Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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Natchitoches state representative Jimmy Long, Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, and local state senator Don Kelly discuss the future of Northwestern, which is the major industry in the Natchitoches trade area. Edwards ordered the study into the feasibility of transferring the University to the LSU system. Board of Regents member John Thistlewaite and William Arceneaux, com- missioner of higher education, appear somewhat bored at the September public hearing concern- ing the NSU-LSU question. Regent Frank Pruitt responds to a student ' s question at the public forum. While many ques- tions were raised at the hearing, few answers were given. Just two weeks later, the Regents recommended the transfer to the LSU system. LSU-NSU transfer N J J k - 1 1 l V J £r - 1 I kS ml »J

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; ..■■■.• Only the name ' s the same Sometimes you just don ' t get it right the first time, or so the story goes. And when you don ' t, you try, try again. Such was the case for the theme selection for the 1986 Potpourri. When the the staff was first selected in April, a theme of In Pursuit of Excellence, modeled after the game, Trivial Pursuit, was chosen. A couple of weeks later the staff had changed its mind. We began to think it would be too dated, and would be even more so after the book came out, says Editor Sheila Thomas as she looks back on that theme. And so the editors ruminated, speculated, and brainstormed for about a week until a Letters to home theme was adopted. In each section, sample letters to Mom and Dad would be included in conjunction with box- ed graphics, and artwork of the university post office. As was the case before, the theme quick- ly grew old, and a new search began . . . The Potpourri ' s neighbor in Kyser Hall the student newspaper, Current Sauce, had planned a public relations campaign with the theme Only the name ' s the same, signi- fying the complete turnaround of the newspaper. Editor Craig Scott felt that this theme would be perfect for the completely changed yearbook. Our particular operation had certainly completed a major turnaround and the whole university was facing a possible shift in governing boards from the state. After a bit of negotiating with the newspaper staff, the Potpourri had its theme. Only the name ' s the same explains this 1986 yearbook perfectly. Near- ly everything has changed from one year ago. An Academics section was incorporated in the book for the first time this year. Deans, their colleges, and academic programs have been covered like never before. Our Student Life section highlights a history of the year that is recorded in jour- nalistically sound and accurate copy. Organizations highlights the ac- complishments of our groups during this year. Coverage of Sports is balanced and represents the wide spectrum of involvement that coexists at the university. Mug shots have been eliminated from the Greeks section and replaced with action photos that present a well-rounded vision of our fraternities and sororities. Individuals utilizes an appealing design technique that allows for quick, easy reference and highlights featured personalities. For the first time, a Community section has been added to give our readers an over- view of our particular environment. Each section is also slightly different from the others, from folio tabs (page numbers and identifications) to typestyles. This was done so each section could have its own personality. In addition, We ' re trying to give everyone equal coverage, and to cover what they did. and who they are, says Editor John Ramsey. All section editors are journalism majors, or minors, which should help this yearbook to be more interesting to the student body. An all new staff, a newpuMsher(Jostens) and a redecorated staff office are other changes for the yearbook. So, before you scream but that ' s not how they did It last year! Please remember that it ' s quite intentional. And remember, Only the name ' s the samel

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David and Goliath Edwards orders LSU system to study ' transfer ' of Northwestern The beginning of the end or a new beginning? That was a major question in the minds of Northwestern students, staff, and sup- porters as the Louisiana State University system studied the feasibility of absorbing NSU. In May, Governor Edwin Edwards ordered the state ' s Board of Regents to study the feasibility of the transfer of NSU governance from the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities to LSU. Ed- wards gave the Regents until December 20 to report their findings to both him and the LSG system. The Regents had seen enough by late September, and promptly released their report, which stated that they could find no legal, educational, or economic im- pediments to transferring management. The LSU Board of Supervisors then began their lengthy research as to Nor- thwestern ' s potential role in the Louisiana State University system, the state ' s largest. Major reasons cited by Edwards and other state officials for his executive order concerning the transfer include: LSU has long sought the highly suc- cessful NSU College of Nursing in Shreveport. If Northwestern becomes an LSU-system school, then there could be greater cooperation between the two universities, area hospitals, and the LSU Medical Center. The A. A. Fredericks Center is considered one of the finest creative and performing arts centers in the country. NSU could become a highly attractive campus if a music conservatory or dramatic arts center were located in the building. LSU -Alexandria is a two-year institution which offers third and fourth year classes only because professors drive or fly the 120 miles each way from the Baton Rouge campus. If Northwestern were a part of the LSU system, then NSU professors could drive 60 miles each way. It would be much more efficient from the point of view of the taxpayer, said William Arceneaux, commissioner of higher education. Most members of the Northwestern community have adopted a wait and see attitude regarding the transfer. Quite frankly, we need to know exact- ly what is going to take place, said Kathy Cochran,, assistant professor of home economics, before we can make any deci- sions. We can ' t get hot under the collar before we know anything. Fraser Snowden, associate professor of philosophy, agrees. ...I think the basic problem is that we just don ' t know, he said. What will we lose or gain? If this could give us strength, and inject new blood into the organism, then I ' m all for it. But if we are simply to become an appendage of LSU. ..then I would be con- cerned. This attitude also exists in the Nat- chitoches community, where local senator Don Kelly is reserving comment. At this point, I am not advocating NSU ' s becom- ing a part of the LSU system, nor am I defending NSU, he said following a September public hearing held on campus by the Board of Regents. Kelly com- mented that regardless of which board the University is under, there must be some curriculum changes. NSU has got to expand into other areas except teacher education, he said. We ' ve got to have some programs at Nor- thwestern that are unique and no other in- stitution has. The Regents report which recommend- ed the transfer also stated that no matter who runs NSU, they must deal with the in- stitution ' s fiscal uncertainties. The report said that NSU has been under four boards in it ' s 101 -year history, and that there is, therefore, a precedent for transfer of governance as need or reason dictates. Need or reason, in the eyes of the Regents, has arisen in the forms of economics, enrollment, and other statistics. Only 58 percent of NSU ' s 6,000 students attend class on the Natchitoches campus, and 51 percent of Northwestern students are part-time. Both figures are the highest in the state in their respective categories. NSU ' s 15:1 student-faculty ratio proves that the faculty is clearly underutilized, said the report. Also, the University spends only 51 percent of its budget on instruc- tion. This is the lowest of any Louisiana public institution. Only five of the ten dorms at NSU are occupied, and those five have a 57 percent occupancy rate. In order for NSU to become a part of a new system a constitutional amendment would be necessary, requiring a 2 3 vote of the state legislature. A large crowd of several hundred people packed the Recital Hall of the A. A. Fredericks Center for the Board of Regents ' hearing in September. NSU president Dr. Joseph Orze and several members of the Board spoke at the meeting. Photos by Gary Hardamon LSU NSC! transfer