University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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1969 Cactus Yearbook j ) eflecting aspects of the Looking out for Number One generation, an rX increasing number of students across the nation discovered the Uni- versity greek system. As leisure activities became the major social issue, more students went through rush during the late seventies. The success of National Lampoon ' s Animal House epitomized the inane frivolity of those good ol ' college days. Reasons for joining a sorority or fraternity varied. Some students enjoyed the security of finding a niche on a campus of 43,000 people. By becoming a member of a specific group, an individual could establish an identity for himself. To others, the greek joinsmanship represented a dead-end of strict conformity. Nightmares of rejection haunted the sleep of prospective rushees, making the chance of selection and ultimate acceptance all the more valuable. But security did not come without a price, measured in terms of time and money. For some the cost was prohibitive, but far more students stayed with the greek system as membership approached the 5,000 mark in 1979 compared to 2,000 participants in 1969. If not enjoyed by all, greek activities were certainly witnessed by many, as some students chose not to let school get in the way of their education. Chosen 1979 Cactus Yearbook 13

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If f , - I 4 1970 Cactus Yearbook ' raditional symbols of Texas spirit Bevo, Big Bertha, the running of L the Texas state flag and orange and white inspired athletic achieve- ment throughout the decade. The passage of time may have put the period of activism to rest, but the stampede of Texas-style athletics never lost momentum. To celebrate special athletic wins, the University Tower blazed orange from observation deck to base, signaling We ' re 1 on all sides twice in the past decade: once in January 1970, when the 1969 Longhorns became national champions during collegiate football ' s centennial and again in December 1978, when Earl Campbell, The Tyler Rose, became the Uni- versity ' s first Heisman Trophy winner. Some of the finest athletic facilities on any college campus supported Texas ' winning tradition, inspired by coaching legends Darrell Royal and Cliff Gustafson. With the seventies came the upper deck seating addition to Memorial Stadium and the dedication of Disch-Falk Field. The University also heralded the opening of the Texas Swimming Center and the Super Drum, both in 1977. Even though students did not feel the incentive to rally for social issues in the 1970s, they came prepared to spend the night in line for chance 50- yard line football tickets. To Compete 1979 Cactus Yearbook 15