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

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v In other University new , a graduate student was hit in both ii i,v the stray shot of an APD officer who was trying to apprehend an assault suspect on Sixth Street. lust as both of these events took everyone by surprise, so did the weather. Following a scorching summer that had Austinites rationing water, Oc- tober seemed to be determined to make up for the prior absence of rain. As we licrame used to the rainy days, the East Coast faced Hurricane Diana, whose terrific winds and rain swept over the coast, leaving destruction in her wake. On Nov. 6 a similar phenomenon took place in the political arena as Republicans swept the nation in the biggest landslide victory in history. In Texas, Myra McDaniels became the first Black woman to hold the title of Secretary of State. In India, members of the minority Sikh religion assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, leaving the world in a state of shock. Triumph and Crisis. These two words worked hand-in-hand for the fall of 1984, leaving the country silently waiting for what the new year would bring. With recruitment tables lining the West Mall. Kari Ody stopped to find out more information from Rick Galbreath a member of Young Democrats. Photo by Kevin Cutting Rainy days and Mondays, this became a familiar phrase all through October as the campus became a sea of brightly colored umbrellas. I ' hiitu by flfr Cotton Fall Calendar - 23

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Triumphs struggle to override crises While summer was filled with the drama of a national campaign, fall saw the close of this controversy, and entered the year as a season of both triumph and crisis. Triumphs. These were the shining stars that, kept returning University students in a perpetual state of op- timism. Once again, the fighting Longhorns began a season with only the highest expectations, including the No. 1 national ranking. Along with University triumphs, students worked for both individual recognition and personal causes. These ranged from making their grades to following each of their candidates ' stops on the campaign trail. It was out of dedication like this that the Graduate Business Council received pledges from students and eventually, with the help of a private foundation, set up two $2,500 endowed presidential scholar- ships from sums totaling over $61,000. University students weren ' t the only ones who made the news with exciting achievements. William J. Schroeder, the second man ever to receive an artificial heart, showed spirit in his will to live that surpassed the monumental odds against his recovery. Doctors later struck a nerve of the public when they transplanted the heart of a baboon into a 2-week-old girl. Baby Fae made history as the subject of this highly- controversial experiment only to die leaving the world pondering the ethics of the decision to operate. While breakthroughs like these were being made here on earth, American astronauts were making history in space by retrieving and repairing satellites or- biting the earth. Crises. These were the events that chipped away at the security and op- timism that had become so much a part of daily life. The University placed the officers of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity on disciplinary probation for acts of hazing and admonished the SAE pledges for the sapne incident. Richard Weber and Mike Collins finally make their way to the front of the line to receive their copies of the 1984 Cactus. Photo by Kevin Gutting 22 Fall Calendar

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Winter storms create fun, havoc by JULIE DEL BARTO With exam week about over and Christmas just around the corner, the atmosphere on campus was one of con- stant change. Students who were ap- prehensive about exams were also waiting in anticipation of a three-week break from classes. The break was extended when winter hit Austin. With four inches of snow and ice blanketing the highways, students were finding it difficult to return to their home away from home. With this in mind, the UT administration decided to delay the beginning of the spring semester. The weather did not have this paralyzing effect on everything, though. As the streets cleared and the city opened up, so did the 69th session of the Texas Legislature. Representatives from all over Texas had a lot in store for them as they faced controversial issues including the Education Reform Bill, the use of safety belts in automobiles and the raising of the legal drinking age. Because of the federal government ' s decision to cut highway funds to states that did not raise their drinking ages to 21, the Texas Senate passed a bill stating that as of Sept. 1, 1986 the legal drinking age would be 21 years of age. University students were dealt another blow when President Reagan announced that this was the second American Revolution and that the surge in economic growth and tax reform would bring freedom to all. He was not dealing with the reality of what was happening to college students who received the brunt of his budget cut- backs. With the government cutting both the work study program and one- third of a million more dollars in federal financial funding, students were finding it harder and harder to finance the cost of higher education. Financial worries were not the only things on the minds of the UT popula- tion, however, as thousands gathered around TV sets everywhere for the sports match-up of the season - - the A snowy run evokes different reactions from Lydia Foerster (back), Leslie Herzik and Tom Gray as they try a hill beside the LBJ Library. Photo by Morris Goen 24 Winter Calendar