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

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r 77?e beauty of the campus and the friendliness of the people are not only making a ood first impression, hut are cMakin La Hnk Impressions. I Maybe it is the striking beauty of the campus that both surprises and delights. Maybe it is the first smiHng face that says hello even though it be- longs to a stranger. Or maybe it simply is Leo the lion, sitting majestically in his cage. Whatever it may be, a person ' s first impression of UNA is extremely important because it will have the most lasting impact. It will probably overshadow a person ' s entire view of his life and learning at the university. When Dr. Daniel R. Leasure came to the campus to be the new Dean of Student Affairs, he surely did not know what to expect. However, Lea- sure said that he found the beauty of campus visually exciting and the people to be friendly and helpful. In general, he said, I have found a feeling of communi ty among all associated with the university. Entering freshman Suzanne Newman of Hartselle was also capti- vated by both the campus and its peo- ple. Newman said, I just couldn ' t be- lieve how pretty the campus was. It seemed to be surrounded by smiling and caring people, and I will always remember that. Students and staff aren ' t the only ones who think that UNA is a beauti- ful place. The university was among five sites to receive the Judge ' s Award from the Florence Beautification Board for 1983. The university was also placed on the board ' s honor roll of those which have received the award twice. However, the beauty of the cam- pus isn ' t the only beauty that is being watched. One student said that he was entranced not by the curves around Wesleyan Hall, but by the curves of the opposite sex. The very first thing that I no- ticed when I started at UNA was all the girls, said the bewitched sopho- more who insisted that his name not be used to save his hide and his girl- friend ' s pride. Although most students consider the university to be small to medium in size, to some it can seem to be a teeming metropolis. Gerri Greenwood, a senior from Haleyville, said, Having transferred from a small junior college, this col- lege seemed so big. I was astounded really to see the number of students here on campus and in the class- room. lunior Jayne Miller, however, is one of those students who believes the size of the campus is small, but she said that she didn ' t think the fact was a deficiency. MEETING LEO the lion is one of the most popu- lar stops on the grand tourof the campus that is provided for prospective incoming freshmen like Coffee High School students Edward Key Miller, who has lived in Louis- ville, Kentucky, said, I like the inti- macy that the size of the campus brings, but I don ' t like all of the hills and stairs. — Steve Sparks Donna Bryant Luann Willingham and Dawn Martin. They are guided by Ambas- sador Mike Gooch and Golden Girl Melissa Horton. (Photo by Deborah Thompson)

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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

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