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

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one Mall title ifS ot H aM H Minis I fa Up tact. I ,r K t Ctth, long . MMM IB t bent it the . . . BK y i BBD He puwaiarly oi ant fccin . ' ' - . ,- ' - ' ' e opsi. Brilliant spring colors, brightly-hued balloons and rainbow-clad students blend to form the kaleidescopic diversity of the West Mall. West Mall 13

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While not specifically listed on the map as one of Texas ' main points of interest, the West Mall could easily claim the slightly pretentious title The University ' s melting pot by JOANNA VAGUE and BRIAN VANICEK ATTERED, and tasteful, looking as if it had been cast by a moneyed producer with an odd interest in fashion, the West Mall ' s characters ' dress reflected their lifestyles. Hare Krishna devotees draped in flowing orange robes, soft-shoed dancers in close-fitting danskins, modified cowboys in boots and button downs and a liberal assortment of mismatch- ed students pleaded the issues of the day. A resident of Monterrey, Mexico, Rober- to Baez studied at the Technological In- stitute of Superior Studies of Monterrey for two years before he arrived at UT in January of 1982. His decision to attend UT was based on the need to improve his English and his desire to compare the two cultures. While Austin may have afforded Baez the chance to observe Americans in their native habitat, the West Mall surely gave him the opportunity to inspect people from all over the world. Baez expressed surprise at one of the prevalent American costumes which was so visible at the University. What confound- ed him was that many apparently well-to-do American girls wore Mexican dresses. To me that ' s a stupid thing because in Mexico you buy those dresses on the streets, Baez said. It ' s ironical because the Mexican girls who wear those dresses are the peasants. The University ' s official enrollment in 1982 was 45,825. Of that number, 37,776 or 82.4 percent were Caucasian; 3,576 or 7.8 per cent were Mexican-American and 1,160 or 2.5 percent were black. Foreign students like Roberto Baez ac- counted for 2,541 places or 5.5 percent. The remaining percentage points were filled by 701 Asian-Americans and 71 American In- dian students. West Mall scenarios pictured any number of students gathered together for one reason or another. For some, the Mall afforded a place to eat lunch or to consume mass quan- tities of soft drinks or caffeine between classes. For others, the Mall played a more idealistic role that of an open forum where all were free to express ideas and ideologies. Between September 1981 and May 1982, the West Mall was the scene of dozens of rallies and performances, touching such varied subjects as equal rights, fair housing, El Salvador, nuclear energy, reproductive freedom and Mexican dance. Roberto had his own impression of this academics-oriented melting pot. When the sun was out, everybody just lay there in shorts and bathing suits ... I thought, well, O.K., what about the sun? In Mexico we always have this weather. Here, just because a little ray comes out, everybody goes out. I thought they were crazy. Lisa Long, a sophomore advertising ma- jor, tagged the West Mall as a learning center. You never know what you ' re go- ing to see when you ' re out on the West Mall, Long said. Long added that the West Mall provided her with exposure to many different types of people including the Iranians, Hare Krishnas and evangelist Sister Cindy Lasseter. I always like to go out and see Cindy, Long said, I think that it ' s free entertainment. While Long felt right at home at the University and on the West Mall, Baez had to make a few adjustments. He particularly objected to Americans ' imitation Mexican food. What I mainly hate about Tex-Mex is the cheddar cheese, he declared. A taco with any cheese, but especially cheddar cheese, is not a taco. Moreover, Baez expressed surprise at the differences between American sexual at- titudes and those in Mexico. Mexican men are brought up to be very macho, said Baez. The worst thing that could ever happen to a man is to lose his feeling of masculinity. Baez perceived the overall student body as courteous, but not friendly. He explained that Latin people were more expressive, speaking emphatically and using their hands. The Americans are wonderful people when you get to talking with them, but it ' s hard to establish a relationship, he said, continuing, I ' ve met many friendly people and I like that, but I wish they would try a lit- tle harder. You can ' t expect a foreigner to act as every American does, but that ' s what you seem to expect from us. You don ' t understand that we are from another country and have different ways of saying things or doing things smiling, talking, laughing; everything is different. Everything. 12 West Mall

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Rites of Spring I hope that the Texas Round-Up will be an annual affair - - that it will come to be traditional - - that we will look forward to it each year as a time when we may renew treasured relationships and reconsecrate ourselves to a cause that deserves our allegiance, our loyalty, and our love. William L. McGill, The Daily Texan, April 11, 1930 by BRIAN ALLEN VANICEK EXAS ROUND-UP 1982 an attempt by the Interfraternity Council and the Student Involvement Com- mittee to te-create a truly campus-wide celebration. Good intentions abounded as both camps considered ways to invigorate and integrate the festivities. Serious IFC preparations began in early October when Round-Up chairmen Price Ambler, David Sheehan and Tom Thaddeus began making plans for the occasion. Bryan Muecke, Interfraternity Council adviser, commented on the group ' s preparations: We ' re looking for this year ' s Round-Up to reflect Bill McGill ' s original concept of what a Round-Up should be. Muecke went on to say that in spite of past IFC efforts to include more students in Round-Up, most of the University population still looked upon the celebration as a Greek-oriented event. Meanwhile, across campus at Student In- volvement headquarters, Allison Nathan, SIC Round-Up chairman, was impressing upon her crew the historical significance of Round-Up. Drafted in 1930, McGill ' s original design for Round-Up was for the event to be an all-campus affair, uniting all segments of the burgeoning University. By mid-February, the Round-Up schedule of events had been pretty much established. Commencing with the Zeta Beta Tau Marathon Run on March 24, the 10-day blow-out would include a long list of events: the Silver Spurs Chili Cook-Off, a dorm decorating contest, the IFC Carnival, the Pike skeet shoot, Texas Cowboys Barbecue and a multitude of street parties. There was even the chance that Christopher Cross would accept the SIC ' s invitation and per- form a concert on Auditorium Shores. Still, the big question in everyone ' s mind was the parade. Because of charges of racism levied at two fraternities ' floats during the ' 81 show, the parade would be the focus of the ' 82 Round-Up festivities. Tom Thad- deus, parade chairman, screened prospective parade entries to make certain that groups wanting to participate stayed within IFC guidelines. Two campus organizations were ultimately booted from the procession when they failed to meet the standards established to steer the parade clear of controversy. Finally, the big week arrived Lambda Chi Tri-Delt street party on the 26th went off without a hitch as did the Silver Spurs annual Chili Cook -Off, the Pike Skeet shoot and the IFC Carnival. Blanton Dormitory, whose entrance was remodeled to resemble that of an old-time jail, won the award for best-decorated dorm. Anita Marcaccio, a junior accounting student with a 4.0 GPA, was elected University Sweetheart. A wrench was thrown into the works, however, when an Alpha Tau Omega fraternity member placed an offensive ad in the Sigma Chi Fight Night program. Considered a slur by predominantly Jewish fraternities, they elected to boycott the fights. Friday, April 2, the day of the big parade some 6,000 students and faculty lined both sides of Guadalupe Street from the Communications Building on the north to the Harry Ransom Center on the south, students, faculty and curious townspeople waited. Three o ' clock came no parade in sight; the street had not yet been blocked off. It was 3:10 still no parade to be seen or heard. Finally, at 3:15, the artery was cut traffic stopped and the parade began. The 37 entries in the procession down the Drag were all in adherence to the parade ' s theme Tribute to the Lone Star State. Marked by such colorful entries as the Tri- Delt Delta Tau Delta Salute to the Lone Star State: Past and Present entry and the University Gay Students Association ' s Six Flags Over Texas, the parade itself was a step in the right direction an appropriate climax to Round-Up week. At least in part, the slate had been wiped clean. Round-Up had apparently made a comeback. 14 Round-Up