University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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TAKING TOP HONORS in the most crowded craft category is this raft, carrying a crew of Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital employees. More than 25 people steered the raft down Cypress Creek. (Photos by Patrick Hood) HOPING TO CAPTURE the annual Coober Peedy award, a dog prepares to brave the wa- ters of Cypress Creek. The award, given to the first canine to cross the finish line, is named in honor of the dog who rode the first winning raft six years ago. VM

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Student Reviews Orwell ' s ' 1984 ' To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone— to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone: From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethinl — greetings! This passage signals the beginning of the end for Winston Smith, the fictitious hero of 3eorge Orwell ' s thought provol ing novel, 1984. The novel, which was written In 1949, is assentially the pessinnistic predictions that Orwell made for the future. Orwell predicts the fusion of political, social, and religious fears, developing a totalitarian world devoid of all individuality. Big Brother Is the object on which all these fears rest. Big Brother uses the fears of national defense and national security to oppress the people politically. By keeping the masses in a constant state of fear for their country ' s safety. Big Brother an better exploit them with little fear of reprisals. Socially, Big Brother exploits the fear of being different. There is a uniform for those In the Inner Party as well as the Outer Party. Those outside the Party, considered imbeciles and less than human, are not required to wear a specified type of uniform. In the social context as well, sexual frustration Is used to make the people more uniform. Sex is considered unenjoyable, a menial task that one must do in order to bear children. This serves to beat down the masses, making them unemotional toward each other while channeling that emotion toward Big Brother. Finally, Big Brother is the center of the religion of the day. He Is at all times seen as benevolent, kind, and omnlscent. Everywhere one looks on the streets, one sees the huge face of Big Brother on posters, eyes staring out at all. Under the picture Is the caption, Big Brother Is watching you. On the other end of the spectrum Is Emmanuel Goldstein. All things that are bad are blamed on Goldstein. He Is evil. He Is the enemy. He Is Independent thinking. All of the problems of life are due to the manipulations of Goldstein. Another interesting Idea put forward in 1984 is the altering of history. Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past. The most Important things contained within the covers of 1984 are a warning and an understanding. Orwell warns us of the pitfalls we must watch In our trends toward socialism and our loss of Independence. He clearly shows us that we must never give up our individual rights In exchange for comfort or appeasement. —Jackie Pettus PRAYERS FOR PEACE from many different reli- gions are posted by Dr Tom Osborne, assistant professor of history, during World Peace Day. In contrast to the quiet celebration in Wildwood Park, fear for national security is one of the ideas used to oppress the people in George Orwell ' s 7984. (Photo by Patrick Hood) Student Life 15

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For the sixth annual Cypress Creek Raft Race, people from all over the area grabbed inner tubes, coffins, and old cars as well as rafts and headed Up the Creek. More than just a race but a good time for all, is the way Robin Wade describes what has become a much looked forward to event in the Shoals area. The Cypress Creek Raft Race, which got its start six years ago under the direction of Wade and his father, was organized, according to Wade, be- cause we thought it would be a good event to promote community spirit and my business — Graphic Communica- tions. It accomplishes both quite handily. This year 550 entrants paid the $7 reg- istration fee (which includes lunch at ANTICIPATING THE START of the race, a crew of Wilson High School students — Jeff Gibb, Keith Olive, Glenn Olive, Bobby Spears, and Tim King — prepares to launch. After the race, all participants were much wetter than they were at the beginning. the race and a T-shirt from you-know- where), built rafts, and headed for the water. According to David Ross, a UNA student and raft race judge, this year ' s contest was unusual because there really wasn ' t an official winner. The creek was so swollen and the current so swift because of the heavy rains last spring, we were unable to hold the rafts back for an official start, he said. No matter — everyone still had a great time. First across the finish line was raft number 28 with three employ- ees of Regency Body Shop on deck. Ross said they probably would have won anyway because they handled ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL entries in the race, this red Volkswagen carries a crew from Leighton, Ala. A far cry from the raft Huckleber- ry Finn rode down the Mississippi, this one was probably more difficult to steer, too. their craft in such a professional man- ner. The rafts carried cargoes ranging from 30 persons to one person (a young boy who was a dead-ringer for Tom Sawyer) and were constructed of al- most everything imaginable. Though stvrofoam, planks, and inner tubes are the most common materials, this year ' s race also included a ' 57 Chevy and a coffin. Sponsored by WQLT, a local radio station, the ' 57 Chevy was one of the most colorful crafts on the creek. Trav- elling in style, the station ' s disc jockeys played music and broadcasted live ra- dio spots from their raft. Almost one-third of this year ' s par- ticipants threw in the towel when they encountered trouble at the waterfall included in the route. In fact, WQLT ' s ' 57 Chevy actually landed on top of an- other craft as it went over. Luckily, there were no injuries. In addition to the standard prizes for first, second and third place, special awards are handed out each year. In honor of Wade ' s dog who was aboard the winning raft at the first race six years ago, there is the annual Coober Peedy award for the first canine across the finish line. Finally, it is nice to know that there is some method to all the madness. In the past, proceeds from the race fur- nished bullet-proof vests for the Flor- ence Police Department. Donations are made to some local need each year with monev made from the race, said Wade. Unfortunately, the fees collected from participants barely covered the cost of this year ' s race. Ve didn ' t make much profit at all, Wade said. What little money we made is being used to promote next year ' s race, which we hope will be the biggest yet. — Donna Bryant CROSSING THE FINISH LINE in first place in the Cypress Creek Raft Race is this craft spon- sored by the Regency Body Shop in Florence. Joey Hayes headed the victorious crew. student Life 17