Prairie View A and M University - Pantherland Yearbook (Prairie View, TX)

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Prairie View ia, at this time, 109 years old. These word were written on the occasion of the 75th anniversary. They still apply. What do the years mean? For man or institution, if they are Tilled with the honest sweat of service to humanity — with the patient following of that higher law of unflinching fidelity to the dictates of a calling — the years are a benediction. Prairie View is an institution — a public institution. But an institution is an empty thing without the beating hearts and yearning souls of mortal men. ... men have lived and dreamed here until every blade of grass and every rock, in that wise pri-morial way in which the primitive earth knows the cares, has joined the choir invisible to bless their memory. For ever.' man whose foot has touched this hallowed soil has found spirit, and has broadened and deepened it until what started out as an amhitionless meandering stream has become a purposeful river upon whose tide, now turbulent, now-tranquil, floats the destiny of countless human hopes and dreams. The spirit of an institution is the compound of many things — a strange and often quixotic amalgam of unrelated, sometimes contradictory, elements. Founded, symbolically, upon the ruins of a slave plantation, this college was authorized in the spirit of fair play of the constitutional convention of 1876 where wisdom would not allow vengeance to triumph over justice. The humble student, from every nook and cranny in the land, has left his laughter upon the wind, his hopes within the lurking shadows of our halls and by-ways. The giants, the worldshakers. have stood on our hill to mingle their search for truth with the fledgling's hopes for life. And men of dedication have worked here — worked to bring a new heaven and a new earth often only with faith and their hands — often without the spiritual or material compensation that their sacrifices merited — but always with a sense of mission — writh a sense that somehow, some way. time would reward their efforts—would give to those to whom they had given their minds the victory of a new world—of an enlightened society. Could we do better... than pay homage to this amalgam, this spirit? Can we do less than dedicate our live to the task of fostering it, nurturing it, stimulating it — that those who will walk this ground, these halls, will know, and be better men because of it? Alma Matter —“Dear Prairie View” Dear Prairie View our song to Thee we raise. In gratitude we sing our hymn of praise. For mem'riea dear, for friends and recollections. For lessons learned while here we've lived with thee. For these we pledge our hearts full of devotion. To serve thee now. and through eternity.----- As day go by our hearts will not grow cold. Wall love Thy purple royal and Thy gold. We’ll through our live exemplify Thy teaching. Well always strive a blessing to be. Thy children we our love and pride confessing, Well love Thee now and through eternity. Words by O. Anderson Fuller Music from Finlandia By Sibelius Introduction 11

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Mission and Purpose The mission and purposes of Prairie View A M University are derived from state and federal statutes providing for its establishment and support. It is designated as a general purpose institution offering a broad range of academic, research, public service and international affairs programs. As a land-grant university. Prairie View A M is especially committed to providing continuing training opportunities for students in Agriculture. Home Economics, Engineering and related branches of learning. In addition to these general purposes. Prairie View A M is charged with responsibility to provide programs appropriate for special minority student populations and to assist in the economic and cultural development of small and medium sized communities and business enterprises. Academic programs offered by the University lead to baccalaureate and master’s degrees in the Arts. Sciences and a variety of professional fields of specialization. Research and service programs are also included. Prairie View Home of The 'Pandect 10 Introduction

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Events in 1986 and 1987 Oct Ccae one t ucAecC On Tues. Jan. 28. 1986 the U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch. The $1.2 million disaster set NASA and the space program back monetarily and in confidence. It took the lives of seven very special heroes. 'Francis Scokcc was the Com-mending Officer for the launch. The 50 year-old pilot was from Cle Elam. Wa. •Ronald McNair. 36. came from lake City, S.C. through incredible odds to reach the stars he had always dreamed of. PVAMU honored the pioneer black astronaut. •Judith Resnick was among the first women to ride a shuttle. At 37 she had a doctorate in engineering and was working on her pilot's certification. •Rlli on Onizuka came from a coffee field in Hawaii to be the first Hawaiian and first Japanese to fly in space. At age 40 he had an incredible record as an Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut. •Michael Smith. 41. came from the farmlands near Beufort, N.C. with commendations in academics, athletics and fly-ing. •Gregory Jarvis. Detroit born and New Jersey raised, was 42 with engineering degrees and service with the Air Force and Com-Sat. •Christa McAuliffe at 36 was the only civilian on board. A school teacher of Concord. N.H,,8he was a symbol to students everywhere. The city of New York gave the Statue of Liberty a big 1986 bash — a Fourth of July festival of song, celebrities and fireworks honoring the great lady’s first 100 years. Pictured right is Oliver North who was a key participant in the Iran Arm-contra Scandal. It was said that money and arms were traded with Iran in return for hostages. The goods were then given to the Nicaraguan Contras. Below center is a picture of one of five sites in Libya that President Reagan ordered bombed as a retort to the threats and act of aggression made by Gaddafi. The President and First I-ndy launched a massive program to fight drug abuse. Pictured right is “crack”, an almost pure form of cocaine. The deadly, smokable drug offers a very addictive high. The substance is said to be filling the streets ... and or the morgue at a rapid rate. 12 Introduction Gennadiy Zakharov, a Soviet U.N. employee was arrested in New York City and charged with spying. A week later American journalist Nicholas S. Daniloff was arrested on the street of Moscow, accused of spying on the Soviet Union. Both men were released within weeks and the stage was set for the Summit in Iceland. Housewife and widow Corazon ‘Corry’ Aquino, 53, defeated ailing autocrat Ferdinand Marcos, 68, in the first actually legitimate elections held in the Philippines in 20 years. She gained a country suffering from long years of economic and political struggle, and a cabinet that houses people who might tum against her at a moment’s notice. Marcos and his wife Imelda fled with much of the Philippine national treasury and found unstable refuge in Hawaii.