University of Wisconsin La Crosse - La Crosse Yearbook (La Crosse, WI)

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These are the 1980's Apathy; the movement of the 805 Alfonso Tobar 3 - Bob Hammerstmm - Alfonso Tobar

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Special Events 18 Full coverage of the major events at UW-La Crosse this year including the 75th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration found on pages 22- 27. tudent Life 58 'hotos of all on-campus residents and the ac- ivities they participated in including Indian -ummer Daze on pages 70-71. Sports 96 Coverage of all varsity sports including Gary Wilson's last year at UW-La Crosse. Wilson and his championship teams are on pages 104-105, 1 13 and 132-133. .....s...'.i---- W . eniors 1 36 I his year's senior section has photographed the ost seniors ever - more than 850 seniors! Plus -, big graduation bash covered on pages 142- 43. - Administration 188 Who Are The People at the top? A personal look at UW-La Crosse Chancellors and Deans. And, yes, computerized registration is still in the i V v V future. Story of pages 198-199. O rganizations 200 'eople get together for many reasons. A closer ook at who is gathering at UW-La Crosse and - hy. Special Greeks section of pages 222-233.

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e Alfonso 'l'ohat - Doug Hanjes These are the eighties! Here we ate in 1985 in the middle of a decade that has not yet been given an identity of its own . . . or has it? What will the eighties be remembered for? What things will characterize the people and their lifestyles in the 1980's? We look back on the 1950's and see people in pursuit of happiness, security and a twoocat garage; we look on the 1960's ana see people 'idoing their own thing and rejecting society and its norms; we look on the 19703 and see people still doing their own thing, but the saying was, If 1t feels good, do 1t.' What about the 1980's? The eighties has been affeCted by progress in technology just like decades of the past YeSterday 3 technology has allowed us to prosper and at the same time, tremble at our abilities to control the course of nature. But with or without the technology that 15 available, we are different people. On the outside, we seem to be a diverse group of individuals seeking our own identity. The flower children of the sixties have given birth to the punk rockers of the eighties. Like their parents, these punkers' cause isn't very unique. When the punk rock movement began early 1n the eighties, it was a reaction against the norms of society: hate the government; hate your parents; and for Pete' s sake, don't get a job But the punk rockers of our society are not a broad reflection of the people living in the eighties. Then again, nor were the flower children an accurate reflection of the people living in the sixties. Nonetheless, we remember the flower children and Woodstock more than we remember Lyndon B. john- son. Who is an accurate reflection of the 1980's then? Some say that the YAPs tYoung Aspiring Ptofessionalsi ate the representa- tives of America in the eighties. These Young AsPiring Professionals can be compared with their forefathers tand mothersl of the fifties who were in hot pursuit of happiness. However, the attitudes of today's YAPs seems to be different from the people of the fifties. Today's YAPs, as well as the society as a whole, are not characterized by attitudes of concern or rebellion, but rather by apathy. YAPs ate in pursuit of personal comfort and material happiness . . . period. Today, apathy could almost be categorized as a movement .- despite the paradox. People today are constantly bombarded with new information, new dilemmas and new ideas. Before the old information, situations and ideas can be completely understood and adopted, they are replaced by the new. In reaction to this sensory overload, people of the eighties have shut themselves. off from the things that dont directly affect them. Two of todayis most common questions ate: Who cares? and What can it do for me? But before becoming cynical, let's look at what may have caused this attitude to pervade the attitudes of people living in the eighties. Immediately, everyone blames the problems of today on the arms race and the fear of a nuclear holocaust This possibility is a real and determining factor in the attitudes of the people of the eighties With the constant threat of being destroyed by the technology we have created, it is difficult for people to continue to press on with hope for an improved future. Thus, the value of a secure future which was once held by our forefathers in the fifties has been abandoned for more immediate concerns. But the arms race is only a small piece in the puzzle of confusion today. The sexual revolution which began in the sixties and thrived in the If it feels good, do it, atmosphere of the seventies, has continued in the eighties and has taken on a new twist. Like heterosexuals who were able to come out of the bedroom during the sixties, homosexuals were able to come out of the closet in the eighties. Just the same, the sexual abuse of children has been brought out into the light. continued on page 6.