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

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KSbxw Tb(B[ nimmflim[s For the losers of the 1980 election, it was not always their actions, but sometimes their inaction in dealing with current economic and political crises which led to their defeat. While most Americans may not have blamed them directly for the problems, the country had grown impatient waiting for government to find solutions. The anything is better than what we ' ve got now attitude caused many voters to cast their ballots for one candidate only because they were so against another. For incumbent Democratic candidates, their single biggest downfall was the handling of the economy. As the inflation rate hit 12 percent and the prime lending rate reached 20 percent, consumers found it more and more difficult to make ends meet. Conditions were especially rough for the graduating college senior who faced a tight job market and 7 percent unemployment. Young married couples found buying their first home a luxury rather than a necessity. The soaring interest rates combined with the effects of inflation slowed down the housing market. If the country was not preoccupied with chronic economic problems, it was probably thinking about foreign affairs instead. The holding of American hostages in Iran became an event unparalleled in history. The ordeal concerned all Americans, but those feelings of concern turned to ones of apprehension and uncertainty for many SEMO students as world problems triggered the nation ' s return to draft registration. Americans prayed daily for change in the Iranian hostage crisis. Encouraging reports which brought news of negotiation breakthroughs were ususally followed only days later with disappointing reports of more delays. Confusion and misunder- standing of the situation were often as distressing as the waiting itself. While national changes drew much attention from SEMO students, just as much concern was placed on events which touched students ' lives daily. At Southeast Missouri State, the single biggest change of the year could not be pinpointed with one particular event. The biggest difference was a change in mood — a change in attitude of students, faculty and community members toward the university. After a controversial year highlighted by ' Robert Leestamper ' s resignation as pre SEMO State was ready to settle back df

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' lE mimmnim business of education. Dr. Bill Stacy, inaugurated as the 12th president of the institution in the fall, cited the return to a mood of reassurance as one of his primary accomplishments of his first year in office, first as interim president and eventually as permanent president. Dr. Stacy ' s friendly personality characterized his administration of open communication. In addition to re-establishing a positive image of the presidency, Dr. Stacy maximized state funding at a time when appropriations were becoming tighter every year. On several occasions, Dr. Stacy invited area senators and representatives to the campus for reviewing budget proposals. Dr. Stacy was not the only new face in SEMO ' s administration. Replacing Dr. William Petrek, Dr. Leslie Cochran took office as the Vice President for Academic Services in the summer of 1980. Dr. Cochran soon announced the addition of two half-time associates in his office. Chosen from the SEMO faculty, Dr. James Scanlon, associate professor of English, was named as academic planning associate; and Dr. Betty Fulton, associate professor of economics, was chosen as academic administration associate. Each worked closely with Dr. Cochran to expand and improve the services of that office. In sports, both the football and basketball teams started their seasons with high hopes, untarnished records and no ineligibilities. But those high hopes soon disappeared as the football team ended its year with the first losing season since 1964. Star forward Otto Porter kept SEMO fans cheering with slam dunks and high scoring, but the entire season was not so positive. In January, starting guard Pat Niemczyk and Nate Crowden quit the team. Both gave only personal reasons as their excuse, but most outsiders cited personal conflicts within the team as the primary reason. The sports program got its third full-time athletic director when Marvin Rosengarten moved up from acting to permanent athletic director. SEMO also brought on a host of new coaches, among them women ' s basketball coach Angela Beck who replaced ousted coach Amy Spence. On both the SEMO State campus and in the nation as a whole, it was a year of differences. For in a time when most looked forward to the dawnin of a brand new day, being optimistic abom future helped one to live with the d;r problems of the present and mistakes of ii - ■ -t. 9