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

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and intercultural and folk studies and foreign language departments were merged. The changes, which included eliminating several administrative positions, were ex- pected to save the university $200,000 to $300,000. Census reports were released at the end of 1980, setting the total U.S. population at 226,504,825, an 11.4 percent increase from 1970. Kentucky gained 13.8 percent for an official population of 3,218,706. Bowling Green had 40,450 people, up 11.6 percent. The year might be considered a “year of the budget,’’ but money problems were over- shadowed by the unexpected. John W. Hinckley Jr. became a household name when he allegedly shot the president with a cheap .22 caliber handgun. Reagan was the ninth president in history to be shot. The nation waited and wondered as the events of March 30 unfolded on the televi- sion screen. Those old enough to remember Nov. 22, 1963, when John F. Kennedy was killed in Dallas, were skeptical when initial reports said the president had not been shot. It was later learned that the president walked unassisted into George Washington University Hospital, but a spot of blood showed on his shirt. One of six bullets com- ing from about 13 feet away had ricocheted off the president’s limousine and hit him in the left chest as Secret Service men shoved him into the car. continued on page 30 IN PRESIDENT ZACHARIAS’ OFFICE, Gov. John Y. Brown talks with the university president. Brown was in Bowling Green to speak to students and the Bowling Green-Warren County Chamber of Commerce about state higher education. — Jim Gensheimer News

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28 News THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION Jan. 21 drew not only Reagan supporters but dissenters. Reagan defeated President Jimmy Carter in a landslide victory in November. Waiting and wondering cont. In still another aspect of education, the hand of the federal government reached down to touch Western and most other southern schools. The U.S. Department of Education notified Gov. John Y. Brown Jr. that Ken- tucky’s university system contained “vestiges of segregation,”’ in violation of the Civil Rights Acts of 1954 and 1964. Many other southern schools were told the same thing. The state's Council on Higher Education requested an extension of the 60-day deadline. It was given. If the federal govern: ment’s demands were not eventually met, Kentucky schools risked losing up to $60 million in federal aid. But those were not the only figures Brown and the state universities had to reckon with. Revenue shortfalls caused the governor to cut back many state programs, particularly higher education. Western took a $2.2 million cut in 1980-81 and braced itself for an additional 5.5 per- cent cut in 1981-82. Western President Donald Zacharias thought the cuts were handled unfairly and began a campaign to in- form the state of higher education's plight. UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER didn't dampen the spirits of about 250 “Back Zack ’ ralliers. After mar- ching up College Street, the group stopped at the ad- ministration building to listen to President Donald Zacharias speak against higher education budget cuts. aT jf SEX ” DRU GS BoC K- ROU ' IMMORAy, . eas MINORITy — Jim Gensheimer In a speech to the Bowling Green-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, he charged Brown with playing a dangerous game of “Let's pretend.” ‘‘Let’s pretend that the universities are fat with resources and are over funded. ‘Let's pretend that you can dismiss university personnel with 15 to 20 years ex- perience, and they and their families won't feel it. “Let's pretend that the public does not really like universities and would just as soon they were closed. “Let's pretend that there is really only one university in the state, and it is located in Lexington. (Brown is a graduate of the University of Kentucky.) “Let's pretend that the people at the state’s comprehensive universities — called regional universities by those who are fond of categories — are incapable of recognizing when they are robbed of their resources.” Zacharias cited figures which showed that Western's funds were being cut dispropor- tionately, while the universities of Kentucky and Louisville were being spared. Brown's cabinet secretary James O. King later wrote Zacharias a letter informing him of “glaring omissions” in his remarks. But Zacharias bounded back with more rhetoric, and students backed him. In 11-degree February weather, about 200 students gathered for a “Back Zack”’ rally. The group marched up College Street to the a bg! alt eed x Bi Pee a administration building. Zacharias spoke to the flag-waving demonstrators, but his remarks were restrained. More criticism came when Brown called higher education the ‘‘biggest cry baby’’ on budget cuts. Budget worries were somewhat relieved later in the year when the Council on Higher Education approved a tuition increase, but Western also began to look for ways to cut costs. The College of Applied Arts and Health was eliminated and its programs were placed in the remaining colleges; student’ services were combined with the ad- ministrative affairs office; the admissions of- fice was combined with university-school relations; industrial education and engineer- ing technology departments were merged;

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30 News Waiting and wondering cont. Seventy-year-old Reagan was in surgery for two hours, and, according to hospital of- ficials, “‘he was at no time in any danger.”’ Later reports said the bullet lodged in his lung was an inch away from his heart. Network personalities provided informa- tion as it trickled in; some was reliable, some was not. CBS anchorman Dan Rather, who a few weeks earlier had replaced legendary Walter Cronkite in the top spot after Cronkite’s retirement, erroneously announced the death of Press Secretary James Brady and proceeded to observe a moment's silence in his memory. In fact, Brady was not dead, but critically injured from a bullet in his brain. Also in- jured were Secret Service agent Timothy J. McCarthy and District of Columbia policeman Thomas Delahanty. Reagan, unaided by a routine wheel chair ride, left the hospital 12 days later, reported- ly saying, “Il walked in here — I'm going to walk out.” This was the second time in four months the world watched tragedy strike via a handgun. In December, a crazed fan killed former Beatle John Lennon as he was re- turning to his New York apartment. Thousands of fans kept a vigil outside, in respect for him, his music and his wife Yoko Ono. Conversation on campus focused on Len- non, although most students were: still in diapers when the Beatles released their first song in 1962. Lennon was killed on a Monday, and by 11 am. Tuesday, Bowling Green record stores reported that Lennon's most recent — Steve Lowry album, ‘‘Double Fantasy, ’ and other Lennon albums were sold out. “One guy called and was crying. He was looking for John Lennon's album and nobody had it,”’ one store clerk recalled. In Atlanta, a tragedy which began in 1979 continued. The nation watched as the peo- ple of Atlanta found the bodies of a growing number of missing black children. Thirty FBI investigators joined 35 Georgia investigators working to solve the murders; many of which seemed to be linked. FBI of- ficials seemed satisfied that three or four in- dividual killings had been solved, but- they declined to comment until more information on other, apparently connected killings could be obtained. At Western, a black singing group, the Amazing Tones of Joy, sponsored bake sales with the proceeds going to the Atlanta investigation. Many students wore tiny green or orange ribbons to remind people of