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

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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

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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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- fc ffld ' . IBM DC- BJnititfliblc WBawtifitmHor i .ta tooccio, i B,MHifiaoGPA, wwfeSHiAradi tlwtie.wta . ' ], BBW srabn wd.thtSpaChi CawWistaby g COB ot Reflecting the pomp and levity of the Texas Round-Up celebration, an ostentatious float labeled A M Homecoming Queen parades down the center of the Drag. Round-Up 15