Radford University - Beehive Yearbook (Radford, VA)

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Making some magic for Jerry's kids c c X X £ ■c c « c c x E £ During a break from the longest dance of the year, this student won the chance to cream Dave Anderson, director of Residential Life, with a gooey pie. To keep on dancin’, this student wears the com fi eat clothes around — ragged tennis shoes, a T-shirt and shorts. Information and Publications If only the walls of Heth Ballroom could talk, what stories they could tell. Of flashing lights, rocking music and sweating dancers. Everything is quiet now. The brown tiled floor is bare. The chandelier is still. The walls are back to their peaceful, pale color. But it didn’t always look this way. For 28 hours, from March 27-28, the Ballroom was transformed into a room bursting with brightly-colored streamers, shimmery Greek letters and bold Uncle Sam posters proclaiming the fight against muscular dystrophy. With determination in their hearts and tennis shoes on their feet, 80 dancers stepped out onto the dance floor to make a little magic. And, make a little magic they did. $8,445 worth. But the Muscujar Dystrophy Association Superdance was more than just a dance. It was a fun-filled, wild-and-crazy event. When the dancers weren’t dancing, they were bidding to throw a pie at some lucky nerson; trying to become tne best at rolling toilet paper; dribbling ice cream down their faces as they attempted to eat the gooey stuff while blind-folded; learning how to belly dance; determining who had the hairiest chest; and working their jaws to a frenzy while trying to blow enormous bubbles. When they were dancing, amidst hand-painted posters encouraging them to “Keep Going,” they discoed, gyrated and did just about everything imaginable to the popular sounds of “After Six” and the “Communicators . In the afternoon they danced the day away as David Lee Michaels of radio K92 and Gary Moore spun Top 40 hits while they chattered away in DJ lingo. For spectators the MDA Superdance was as much fun to watch as it was to participate in. If they checked in from time-to-time, they could see their friends go from jeans and tennis shoes to shorts and barefeet as time danced on. They could also see everything from striped hats to punk sunglasses to wild Molly Hatchet T-shirts. For both spectators and participants alike, the best part of this super weekend was the formation of a long “people chain,” led by MDA poster children Eric Gerende and Rhonda Atkins, which wound and whirled itself around the campus. The most touching highlight of all, however, came when Cathy Sutton, Superdance chairman, read a telegram from Jerry Lewis expressing his regrets for not being able to attend, but saying he was there in spirit. On that note of encouragement, the dancers were able to finish that magical weekend in spite of weary bodies and aching feet. When it was all over — the last poster torn down, the last remnant of a streamer swept away — Sutton was proud, proud of the Superdance and, more importantly, proud of the dancers themselves. Said Sutton: “I was so happy to see enthusiasm throughout the dance. The dancers worked long hard hours to raise over $8,000, and I’m so proud of each dancer. The Superdance, to me, became one big super party, and I believe that, through various comments I’ve received, the dancers felt this way also.” And the walls? Well, if they could talk what stories they could tell as they peacefully await for Superdance ’82 in hopes that it’ll bring even more money for Jerry’s Kids. 12 Student Life

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Abellera Rockin' into the night Low ticket sales and a dragging economy put a damper on the 1981 spring concert, but that didn’t stop RU students from having a “kickin’ ass,” rowdy time. The show still went on despite a small turnout, complete with foot-stompin’, hard-drivin’ southern rock. The good times began rollin’ with the country rock sounds of the Super Grit Cowboy Band from Raleigh, N.C. Those students from the Virginia Beach area as well as those who frequent such Blacksburg nightspots as Cowboys greeted the band with their rowdiest of cheers to show their appreciation. After a full hour of clapping and cheering from the audience, the mixture of rock and blue grass tunes came to a resounding end. Then, amidst the calm, .38 Special’s fiber-optic sign lit up the stage. The time had come for every- body to cut loose. The rockin’ had truly begun. With Donni Van Zant, brother of the late Ronnie Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd, taking the lead vocals while Don Barnes and Jeff Carles displayed their talents on lead guitar and rhythm, .38 Special kept the audience rocking with a cut from their fourth album, entitled “Wild Eyed Southern Boys.” Meanwhile, vocalists Carol Bristow and Lu Moss as well as bass guitarist Larry Jungstrom added to the band’s energetic, southern rock sound, leaving the crowd screaming for more. The real treat came when .38 Special performed its big hit, “Hold on Loosely.” At that time this song was number 25 on the Billboard chart as well as the most requested song on Roanoke area radio stations. Last year the band’s cut, entitled “Rocking into the Night” was a popular hit and, thus, gave them national recognition. Those who rocked into the night with .38 Special thought the concert was exciting and worth the money spent on tickets. Who knows? Maybe someday .38 Special will turn out to be one of those performers who appeared on the Radford campus just before they “made it big”, like Billy Joel and Pablo Cruise. As for the future of big rock concerts at Radford, former Student Life President Paul Noland said the construction of the convocation center may help to attract higgler “names,” though ticket sales really depend upon the economic situation. Now' that the Dedmon Center is complete, in spite of the economy, could a date with Pat Benatar or Kim Carnes be in the cards? They may not have camped out to rock on, but those who went had a rowdy time, anyway, listening to the rockin’ sounds of .38 Special which filled the air of Preston Hall. One of the band’s members encourages students to “get up’’, “get down” and “move to the sounds” of .38 Special. .38-Special 11

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.• fait »nd Publications Eighty dancers joined together to raise $8,445 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Karen Lewis and MDA poster child Eric Gerende watch as RU students make a little magic for Jerry’s kids. Cindy Thomas (middle) enjoys a few laughs with her friends as they watch the crazy antics of the dancers. MDA Dance Marathon 13