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

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J Lawless said he was disappointed to find that unallocated funds for Tech were practically non-existent compared with the University of Houston, Texas A M and the University of Texas, but he said that has become one of his top priorities. Unallocated funds are essential in mak- ing big differences in small areas, but they are just not available at Tech, he said. Although funding remains a problem for Tech to forge ahead. Lawless never loses sight of the positive. From 1983 to 1989, he said, Tech gained six presidential en- dowed scholarships totaling $25,000 each. In his five months as president, the number has more than doubled to 15. I feel pretty good about the fact that we ' ve achieved 1 V2 the amount of scholarships in five months as we did in six years, he said. Lawless said he hadn ' t had too many surprises since beginning his term, ex- cept that I underestimated the spirit and enthusiasm of Tech ' s student body, he said. I ' ve met some quite talented and irticulate people. From my exposure to ligher education, I believe these students President Robert Lawless talks to Development Vice President Colette Murray at a First Nation- al Bank reception, (Photo by Corby Roberts) are as good a group of young people as you ' ll find anywhere. As any good businessman would agree. Lawless said he feels students are the customers of a university and that the level of service to students should come first. I think being a student-oriented university to the maximum extent and delivering student services will bring Tech to be a better-quality university, he said. — The University Daily Dr. Robert Lawless gave up his position as vice president at Southwest Airlines to continue improvements at Texas Tech. (Photo by Rob Will- iams) President Robert Lawless — 9

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LAWLESS MAKES MOST OF FIRST YEAR As he begins his first year at Tech, President finds enthusiastic students. By LeAnna Efird Since he began his job in July, Texas Tech President Robert Lawless said, his time at Tech has been exciting, rewarding, exhilarating and . . exhaust- ing. Considering that by the end of October he had given more than 100 speeches and attended an event almost every night since he began, Tech ' s new president certainly hit the ground running. At my old job at Southwest Airlines, we used to attend about eight functions a year, Lawless said. Since I ' ve been at Tech, I would think something was wrong if I didn ' t attend eight functions a week. But they ' ve all certainly been worthwhile and valuable. Although all the hustle and bustle does tend to take its toll on the president, he remained positive. On good days, I think, ' This is really great, ' he said. But on bad days I just say, ' Someday I ' ll look back and this will all be worth it. ' Although Lawless has worked in higher education before, he made a big career Dr. Robert Lawless, with his wife Marcy sitting behind him, speaks at the opening of the Tech Substance Abuse Center at the beginning of the fall semester, (Photo by Allen Rose) change from his second-in-command po- sition at Southwest Airlines to accept Tech ' s presidential position. With his wife Marcy, he moved to the rolling plains of Lubbock and took a 50 percent cut in pay to become president of Texas Tech. I didn ' t come here to get rich or fa- mous or to use Tech as a stepping stone to move to a more prestigious university, Lawless said. I came to Tech because I wanted to provide leadership for a campus that had really moved forward and in five or 10 years was different in all aspects of quali- ty and achievement. 8 — President Robert Lawless Designed by Melissa King

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SPIRIT WINS THE GAME With the help of new marketing techniques, school spirit was returning to Tech. By Kent B. Jameson Thanks partly to Texas Tech ' s first athletic department marketing di- rector, the pride was back in Texas Tech Red Raider football during the 1989 foot- ball season. Marketing director Dick Murray, who was hired by the Tech athletic depart- ment in July 1989, said he believes there is a direct relationship between a vocal crowd at games and victories on the field. It seems that such Monday morning University Daily headlines as Red Raid- ers wallop Wildcats, Raiders 27 - Ag- gies 24 and Giant-killer Red Raiders hook ' Horns in Austin attest to Murray ' s point of view. Murray ' s goals for the 1989 season were to increase attendance at football games, increase profits at home games and improve recruiting of high school players for the 1990 Red Raider football team. He said that if he were to accom- plish all the goals, it would result in an improved football program overall. To accomplish his goals, Murray intro- duced corporate sponsorship of games to Texas Tech and to the Southwest Conference, a method he borrowed from successful programs at LSU and Georgia Tech. The idea behind corporate sponsorship was to give area businesses an opportun- ity to sponsor specific promotions at home games in return for advertising for their companies and tickets for their em- ployees. Decked out in red and black, football fans in the stands show their spirit and support by getting their guns up and cheering during the Texas A M game. (Photo by Greg Humphries) :.m - ' : ' ■ 10 — Spirit That Won The Game