Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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Mrs. Louise C. Allen sponsor THETA SIGMA PHI by Alayne Kornblueh Service and entertainment projects are synonymous with the name Theta Sigma Phi, women ' s journalism fraternity. The group is made up of those women who have a 3.0 in journalism with a 2.5 overall average. Their big project in the fall is Club Scarlet, the mock night club where Tech ' s Most Handsome Man is chosen. Skits are presented by interested organizations and the winners are awarded prizes. This year ' s winner was Pi Beta Phi and the most handsome man award went to Ronnie Malone. A tea for entertaining freshmen was co-sponsored with Sigma Delta Chi, men ' s journalism fraternity and Theta Sigs helped hostess a departmental coffee for ex-students at Homecoming. Equally active in the spring, members handle all the work which goes into the Women ' s Day issue of the Toreador besides publish Tech Tips, the handbook for women students sent to all incoming freshmen, under the auspices of the Dean of Women ' s office. In the spring a woman ' s fancy turns to fashions and Theta Sigs oblige Tech coeds with a Best Dressed Contest complete with style show. Clairie Adamson was the winner of this year ' s contest. Theta Sigs sponsor another contest for the best written Toreador stories-feature, editorial, news and the best news- photo of the year. The names of the winners in these four cate- gories are inscribed on a plaque hung in the journalism con- ference room. The big event of the spring is when members commemorate the founding date with an April Matrix Table Banquet which, this year honored Mrs. Louise C. Allen, retiring journalism professor and faculty advisor for the group. Mrs. Emily Lovell, whose New Mexico paper was judged the best weekly in the U.S. edited by a woman by the National Press Association, was guest speaker. Most Theta Sigs are active on the college publications and some have worked during the summers on professional papers and magazines. Throughout the year, the Theta Sigs work with Sigma Delta Chi, men ' s journalism society in various projects. .«- i ' 6»a: .: ■; :. kjbjn U lai-p Theta Sigma Phi Officers L. to R.: Jeannie Bookout, Alayne Kornblueh, Konnie Clearman. Members Lynn Buckingham and Gayle Machen at noon luncheon.

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SDX Members are, STANDING, 1. to r.: Bronson Havard; Max Jennings; and Charles Richards, treasurer. SEATED, 1. to r. are: Jamie Anderson, pledge trainer; Julian Rodriguez, president; Lane Crockett; Travis Peterson, vice president; Bill Heard, secretary; Ray Finfe r and Lee Sneath. Extravaganza personalities from 1. to r. are: Julian Rodriguez, pres. of SDX; Miss Mademoiselle, Val Garner; Mrs. Raymond Marshall, first queen of Texas Tech who announced this years ' winner; Travis Peterson, pageant producer; Miss Playmate, Carolyn McDuff; and Extravaganza MC, Gene Price. Sigma Delta Chi is the professional journalistic society for men Although the organization was only established on the Tech campus in 1958, it has been in existence nationally since being founded in 1909 at DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. It is dedicated to the highest ideals in journalism and is comparable to those professional organizations serving the fields of medicine and law. Since journalists are expected to present the truth in every article they produce for publication, the society has adopted the motto, He Serves Best Who Serves the Truth. The watchword is Talent, Truth, Energy. Membership in Sigma Delta Chi is open to those male journalism majors maintaining a high grade-point average and manifesting a sufficient interest in the society and the field of journalism as a profession. He must be a junior or senior who upholds high journalistic codes and the ideals of Sigma Delta Chi. On the national level the society has several projects: the advancement of freedom of information — working with governmental officials and representatives to see that the public has every opportunity to know the news when it happens; presenting distinguished Service Awards to those making notable contributions to journalism; recruiting young talent for the field through scholarships, career programs, etc.; and international expansion. The QUILL is a monthly magazine for journalists, and is a respected voice of the profession. It is published by the national organization and distributed to 17,000 subscribers. The Texas Tech Student Chapter, though one of the smaller organiza- tions on campus, is one of the busiest. The year is begun on just such a note when the members meet with high school students visiting the campus for the annual J-Day activities. They brief the visitors as to the nature of college publications, and what they may expect when they enter college as a journalism major. Soon after the semester begins, Sigma Delta Chi — working with Theta Sigma Phi, women ' s journalism honorary — treats the new fresh- man journalism majors to a reception in the Journalism Bldg. The mixer affords new students an opportunity to meet faculty members. La Ventaria and Toreador editors, and upperclassmen in the department. Undoubtedly the biggest chapter undertaking is production of the La ' Ventana Extravaganza — the annual Miss America type beauty pageant. Held in Municipal Auditorium during February, the program includes the final eliminations in a contest that saw approximately 200 coeds entered in competition. The judges selected one coed as Miss Mademoiselle — Tech ' s most beautiful woman — and another as Miss Playmate. Both young ladies are featured elsewhere in La Ventana. ' With a theme of Caravan this year, the agenda included different talent performances in keeping with the far eastern flavor. Though the Miss Mademoiselle contest was its greatest undertaking, the members of Sigma Delta Chi worked with two other important projects during the spring semester. The annual SDX Awards Issue, published in conjunction with the Toreador, featured stories on those students, faculty and staff members who had made contributions to Tech above and beyond the call of duty. This issue is one looked forward to by many on campus, with the realization that these are the people who have done work for the school without receiving a comparable amount of the glory. The Sigma Delta Chi Gridiron Dinner is sponsored each year with the professional and student chapters working together. The program includes songs and short blackout skits roasting those people who have made news during the past year on the local, state or national level. The dinner costs $10 per plate and — held at one of the Lubbock country clubs — is always a sell-out. A stag event, it attracts many Austin and area government officials. The student and professional chapters work together in other areas as well. During the past year the ' West Texas Professional Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi treated the Texas Tech chapter to a careers conference and luncheon. Professional members working in all phases of journalism were on hand to discuss with the students those possi- bilities for work following graduation. The two groups mix during meetings and conventions throughout the year. Members of Sigma Delta Chi meet together socially at different times during the year — for the annual Student Publications Awards Banquet, the Journalism Dept. Christmas Party and various other functions during the term. Officers during the 1962-63 school year were: Julian F. Rodriguez, president; Travis L. Peterson, vice president; Bill Heard, secretary; Charles Richards, treasurer; and Jamie Anderson, pledge trainer. At the Awards Banquet, Richards — editor of the Toreador — was named Outstanding Male Journalism Graduate, and Rodriguez was announced as recipient of the ' W. E. Garets Award, given yearly to the outstanding SDX member, Ralph Sellmeyer, journalism faculty member, is the sponsor. »

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THE TEXAS TECH NEWS MAGAZINE TECH AFFAIRS by Freda McVay Office of Public Information NATIONAL TELEVISION, state government and local improvements — all played their parts on the contem- porary scene at Texas Tech, 1962-63. HIGHLIGHTS of the year included Tech ' s G. E. College Bowl team and their showing on national television in the spring. The team, after weeks of practicing, was barely nudged out by Drexel Institute on a tricky question in the last few seconds of play. But they did bring back a sizeable scholarship fund for Tech, and a lot of additional national attention. Also on the national side, it was business as usual for Tech ' s crops judging team, which once again swept honors in national competition. IN JANUARY, Texas Tech ' s band and choir converged on the state capital for the Inauguration festivities for Gov. John Connally. The band was invited to march in the gala inaugural parade, while the choir performed that night in the Senate chambers before estimated thousands attending the open house in the Capitol Building. Later, the scene was reversed, and Lubbock resembled Austin for awhile this spring, as Governor Connally, Lt. Gov. Smith and key members of the legislature convened on campus for a look at the state parks projects assembled by Tech ' s department of horticulture and park management. ENROLLMENT again broke records for both fall (11,183) and spring (10,638) semesters, culminated by 1,056 graduates for commencement exercises in June. FACULTY members were frequently in the news this year, in activities, losses and acquisitions. Notable among these was the announcement that the last of Tech ' s original faculty members would retire. Dean of the Graduate School William Bryan Gates, and Dr. Eunice Joiner Gates, professor of foreign lan- guages, who came to Tech as bride and groom in 1925, both disclosed retirement plans for the end of the school year. Also Mrs. Louise C. Allen, associate professor in the journalism department for more than 30 years, and Warren Yocum, professor of horticulture and park management for 26 years, re- tired at the end of the spring semester. Earlier, long-time purchasing agent Seth Cummings retired, after 36 years at Tech. ON THE CREDIT SIDE OF THE LEDGER, Tech obtained Dr. Fred D. Rigby, deputy director of the U. S. Office of Naval Research, to become dean of the Graduate School July 1; two award-winning political scientists for the government department; four asso- ciate professors for Business Adminis- tration; two new department heads for Home Economics and one for Agricul- ture; a top newsman and AP staffer for the journalism department; and many others. Tech also regained its geosciences head, when Dr. Alton Wade returned Jan. 30 from four months of explora- tions in the Anarctica. CONTINUOUS CONSTRUCTION at Tech has become as traditional as the Double-T — and a lot more indispensable. This year saw the official dedication ceremonies for the new library; ground- breaking for the half-million-dollar Kill- gore Beef Cattle Center at the Tech Research Farm near Amarillo; awarding of contracts and ground breaking for the new speech and psychology build- ings; and the contract was awarded and ground broken for two new massive (combined capacity 1,862) residence halls on the campus. GRANTS, GIFTS and research were also predominant in the news. W. H. Butterfield, vice president for develop- ment, announced in February that Tech received a new all-time high of $638,048.81 in private gifts and grants during 1962. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration selected Tech in January as one of the 88 colleges and universities in the U.S. to receive graduate training grants. In April, the Board of Directors accepted the $101,600 from NASA for six predoctoral students studying space- oriented subjects. Also in January, the Robert A. Welch Foundation approved two additional grants-in-aid for Tech chemistry profes- sors, bringing to 11.5 million dollars the total the Foundation has approved for chemical research in Texas. The seismological observatory, the museum, other departments and many, many scholarship funds all received gifts and grants so vital .and necessary to a dynamic, growing Texas Tech in specific, and undernourished higher education funds in general. MILESTONES — A new era in campus convenience, with phones in the rooms of the residence halls at the beginning of the fall semester . . . Sixteenth an- nual Willson Lectures featuring Dr. Charles L. Allen of Houston . . . Tech ' s election to membership in the Associa- tion of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges . . . The advent of educational television in October with Tech ' s new KTXT-TV ... Dr. J. Way- land Bennett ' s step up to associate dean of agriculture from head of agricultural economics . . . Reorganization to broaden the base of administration, with Marshall Pennington becoming Vice President of Business Affairs; John Taylor, Business Manager; Bob Price, comptroller; Dean Smith, purchasing agent; and Hollis Smith, chief accountant . . . Beginning of modernization program for Textile Research Labs, toward the goal of Best in the U.S. . . . Appointment of two new Board members and re-appointment of a third, with Roy Furr of Lubbock and Herbert Allen of Houston beginning their first terms, and Harold Hinn of Plainview named to another six-year term . . . Summer ' s more-than-ever Institutes, workshops, short courses . . . The Tech Union achieves a new high in participa- tion, enthusiasm and educational value with the sponsorship of the Model UN ... The TOREADOR goes daily— and makes it through the year . . . Academic recruiting and honors programs pick up steam . . . The College Loyalty Alumni Support Program by the exes gained even greater momentum in Tech ' s third year of participation . . . Athletics — wait ' til next year . . . 10