Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

Page 11 text:

— Todd Buchanan ‘the presidency, at the Belvedere water front. The speech took place after Reagan trode the © A LOUISVILLE AUDIENCE listens to presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, who later won Belle of Louisville riverboat. sf A YELLOW RIBBON around a tree was a national symbol of support for the American ise hostages in Iran. A tree near the university center was decorated with the ribbon, which stayed.” there for several months. ; Soave SN RANE Mee tae IN A JIMMY CARTER MASK, a 1975 graduate Terry Climer clowns around with Big Red on © the track during the Homecoming game. Big Red won a national mascot competition for an- tics such as this. : : ; : : A WBKO-TV REPORTER interviews David Payne, a senior from Burlington, N.C.,. before the Back Zack march in February. Payne was one of the organizers of the rally, which began ine = front of the Sigma Nu fraternity house on College Street and ended at the administration building on campus. — Jim Gensheimer.

Page 10 text:

6 Opening THE RELEASE of American hostages in Iran prompted a group of students to show their support. A sign, saying ‘‘We love you America, our people are free,’ was tied to Henry Hardin Cherry's statue in front of Cherry Hall. The hostages were released on the dav Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as president. Conversions «on. ith incumbent Jimmy Carter out and Repub- lican Ronald Reagan in, students wondered about the future of college financial aid. A state revenue shortfall of $185 million caused Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. to cut Western’s fund by $2.2 million. But the cuts were not finished. When state and federal budget deficits combined to threaten more cutbacks, Western President Donald Zacharias spoke out to preserve his programs. Students showed support with a Back Zack rally in February. As the threat of a draft increased, 18-year-olds registered at post offices and Congress debated con- scription. Crises in El Salvador, Poland and Iran cast long shadows over the issue. Nationalism was on the rise as 52 American hostages were released after 444 days of Iranian captivity. Adjusting to events sometimes became a full-time job. ; i

Page 12 text:

Conversions .... hen they had time to spare from work and Studies students often looked for inexpensive activities on campus. Plays and movies entertained at night while a variety of sports provided diversion by day. But when Sunshine Promotions ended their contract with Western, major concerts became a thing of the - past. Since no promoter bid on the contract, the Univer- sity Center Board couldn't afford to finance big-name performers on its own because of budget cuts. Instead, the board scheduled more coffee houses with local groups in the university center and small concerts in Did: le Arena. | enter Board events such as Halloween, the Hanging ‘the Green and Mardi Gras allowed students to escape from the pressures of class work: But. lectures focused on news, history and the - economy with speakers such as former hostage Victor Tomseth, conservative columnist James Kilpatrick and Soviet dissident Alexander Ginzburg. Students escaped and adjusted. A Chi Omega raffle or a hot-air balloon ride, November Nonsense and other acti ities showed a lighter side of life — at times in- aluable to students adapting to conversions. — Steve Lowry THE PINK PANTHER entertains Sandra Alexander, a senior from Greenville, Ohio, at the football game against the University of Evansville. The panther, a Project of several students, has been present at every home football game the past three seasons. Opening Asie ees SHE if}