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

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The student of ' 85 A spring day invites Monica Schmidt-Petersen, liberal arts sophomore, in- to the sun for an afternoon study session. Photo by Jim Sigmon With book highlighter shining in his glasses, Gustavo Artaza, sociology senior, shuts out the world with a personal stereo. Photo by Jim Sigmon i On education value: People don ' t care about a liberal arts education anymore. They just want to get their degrees and get the hell out. - Jim Sigmon, history junior. On conservatism: We ' re in more of an 7 love America ' frame of mind. - Rachel Beavan, advertising junior. On returning to school: This will give me more freedom of choice in a job. - John Chapman, computer science sophomore, after working 10 years in the computer job market. A snow cone break lets Ward White, Plan II sophomore, and Gwen Campbell, English pre-law junior, help a group fundraiser on the West Mall. Photo by Jim Sigmon A math final puts liberal arts freshman Viki Thomas ' mind to work outside Robert Lee Moore Hall. Thomas said she was taking survey courses before deciding a particular study area. Photo by Jim Sigmon 6 Opening

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TUo A difference in attitudes and perceptions characterizes today ' s student as one with high expectations of success by KATHY GLOVER, UT News and Information Service That was their college days, and they don ' t understand why students are so materialistic, why they are so career motivated, why they are so competitive, why they will do anything to get a grade, he said. In fact, students had changed since the mid-to-late ' 70s, judging from differences in surveys taken in 1978 and 1983. More students were describing themselves as politically conservative, Hanson said, with almost one-third of the enter- ing class in 1983 saying they were conservative and one-fourth saying they were liberal. They are more conservative in terms of sexual attitudes even compared to five years ago, he said. They are less like- ly to say that it is all right for two people to have sex if they like each other or that people should live together before they are married. Today ' s students were less likely to agree that marijuana should be legalized, he said, since 70 percent of those surveyed said no. During the seminar for new faculty, Hanson said, he tried to emphasize the fact that students had changed. Also, he noted that most students had very high expecta- tions of success when they entered the University. Over half of the entering freshmen come from the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, he said. That means every other student in the class will have graduated in the top 10. A small percentage of the students expected to fail a course, and less than 2 percent expected to ever drop out, yet records showed about 20 percent of the first-year students did. A rainy OU weekend in the Cotton Bowl greets members of the Longhom Band in Dallas. The game marked a negative turning point in the Horns ' football season, as rain plagued the team throughout the campaign. Photo by Doug Layton Openin g 5

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Students compare their attitudes with their perceptions of the educational currents of 10 years ago . . . by MICHAEL SUTTER On political apathy: Students now are more concerned with getting a job. Stephen Whitworth, Plan II sophomore. On political affiliations: History goes in cycles. When people ' s expectations aren ' t met with liberal programs, they switch to conservative. Susan Maclay, biology junior. On teaching: I ' m not impressed with credentials. If an in- structor has great credentials but can ' t teach, I don ' t want any part of it. -- Bobby Lapin, 2nd year law. The students of 1985 were shaped by different forces than their counterparts 10 years before. Now, after a Centennial celebration in 1983-84, the University took some definitive steps toward shaping its own future. During a break from their shuttle bus driving jobs, RTF junior Stephen Priddy and Pat McCormick, economics junior, relax by the drama building. Photo by Jim Sigmon Texas-OU weekend in Dallas finds UT revelers on Commerce Street the Friday night before the game. Photo by Doug Layton Opening 7