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

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AX12 AAH AJ A has Us special KA SAT They have a tale to tell. The story began in May 1965 and has continued through the turn- ing point which occurred Jan. 27, 1988. The characters involved were the sororities of the University and the turning point was their reg- istration with the University. With their registration, the sororities were officially recognized by UT as an organization and gained access to the benefits which all other University organizations enjoyed. They had the same rights, the same responsibilities, Sharon Justice, Dean of Students, said. To register, a group signed an anti-hazing pledge, a nondiscrimination pledge, and a membership and solicitation affidavit. Just like everybody else does, the sororities sign that piece of paper, Evelyne Bennett, Director of the University Panhellenic Council, said. Like other registered organizations, sororities could participate in leadership workshops, set up West Mall tables, purchase yearbook pages and sponsor on-campus activities. According to Justice, the president of Pan- hellenic could also sit on the President ' s Board (composed of presidents from a number of organizations). It provided a link for the Pan- hellenic representative to discover what ' s hap- pening on campus and for the Universtity to discover what ' s happening in the sororities, Justice said. There were benefits specific to the sororities as well. Open Rush (open invitation to anyone interested in attending ) became a reality, as opposed to a closed, formal Rush (invitation- only). For Panhellenic it was a benefit because we got a reduced rate on the Performing Arts Center, which is where we conduct Rush, Panhellenic Council President Christine Yura, accounting junior, said. I think that it (registration) creates an at- mosphere where all the students are working together. It helps the University and makes us a more complete network, and it changes the perception that they weren ' t registered because of some racial issues, Glenn Maloney, Assistant Dean of Students, said. According to Sigma Delta Tau president Randi Shade, Plan II senior, students said a lack of variety in ethnicity of members, in addition to drinking and hazing, were all negative aspects associated with sororities. However, Shade also said that more of the student population would see the positive qualities as the sororities became more involved on campus. I ' d say that registration probably is good because it helps project a more positive image, ' Alpha Phi member Chrissi Noyd, accounting! senior, said. One may wonder why the sororities had n registered before. That ' s a long story, Benn said in recounting sorority history. According to Bennett, between May 196 and March 1968, several decisions were made by the University and by the Panhellenic Coun- cil which led to the sororities ' independence. In 1965, the University had limited jurist diction over off-campus housing; the sororiro houses were no longer accepted as University property. Therefore, the Sorority Alumnae Ad- visory Council was formed so that the eighteen sorority houses would be properly supervised under a common set of rules, Bennett said. The sororities grew to function independently of the University. In 1966 the Panhellenic EGE Council gained jurisdiction over its social affairs and in 1967 the Panhellenic Coucnil and the ' Interfraternity Council moved off campus. Lat that year the Panhellenic Council became t sponsible for all rules and regulations of t houses and members. The sororities chose not to register in 1967 when it became a requirement for student or- ganizations in order to use campus facilities. Their reasons included not wanting to be undei the jurisdiction of the Committee of Studem Organizations or the Students ' Association control and regulation. So, on March 5, 1968, all 18 Nationa Panhellenic Council sororities voted not to reg- ister with UT-Austin as student organizations, ' Bennett said. In response to the registration which finall; occurred, Jan. 27, 1988, most sorority member had positive feelings. I think it ' s great. I wa absolutely ecstatic, Shade said. Time will tell how the registration of so rorities will affect changes in campus involve ment and influence and in the minds of th University population. Certainly we hav problems, but this is hopefully a move in th right direction. A great beginning, Shade said by Joyce Inman 12 Sorority Registration

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The little get- together attracted 10,000 people in 1977. It became too big for the original sponsor to handle. HROW ARTY Not just another spring theme party . . . wenty-five years ago on May 8, two UT students, Lloyd T Bird well and his girlfriend Jean Graver, needed an excuse to ' involve his fraternity and her sorority in a spring party. The theme of this small get-together came to be known as Eeyore ' s Birthday Party. The following year, 1964, the two students asked a UT professor, James Ayres, to help them sponsor their annual party which was traditionally held at Eastwoods park. In its 10th year, 10,000 people attended the little get-together. L Eeyore ' s Birthday Party has since moved to Pease Park due to the large quantity of people. In 1977 Ayers retired from his position as sponsor. The event had grown too large for me to handle and the behavior of participants got out of hand, he said. The YMCA took over sponsorship soon after Ayers ' resignation. Eeyore ' s celebration then became the YMCA ' s main fundraiser and even brought the organization out of the red. Eeyore ' s is The Moneymaker ' for us. We are one of the few YMCAs in the country that uses the sale of alcohol for money making purposes, Les Karnes, fundraising coordinator, said. When people first heard of Eeyore ' s Birthday Party, many were confused by the whole idea of a party for a fictional donkey. When I first heard about Eeyore ' s, I wondered, ' What is the deal with Eeyore ' s Birthday? ' Then I realized its just an excuse to party, Tonia Carlisle, history senior, said. For others, Eeyore ' s party reputation spread far and wide. I ' ve never been myself but I hear it ' s fun as hell! Tim Cunningham, engineering sophomore, said. Even Texas alumni continued the tradition and sponsored their own Eeyore ' s Birthday Parties in Houston, Dallas and even Los Angeles. But while the gigantic celebration went on at Pease Park, another simpler version also occurred. Ayres continued the tradition of a spring fling every year on the last Saturday in April. His event took place at Winedale, a University historical and social studies center. My Eeyore ' s Birthday Party is geared mainly towards the children ' s activities. I just wanted to continue the original idea of Eeyore ' s to have good, clean fun, Ayers said. by Sonia White FEATURES EDITED BY SONIA WHITE Features 1 1

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Janice Jacobs RULES AND REGULATIONS: Chris Curran, marketing senior, and Laura Kauachi, business senior, look over the new rules and privileges that come with registering with the University. An orientation meeting welcomed the sororities to the University, Feb. 17. WEIGHING THE ISSUES: Christine Yura, accounting junior, discusses University registration with a concerned sorority member. MOOD MUSIC: Sigma Delta Tau members lighten up their lunch break by listening to their favorite songs. Michael Stravato Sorority Registration 13