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

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The FIJI Incident: Controversy By KEVIN UPP Inside Tech Staff Searching for the truth is never easy when there is a possibility of embar- rassment. In my search for the truth of the Fiji incident I found evasive answers and a hushed attitude. April 24, 1976: Phi Gamma Delta, referred to as the Fiji ' s, held their annual Fiji Islander Weekend, accord- ing to the University Daily (UD). Dur- ing the evening a group of Fiji mem- bers and alumni came on the Tech campus and screamed prejudicial words, such as nigger, to blacks the group saw, according to the UD. Sev- eral blacks harassed were members of the Student Organization for Black Unity (SOBU). according to David Nail, assistant dean of students for programs and IFC adviser. Through the complaints and conversations re- ported by the blacks an investigation and charges were filed by Nail. The of- ficial charge — participating in racial intimidation — was in violation of the university hazing policy. May 6, 1976: The six members of the disciplinary committee met to hear three cases; one concerned the Fiji ' s. Nail excused himself when the Fiji case came up because he had filed the charges. The Fiji ' s received the penalty main- ly because of one piece of evidence. decision by the disciplinary committee of the university? Ewalt: No comment. La Ventana: Did you receive pres- sure from any groups? Ewalt: There were no outside pres- sures. La Ventana: Why do you feci the change of decision was fair. Ewalt: No comment. La Ventana: What do you feel will be the lasting effect of this decision? Ewalt: No comment. Interview with Charles Gulley, SOBU La Ventana: How did you feel about the original decision by the university? Gulley: 1 didn ' t think it would hold. I heard talk of Fiji lawyers. I was pes- simistic. They had a better chance to prove themselves innocent than Tech had to prove them guilty. La Ventana: And when they changed the decision? Gulley: Blacks were extremely angry and bitter. It confirmed beliefs that the university is not sensitive to blacks. La Ventana: Why do you feel they changed the decision? Gulley: Pocketbook vs. black rights. La Ventana: How does SOBU feel toward the university? Gulley: We feel totally shut out by Gulley. SOBU rewrote the charter to qualify as a campus organization and to receive Student Association funds. -Administrators formed a code re- visions committee to work out the gen- eralities of the university code, accord- ing to Melissa Griggs, UD editor. -At the 1977 Fiji Islander there was no painting up. The party was similar to a Hawaiian luau party. Nail said. . . . and comment BY KEVIN UPP Inside Tech Staff For the administration, the Fiji in- cident proved to be a confusing and embarrassing event. With an ambig- uously worded university code to govern their actions, the administra- tion almost found themselves involved in another lawsuit. The disciplinary committee under the regulation of the university code made the first error. After hearing the Fiji case, the committee violated a trivial and useless law, covered under the United States Constitution — the freedom of assembly. So the adminis- Nail said. On the evening of the inci- dent an alumnus of the fraternity wore a purple T-shirt with the words Pur- ple Nigger on the front. The south seas costumes lost believeability by the action of this alumnus. The committee put the Fiji ' s on two-year probation with no rush in the fall semester of 1976, Nail said. July 27, 1976: Dr. Robert Ewalt, vice president for student affairs, altered the penalty to exclude the por- tion prohibiting rush, basing his de- cision on the constitutional right of freedom of assembly. Nail said. The rest of the penalty stood intact. The Fiji president and social chairman reported to Nail the types of social functions each month. The penalty lasts until the end of the spring se- mester of 1978, according to the UD. Interview with Ewalt La Ventana: What influenced the the university, not a part of Texas Tech University. We do not live in a relaxed fashion. Interview with Nail La Ventana: Why didn ' t IFC handle the matter? Nail: IFC did not get involved be- cause it is an internal governing body. La Ventana: Did IFC consider re- writing the rules? Nail: IFC considered rewriting, but in all likelihood they will not be re- written. Iwas refused an interview with the Fiji president. After the Fiji incident several changes came about: -SOBU rewrote their charter to in- clude the search for membership of all races who want to promote the advancement of blacks, according to tration was forced to change their de- cision in view of the small mistake. The view was then that the administration was letting the Fiji ' s slide, and the blacks were resentful of the entire uni- versity. The wise administrators realized there is a slight deficiency in their code, so a code revisions committee was formed in spring, 1977. What will be the result of the code revisions com- mittee? Probably a more specific code, to the advantage of the administration. The administration will work for the students and their rights just as long as the administration doesn ' t face a law- suit. Lawsuit is a bad word for admin- istrators. The word seems to pop up every so often. Maybe the administration should have a lawyer look over the revised university code to save face — and pos- sibly money— in the future.

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I In the News University Sing? You mean the whole campus? Some people think University Sing is a relatively new activity at Tech. Actually University Sing, more com- monly known to some as Sing-Song, is one of Tech ' s oldest traditions. University Sing is believed to have begun somet ime in the 1930 s as a college fun night. After many years of decline in popularity. University Sing took a big step this year toward being one of the most popular activities at Tech. Phi Mu Alpha sponsored University Sing, as it has since 1953. The Univer- sity Center Theatre was filled with a standing-room-only crowd this year. According to University Sing chair- man Rick Knowles, about 300 people were turned away from the door. University Sing consisted of com- petition between registered student organizations, including fraternities, sororities, church groups and service organizations. Thirteen groups partici- pated this spring. Three organizations performed singly; ten others teamed up in pairs for a total of eight per- formances. Rach group chose a theme from a musical production. Performances in- cluded Godspell, Tommy, A Chorus Line, The World of Disney and Behold the Man. Delta Delta Delta and Kappa Alpha won Sweepstakes in the mixed division with their prt)duction of Paint Your Wagon. Saddle Tramps won in the singles division with a medley of bar- bershop quartet numbers. First place winners in the mixed category (behind the Sweepstakes win- ner) was Living World Ministries. Second place winners were i i Beta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon. f irst place winners in the women ' s single competition was Women ' s Service Organization. Vlidwa through the program 7eta lota Tau, the lech drummers ' fra- ternity, performed drumming ca- dences. A black light demonstration was presented. Tech ' s Varsit .Stage Band performed llie (ir.iiui I male. playing the 1940 ' s Big Band sound of Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington. Participants were judged on a 100- point scale. Music counted 80 per cent of the final score and creativity counted 20 per cent. Judges awarded points for musical style, quality, dyna- mics, theme and originality. Judges for University Sing were Dr. Wa nc Hinds, chairman of music at Lubbock Christian College; Jerry Ncuenswander. choral director at Coronado High School; and Marjorie Newton, choral director at Monterey High school. Proceeds from University Sing were used for music scholarships. From below: With a lot of smiles and a few fake moustaches, Saddlctramps lake a lx)» after their medley of barbershop quartet songs. Tri Delt Jill Brock sings to her beau during the Tri Delt Kappa Alpha rendition of Paint Your Wagon. 33liuidr

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Grandest opening University Center Grand Opening Week, Jan. 23-29, was filled with food giveaways, game specials and prizes. The official dedication of the building Jan. 23 featured a ribbon cutting cere- mony and a speech by Tech President Dr. Cecil Mackey. Courtyard craftsmen, artists and concerts were presented daily. A disco dance class, taught by Jim Hardin, climaxed the week of events. Jim Hancock won a pizza-eating contest by eating 25 ' 2 ounces of cheese pizza in five minutes. Hancock set a Guinness World Record with his ac- complishment. Mike Coughlan, overall coordina- tor of LC Cirand Opening, said the UC is unique because the UC and music department are housed in one build- ing. Coughlan termed Grand Opening the biggest single week in a long time at Texas Tech. Clockwi.sc from lop: Mcmt crs of ihc Faculty Music Theatre perform a scene from an oper- etta. A student learns the latest steps in a disco dance class sponsored by UC Programs Coun- cil. Courtyard Craftsman Steve Kimbcrlin works on a piece of metal sculpture A member of the K-2 Ski Team displays his skill during the enhi- bition in November.