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

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Michael Stravato Vietnam 2 1

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Although many years have passed, a new awareness of the war has emerged Platoon certainly made a difference, though, he said, on the amount of questions and interest he received when lecturing about the war in his classes. (Current) students were born at the height of the war in 1967 and 1968, and have no memory of it, but keep hearing about it, he said. They now realize they don ' t know any- thing about it. Philpott, who had been teaching at UT for twenty years, said in the past, students seemed to have opinions, both positive and negative, about the war, yet did not have substantial knowledge about the subject. That is why he covered Vietnam in class. Vietnam veterans spoke in some of his class- es, Philpott said, and at one time, the Gov- ernment Department offered a class on the war. With the recent interest in the subject, Philpott said the possibility of again offering a course dealing exclusively with the war existed, but, whoever teaches it would have to prepare for it (because) it is so controversial . . . and so explosive. Media attention, movies and books did not encourage enough understanding about the Vi- etnam War, according to some who had de- voted themselves to veteran issues. Members of Angel Flight, the sister organ- ization to Arnold Air Society of the UT Air Force ROTC, dedicated themselves to a Prisoner of War Missing in Action project, making it the group ' s national ongoing issue, according to fall Angel Flight commander Tonia Carlisle, history senior. During the last week of September, members of Angel Flight and the UT Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC participated in a candlelight vigil in which members spent hour-long shifts for 24 hours manning a booth in front of Russell A. Steindhan Hall, in memory of POW ' s and MIA ' s of the war. Not many people think about MIA POW issues, Carlisle said. It ' s been so long they feel, why think about it? When the organization was present on the West Mall to offer information on POW MIA issues, response was generally low, or anti- military, Carlisle said. If they ' re not involved in the military, they don ' t seem to really un- derstand. Besides signing and sending petitions to the Vietnam government for the release of POW MIA remains, Carlisle said Angel Flight and Arnold Air Society members purchased bracelets, each with an MIA ' s name and de - scription on it, to be worn until he is found. Although the company from which the bracelets were ordered reported a much greater than average request for them during the year, Carlisle and Angel Flight member Barbara Frazar, psychology sophomore, said other stu- dents ' responses to the bracelets had been mostly of confusion. Students ask, ' Did you know him (the name on the bracelet)? If not, what are you wearing this bracelet for? ' Frazar said. The bracelets, Frazar said she told people, were a symbol for those who are still missing; that they have not been forgotten. Keeping alive the Vietnam War and veter- ans ' issues was the focus for certain groups nationally and locally since the war ended. In 1987 and 1988, their cause achieved a height- ened awareness because of spotlighting by the media; however, as with various subjects in the past, the risk of losing the public ' s interest existed. Something real is happening, P hilpott I said, but people could back away because it I hurts too much ... If young people ask ques-l tions about Vietnam though, then other subjects, i will open up. by Kim Stanick STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER: Ron Dorsey, Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans member, discusses the many problems that Vietnam veterans encounter in their day-to-day lives at the Dec. 10 meeting. THEY SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN: Jane Dougherty, history junior, examines the MIA bracelet that Sandy Lawson, elementary education junior, wears in memory of Major Harold lineberger. 20 Vietnam

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They come by the thousands wearing bizarre costumes and acting out their wildest fantasies . . . They are It ' s the most fabulous place to be in the world on Halloween. There ' s only, like, two p laces in the world where people go crazy like this. One, I hear, is Southern Illinois and then there ' s Austin, Texas, Scott Roan, Texas A M graduate and Dallas resident in the guise of Opus, said. Transformed into one grand party, October 31, Austin and its nightlife attracted thousands of people ranging from students to locals to out- of-town visitors. It was, simply put by one Halloween reveler, a totally radical party. The excitement felt by all heightened and changed the atmosphere to turn Austin into a unique locale for Halloween. People and ac- tivities formed this once-a-year distinction. One could mix at a sorority fraternity parry New Year, Elvira, Freddie Kruger, Spuds McK ' enzie, the Noid or the Living Dead. The rangt was enormous, the atmosphere was alive, and the experience was . . . unique. The spirit did not end in the street, but! seeped into nearby clubs and bars as Halloweer partiers danced from one location to the next Clubs such as Flamingo ' s Bar and Maggie Mae ' ; contributed to the occasion with special prep- arations ranging from costume and pumpkin- carving contests to additional employees Although 203 Austin police officers and 28 Department of Public Safety troopers mingled with the 100,000+ partiers, problems were scarce. A few fights broke out during the eve- ning but basically the crowd brewed fun, not trouble. I ' m not controlling the crowds, one i or a host of other parties, dance to the beat of Javelin Boot or the Wayouts at the Union ' s Texas Tavern Showroom, experience Phantom of the Opera at Bates Recital Hall, get spooked at Phi Gamma Delta ' s hauntingly decorated house, bowl a strike at the Union Rec Center ' s Moonlight Rock ' n ' Bowl ... or, one could go to Sixth Street, an experience in itself. Sixth Street was, by far, the most distinctive quality of Austin ' s Halloween. It was Austin ' s version of Mardi Gras, Deanna Lester, ac- counting senior, said. What other description came close? More than 100,000 people, dis- guised in a fantastic array of costumes, joined in the celebration. They were there for the wildness of the night and for the unique experience of Hal- loween on Sixth Street. Main attraction? All the people. And the costumes too, one participant said. The crowd, en mass, circulated through the street in an enormous loop from Brazos to Red River as the roadway had been barricaded from Congress Avenue to 1-35. Out of this crowd rose a massive roar of voices, engulfing the street. Everyone seemed animated and united de- spite the overwhelming diversity of people and costumes the varied species of humanoids, as classified by one participant. Others defintely let it all out (some quite graphically), forgetting all usual inhibitions. Af- ter all, it was the only night out of the year to be a completely different person, whether as Baby police officer said. Lots of crime going on down here. That ' s why I ' m down here. To fight crime. All I can dc is watch right now. With the help of the fellow officers we hope to round the crime up, Bat- man (alias Mike Guire, a UT graduate) said. Halloween in Austin was definitely a ' ghouling ' fun time. A Texas football victor) over Texas Tech that afternoon added to the celebration and set the tone for the holiday. The enormous number of people involved created ar incredible array, filtering into parties, dances but especially onto Sixth Street. It was really really a sheer ecstasy ol social gathering, Christopher Johnson, archi- tecture freshman, said. by Joyce Inman 22 Hallum-cn