Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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FortI did not and? PRESIDENT B.D. OWENS helps Mattie Dykes to the lecturn during graduation ceremonies. Dykes, graduate and former professor, received the Distinguished Alum- ni and Distinguished Service Award from the University.

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IHN KOKD com Bl I TS out .mother mi; during tin- spring rdntcrt CiiU ' V i ' iH his irliuT, Hnglond D.in, not only played loro a student .iiidienre hut local fans as oil Rap session AFTER THE CONCERT, Colev and Seals hold a fireside chat in the Student Union ' s Spanish Den While the musical duo made it clear they were not trying to convert anyone, they told of their experience with the Bahai Faith, a non-denominational religion. After each explained his belief, c|uestions were answered from the small group. Literature and refreshments were available at the hour-long meeting lodcl fridtiy is tr.iflitiDn.illy tlio l ( ' t.;innin)4 of a lon l,iniily vveekerul for most stiicltMits, However, F ' riday the lith of March became a struggle with priorities: whether to spend Easter weekend at home or stay on campus and attend the England Dan and |ohn Ford Coley concert. About 1,000 people decided to stay. The concert, held in Lamkin Gymnasium, dealt a dose of good old-fashioned rock and roll to the Easter weekend crowd. Not everyone at the Good Friday show was a college student, however. According to Irene Huk, director of student activities, the concert was the first m University history to sell tickets actively to outsiders, in the past, students had to show student identification and were allowed to buy two tickets. Theoretically, the crowds were composed of students and their guests. Union Board, with representa- tives from Inter-Fraternity Coun- cil, Panhellenic Council, Haram- bee House and Student Senate, chose the bands and advertised it locally as well as on campus. However, tickets, which were $4.50 each, could only be purchased on campus. Although Danny Seals and J ohn Ford Coley were typically mellow rockers, the release of their Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive album shortly before their campus appearance showed a more gutsy side of their music. Playing such recent top-40 hits as Love is the Answer, Seals and Coley kept the crowd on its feet The concert was opened by Roger Vourdouris, who had recently gained national recogni- tion for his single Get Used to It. Vourdouris, who performed in an NWMSU T-shirt, received a warm reception from the crowd, despite his newness to the music world. -Carole Patterson CONCERT 17

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A sunny goodbye For the first time in two years it did not rain on their parade and graduation went off without a hitch. It really didn ' t take that long, Beth Ceperley said, and it was a rather enjoyable program It wasn ' t that boring Nothing really spectacular happened. No one seemed to make a big deal out of it like they do in high school, Rod Nelson said. Before the 453 graduates received their diplomas, they listened to E. Thomas Coleman, Missouri ' s Sixth District con- gressman, give the commence- ment address. He told the graduates, their friends and families that the challenge of the 1980s is for a renewal of the spirit and independence in the Ameri- can people. It was we the people who built this country and not the govern- ment, and it is we the people who must again declare our independ- ence and demand more control over our lives, Coleman said. The Missouri congressman called the social upheaval of the 1960s a time of social awakening to some critical problems. How- ever, the government had intrud- ed into every part of American life, he said. Coleman then told the grad- uates that the major problems they would face in the upcoming decade were inflation, energy and the increasing lack of respect for the United States. Although these issues might not be as glamorous as issues of earlier decades, Coleman said, they were more fundamental and important. Mattie Dykes, a 1919 graduate and professor emeritus of ' Eng- lish, also spoke to the graduating class. She received the Distin- guished Alumni and Distin- guished Service Award from the University. After Dykes finished her address and the diplomas were handed out, the graduates filed out of Lamkin Gymnasium. I felt relieved that I didn ' t have to come back to school again, Nelson said. -Dave Gieseke DURING GRADUATION cere- monies, Tim Barksdale waits with other graduates to sit down Barksdale wore his cowboy hat throughout the ceremony. GRADUATION 19