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

Page 24 text:

FEATURES Edited by Joan Holland and Theresa Veach SSUES. The word conjures images of rallies, speeches and campaigns activities that college students reveled in during the ' 60s and ' 70s, but which in 1981-82 seemed left mostly in the hands of that rare breed, the political activist. But even in 1982 at UT, a school with a student body regarded by many as apathetic and dis- jointed, there were several issues ' catching the attention, if not always the interest, of UT ' s nearly 48,000 students. Among these was the United States ' involvement in the civil war in El Salvador, and the Moral Ma- jority, whose leader Jerry Falwell was revered in a Phooey on Falwell rally. One issue raising the ire of many students was the treatment of Al Watkins, a professor of government who was denied tenure at the end of the fail semester. Despite being ex- tremely popular among government students and respected by his associates, Watkins was denied tenure in his seventh, or up-and-out year with no explanation from the administration. Many believed the tenure denial was a result of Watkins ' political beliefs, which were Marxist. Some students and faculty members undertook efforts to University Still an Arena for Debate of Issues by STEVE HAMLETT get the administration to reconsider. One of these efforts was a rally held in support of Watkins on the West Mall at noon on March 9. One banner held on the steps of the Main Building at the head of the mall announced the rally while another said in bold lettering SUPPORT WATKINS - SUPPORT QUALITY. A sound truck car- ried the speakers ' voices to those who would stop to listen. Dr. Harry Cleaver, associate professor of economics, pointed out that Watkins was doing important and signifi- cant work in the field of economics, study- ing the problems plaguing the economy of the western world. Al ' s work on replacing Keynesian economics is extremely impor- tant. In the case of Al, the administration has made a mistake, he said. Cleaver defended the tenure system in general, however, com- paring it to the contract recently signed bet- ween the Ford Motor Company and the United Auto Workers. The workers traded income for job security . . . Once you have job security, you ' re free from worrying about political pressure. You are free to think, he said. Cleaver, who held Marxist beliefs himself, was given tenure at the same time it was denied Watkins. He attributed this to Watkins ' involvements on campus (he served as faculty adviser for the Red Ryder Preser- vation Society) and in left-wing politics, ex- plaining that Watkins knew people in many different colleges of the University. Paul Woodruff, associate professor of philosophy, and Tom Philpott, associate professor of history, also spoke at the rally. Woodruff proposed reform of the promo- tion system. Philpott described the UT ad- ministration as a group that makes mistakes, but rarely admits them. He further said that Watkins represented something the powers that be didn ' t like. The group of students, which grew to more than 200 by the end of the 45-minute rally, listened attentively to the faculty and student speakers and frequently broke out in applause. It was a scene repeated on that spot many times throughout the year, for many different causes, just as had happened there for years. With an almost constant stream of students, the West Mall was pro- bably the most natural place on the 300-acre campus to meet and discuss the day ' s issues. 18 Features

Page 23 text:

FEATURES Edited by Joan Holland and Theresa Veach University Still an Arena For Debate of Issues by Steve Hamlett ACADEMICS Edited by Perry McCollum Elegance of Bauer House Overshadows Controversy by Jay Waronker ATHLETICS Edited by Kim Trusty The Sacrifice is the Pain by Pat Cosgrove 18 94 138 17

Page 25 text:

Features 19