Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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AT THE SOURCE of the procession, Jane Barnett, assistant professor of physical educa- tion, leads the way with junior marshals Scott Ewing and Kathleen Armcntrout. A SPECIAL MESSAGE to Mom appears on graduate Bob Sinak's cap. Sinak's sister wore a cap with the message Me Too.” Silly stunts ad- ded humor to a serious occasion. The last walk through campus leads the way to New paths by JENNY JEFFRIES THE FINAL STEPS of a college career are taken by graduate student David Cunningham as he receives his diploma from President Charles McClain at summer commencement. Graduation Student Life

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During an open debate between Smith and the executive slate officers of each party, the can' didates were given an op portunity to discuss issues posed by students. The candidates discussed their views on the implemen- tation of a Quiet Week, off-campus housing, the University ban on posters pro moting alcohol, and residence hall visitation. Smith said all of the issues are conditional on what hap- pens during the year. It isn't a finite list, but some of the concerns that need to be addressed. he said. In the fall election students reinforced the positive reaction to independent can- AWAY FROM THE HUBBUB ol the mall, junior Kevin Smith, independent presidential candidate, talks with junior Sally Troutman and junior Dwayne Gatson at his campaign table. didates. Only one senate seat was won by a can- didate not backed by a party, but five students ran for one of the 10 available seats. Sopho- more Tracy Griesenauer. running in- dependently, beat senior Michelle Yost, also an in- dependent. by SO votes in a four-person race for council- woman. Griesenauer said she thought can- didates running independently may have been successful because students do not think the parties serve a useful purpose. I think it's because students are pro- bably tired of all these political things. They think it's kind of a joke so they just say. 'Well, I'll vote for this independent candidate', she said. Griesenauer said she also found running independently easier than running on a party ticket. I didn't have to worry about party function things. she said. I could just put up my posters. Newcomb said the NMS 'YOU' party is very supportive of its candidates. The NMS YOU' party supports its members rather than the members supporting the party. she said. We re people oriented rather than party-oriented. It is good moral support to know during a campaign that others are also out trying to help you while you are campaigning. McMasters said. However. Smith said the quality of students now attending the University has contributed to the higher number of students running and winning independent- ly. I think there is some correlation be tween the value-added program and the quality of students we re getting at North- east. Perhaps they are better students; therefore, they get out and vote. He said this is a change from the past when the most active students were Greek and tend- ed to vote in blocks for candidates. Because of the type of students, they are trying to vote for the best students and are not intimidated by parties or anything else.” Smith said, if Elect VINCC — j Dir r I backthi BOU.OOC PARTY • ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, freshman Annette Carron and junior Vince Rice avoid sore feet by using a golf cart. Both parties used the golf carts as a campaign vehicle. A HOMEMADE BANNER hanging from Laughlin Hall urges students to vote for presidential can- didate Kevin Smith. Junior Jodi Carlson, a cam- paigner for Smith, views the action on the mall. Elections 1 C Student Life 1 J Lu

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raduation in 1983 marked a simultaneous end and beginning for approximately 1,370 students who received diplomas in spring and summer ceremonies. Both commencements were highlighted by speakers who offered the classes views from the outside world. Missouri Attorney General John Ashcroft spoke to the spring graduates. Ashcroft, a native of Springfield, graduated from Yale University in 1964 with a history degree. He received his law degree in 1967 from the University of Chicago. After teaching business law and working in private law practice, Ashcroft was appointed attorney general in 1975. He ran for attorney general in 1976 and was elected to a second term in 1980. Alumnus Irving Waldman was the featured speaker for summer commencement. Waldman came to the University from the East, returning there upon his graduation in 1954. A staff radiologist at North Miami (Florida) Hospital for 17 years, Waldman also taught radiology at Miami area colleges and hospitals. As the spring semester dwindled into the last few days before graduation, Tom Churchwell, assistant to the dean of in- struction. told the graduating class at com- mencement practice that the day they had been working and waiting years for was near and not to do anything to spoil it. The 932 members of the Class of 1983 must have listened because the day that marked the end of their educations at this university was a good one. Not perfect, but really very good. For most of the graduates meeting that Friday in Baldwin Hall, 8:30 came too early after a late night on Thursday. But, as Churchwell pointed out, this was it — the end result of four years of the best times and the hardest work — and no one wanted to spoil it. The official start of the big day, the processional from Baldwin Hall to Stokes Stadium, finally began after questions of whether a chance of rain would force the ceremony indoors. However, it did not rain, and with the announcement that the ceremony would be held outdoors, the graduates gave a cheer and began the walk through campus which would be their last. Along with the traditional elements of a commencement like accomplishment, an- ticipation and a tremendous amount of pride, there were many feelings of sadness shared by members of the processional. Four important years were over. It was the last time to walk this path as a student, the last time to wave to Joe Baldwin and the last time to really be a part of campus. From now on, that rela- tionship would be past tense. And yet, for most, the future was still one of uncertainty. So, delicately balanced between what was and what would be, the soon-to-be graduates walked. Not only past Joe Baldwin and the rest of campus, but past MIXED EMOTIONS show on the faces of graduates Bucky Jones, Pam McDaniel. Joni Mitchell. Beth Davidson, and Terri Bassett. Davidson adds to her gown with punk glasses. their home of four years, their teachers, friends ... past what would soon be their pasts. The walk to Stokes Stadium was a win- dy one. One that was filled with a sense of remembering, but also with a sense of the present, even if it was only long enough to concentrate on keeping mortarboards straight on heads in the blustery wind. Finally, the winding black ribbon of graduates took their seats, ending the last walk through campus and signaling the start of the ceremony. The speaker that day was Missouri Attorney General John Ashcroft, and, as with most lectures, many students' minds were elsewhere. Foremost was the thought that separation was near, that friends seated on both sides were leaving and the time to break away had come. Despite the seriousness of the occasion, the day was not was not without its comic relief. Many people were amused by the speaker's determined strug- gle to be heard above the wind, the efforts to hold onto resisting hats, the platform guests' efforts to keep the flowers from blowing off the stage and the attempts to a straighten out the order of | diplomas that had blown over, throwing the alphabetical order of master's degree candidates in- to chaos. With smiles and tears, the ceremony came to an end and the recessional began. But it really wasn't a walk. Not structured like the processional. Not a walk with a friend and not a walk back to campus. Instead, it was a time for the graduates to be on their own to say goodbye to friends and look for families, to say goodbye to college and to search out careers, to say goodbye to the past and move on to the future, if Graduation 1 ’ 7 Student Life 1 (