Pepperdine University - Promenade Yearbook (Malibu, CA)

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' FHE TRENDS AND TRENDSETTERS OF 1983 ► America's relations with other nations and galaxies usurped much of the time and space of the American media during 1983. Queen Elizabeth's visit to America, the Russians shooting down an unarmed Korean passenger plane, the American invasion of Grenada, and the release of Return of the ledi the third part of the Star Wars triology, were among the top stories of 1983. The year will be remembered as the one during which Sally Ride, the first American woman astronaut, blasted off into space on the space shuttle, Challenger. One month later the first black took the space shuttle beyond our atmosphere. These events marked a mile stone for women and racial minorities. 1983 will be remembered with tears caused by the deaths of many of our Marines who spent much of the year fighting on foreign soil. Two hundred thirty-nine Marines died in their sleep in Beirut at the hands of a lone terrorist. In Grenada, 18 American soldiers died defending the safety of the Americans residing there. 1983 was the year the America's Cup in yachting was lost to the Australians. The people of Baltimore will cherish 1983 because the Orioles won the World Series. But the world's biggest sports story was Los Angeles' preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympics, in which Pepperdine would host water polo events. 1983 was a year that had big business crying and smiling. American Telegraph and Telephone Co. was divided up by the Justice Department. The divesture was called by some the break-up of an unfair monopoly. Others insisted the move merely gave AT T the opportunity to venture into areas beyond telephone service. Chrysler celebrated as it paid the huge debt it owed the government. Politics in America during 1983 was often strange and kinky. On the kinky side, two congressmen were forced to publicly apologize for having sex with teenage pages. Strangely, the M.X. missile was finally approved by Congress after the Bilateral Nuclear Freeze Resolution was passed weeks before. Two bombs exploded in Washington-one real, the other, a pay raise the Senate voted for themselves. For much of 1983, news of strife in Central America dominated headlines: a civil war in El Salvador, 5,000 American troops playing wargames in Honduras, and the four-year-old revolution in Nicaragua brought fears of a Viet Nam repeat. Congress voted to end American funding of Nicaraguan Contras (counter-revolutionaries), but later reversed that decision in a compromise on the Defense Authorization Bill. Relations between the Soviet Union and the United States worsened in 1983. Over the Sea of Japan, a commercial Korean 747 carrying 269 passengers was shot down by the Soviet Union. Music was definitely an international headliner during 1983 with Michael Jackson taking charge of the charts. Jackson had the world dancing and singing to his hit-filled album 'Thriller.' Also especially strong was the acceptance of the Culture Club throughout Europe, Australia and America. The group's lead singer, Boy George, shocked many people with his long, ribboned hair and heavy make-up; but not many could complain about his smooth singing voice. The movie 'Flashdance' and its soundtrack was not only a surprise hit at the box office, but the movie also initiated a widespread fashion craze; ripped sweat and tee shirts became the trendy styles for the summer of 1983. President Reagan's popularity climbed with his demonstration of strong leadership in foreign policy and improved economy. A trip by President Reagan to South Korea, which included a history-making visit to the Demilitarized Zone, was greeted by more than a million flag-waving Koreans. Henry Wolfgang Carter -iUndy Cupp FEATURES 23

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