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

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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

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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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AND JUSTIC FOR ALL? FINAL JUDGEMENT: Lawyer, Tom Kolkel leads mem- bers of the UT 16 into the courtroom for sentencing, Sept. 24. Pictured are Bill Kern, James Oliver, Latin American studies junior, Justin McCoy and Kathleen Kern. Whites lie! Blacks die! Set them free! Stop funding murder! Death to White Su- premacy! Signs of protest held aloft in fervent de- termination images of the 60 ' s come to mind burning draft cards, billy clubs, a solitary black student against a sea of white, the peace sign, and the American flag sewn into the seat of a pair of jeans. Upon closer examination, it is evident the year is not 1967; the date is Sep- tember 25, 1987. Several hundred students protest the school ' s involvement with companies operating in South Africa as well as the judge- ment handed down to the UT 16 . Approximately one year after their shortlived takeover of President Cunningham ' s office, the UT 16 had their day in court. The sen- sationalized trial caused much controversy es- pecially when the court handed it ' s judgement down. Judge Leslie Taylor sentenced 12 of the 16 to jail terms ranging from three to six months. The group also was instructed to pay a maximum fine of $200 and their portion of court costs. Many in the UT community said the judge had been exceedingly severe, that the group was sacrificed as an example to others. Others be- lieved the sentences were appropriate because the students should have tried more legitimate channels of expression, not violated the law. The reactions of the UT students and faculty varied. Professor Mil- licent Marcus, an Ital- ian instructor, said, As a whole, non- violent protesting is admirable. I believe in civil disobedience as a valid form of political protest. She felt the jail terms were ... exceedingly harsh and inappropriate. In disagreement, Ed Sharpe, vice-president of administration, said he does not look at it quite the same. There is nothing Gary Kanad|ian WTOng with frCC speech, ... as long as it is within the bounds of the law. Most UT students said they admired their dedication to a cause, but disagreed with their methods, primarily the lock-in. They went about it the wrong way, but they should not be forced to go to jail, Curt Croshaw, finance junior, said. He also agreed with the Unl versity ' s right to refuse divestment. On the other hand, Annette Camino jour- nalism freshman, agreed with the sentencing. Their punishment was fair it wasn ' t very. stiff, yet they also didn ' t get away with too easy a sentencing. They pretty much got what they deserved. Charles Wolford, advertising junior, said if he had lead the protest movement he would noe have taken the office hostage. I respect their idea, but I have to disagree with their meth- odology they could have protested in a different way. But the protestors themselves said they did not feel this way. Beverly Burr, Plan II senior, said when normal channels have proven in- effective, the activists start having protests, many times illegally. We need to express our- selves in a way that shows our dedication. Sentenced to five months in jail, Daniel Gohl, physics graduate student, was not at all happy with the convictions. I will go if I have to, but I ' m not sorry about what happened. I ' m willing to take my punishment, we have to abide by the laws we are trying to change. He pointed out a 1975 incident when anti-apartheid protestors also occupied the president ' s office, but received no punishment; they were given amnesty. Kathleen Kern, government senior, was also convicted to a sentence of three months. She was ... surprised at the judgement it ' s very rare to exceed the prosecution ' s recommended sentence. She said she wished President Cun- ningham ... would stand up for the students ' I view and take it to the regents. President Cunningham was unable to issue a comment since he will be held responsible for helping UT decide disciplinary measures against UT 16 and must remain non-biased. While creating controversy, the UT 16 exv perience made people examine the divestment issues and evaluate their own feelings about how far a protest should go. The UT community got a taste of conflict, for some it was simply a radically theatrical event; for others,, it was a legitimate effort to further a worthy cause. I by Theresa Framing CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: Austin resident Stuart Graharr chants with ralliers, Sept. 27, in protest to the sentencing ol ' the UT 16 and to the University ' s investments in South Africa. 14 UT Sixteen