Southeast Missouri State University - Sagamore Yearbook (Cape Girardeau, MO)

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Welcome, freshmen Learning to keep pace with the college student of the 70s was the first task faced by the 3,309 freshmen who attend- ed SEMSU this fall. Most of these freshmen, and many stu- dents who transferred to SEMSU from other campuses, were introduced to cam- pus-style living during summer orienta- tion. The summer orientation staff worked for six weeks in conjunction with univer- sity administration and faculty on series of two-day programs for new students. Students participating in the program registered for classes, received a campus tour, and met with university personnel as part of the program. Another group of students which had an initial impact on the freshmen was the New Student Week Steering Committee. The organization has increased the num- ber of activities through the 1970s. Ori- ginally, only a concert and a picnic were held. This year freshmen hardly had time to unpack stereos, televisions, plants, post- ers, and other treasures before the NSW committee had them hustling over to the University Center for a sockhop. And that was only the beginning. For a solid week, the NSW committee entertained new students with every- thing from picnics and concerts to mov- ies and talent shows. They even intro- duced students new to the area to local cartoon host Uncle Briggs who served as emcee for the talent show. The week ended with a spin-off of the television game show Almost Anything Goes. Teams of ten students vied for victories in the wheelbarrow race and other such competitive events. Most im- portantly, however, the week ended with over 3,000 students feeling a little more a part of the university, and a little more sure of keeping pace with life at SEMSU. Although the turnout for New Student Week ' s final event. Almost Anything goes, was poor there were a few hearty freshmen who followed through to the end. New Student Week committee. Row one: Barb Gor- ham. Diane Standing, Karen Barks, Therese Schu- berth. Back row: Ken DIebold, Cary Ritter, Maureen Clancy, Gary Ujka, Bruce Gowen, Lynn Rhodes, Claudia Beaty, Kathy Metzler, Kathy Short, and Deb- bie Herchenroeder. Most parents and students are unprepared for the rigors involved on moving day. This year most freshmen moved in a day earlier than upperclass- men which helped to alleviate osme traffic. Orientation leader Tom Chalupny greets a prospec- tive student and his mother at summer orientation check in. Pike ' s Brad Ferguson, center, and Steve Wadding- ton use a golf cart to assist freshmen moving info Towers. 17

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L Record crowd attends fair by Kathy Anderson The recession which seems to be characteristic of the 70$ doesn ' t seem to have affected the SEMO District Fair as did the Great Depression of the 30s. Instead of closing down as it did from 1929-39. the 1978 fair attracted a record crowd and awarded over $117,000 in prize money to the exhibi- tors . . . some of whom will return year after year to defend their titles, to better their exhibits, or to simply watch the many festivities which seem to retain their special appeal for all ages. Almost 70,000 people, including many SEMSU students, turned out to enjoy the myriad of events that filled the days and nights in Arena Park be- tween September 12 and 17. For many of SEMSU ' s city slickers the fair, with its livestock exhibits, home can- ning contests, and tractor pull, was like something out of a storybook. But for the students who hailed from the bootheel or the surrounding area, the fair was much like coming home. However, not all SEMSU students who attended the fair did so out of sentiment or curiosity — some of them had very practical reasons for attending. The women of Gamma Sig- ma Sigma sorority helped to sell and take tickets, while the men of Delta Chi fraternity assisted the security and the parking of cars. So. whether one was in the mood to send butterflies fluttering in his stom- ach while whirling on the Murphy Brothers ' Carnival rides, to visit the sideshow of midgets from the West Indies, or to simply stroll the midway munching popcorn, the place to be was the 123rd SEMO District Fair.