie, just remember, it was the best Bicentennial money could buy.