1980-1989

Hippies Out, Would-Be Yuppies In

"How different we must seem compared to the students of a decade ago. The anti-establishment sentiments of that era have been replaced by one preoccupying issue: not world unrest, not the rise of political conservatism in America, not draft registration, no even saving the whale--but the ominous prospect of finding a job. Students today are more interested in joining the establishment than in fighting it."--Linda Danico, '81, Spring 1981

Students Attack Pro-Iran Demonstrators

"The last sizable demonstration I recall was in the fall of 1979, shortly after the American embassy was taken in Iran. Droves of students vented their anger on a handful of Iranian students who were defending the actions of their countrymen. Even I, normally reserved and a bit too inhibited to chant slogans before an `Eyewitness News' team, was swept up by the crowd that swarmed across the HUB lawn that day. Sadly, our emotions overpowered our sense, and the crowd attacked an Iranian student. He had to be rescued by police."--Linda Danico, '81, Spring 1981


Students stand to perform the Wave, a UW tradition since it was invented in Husky Stadium in 1981. Photo by Mary Levin.

The Wave Is Born

The old maestro Robb Weller, who raised cheerleading to a fine art in the early `70s, was back and the fans loved it. By fourth quarter he had orchestrated the entire stadium from his post in front of the student section--and the Dogs obliged with a victory over Stanford. Well, now a successful talk-show host on Chicago TV, told the crowd: "I haven't had this much fun in nine years--sine the last time I was here!" Winter 1981-82

Konick on Teaching Students in the 1980s

"The write well and are great to have in class. Of course, there are differences. I never had to explain Dostoevsky's political radicalism to my classes in the '60s--they understood all that. And now, many of my brightest students are in computer science and business, rather than in the humanities."--Professor Willis Konick, Fall 1982

Costigan Castigates Nationalism

"The contemporary wars between Iraq and Iran, between Israel and the Arabs, between Argentina and Britain, show how powerful is the force of an irrational nationalism equipped with the most modern weapons of destruction. In the nuclear age, humanity must learn that, to survive, some limits must be placed on claims of national sovereignty, some curbs on the expression of national ambitions. An unbridled nationalism has proved stronger than either Christianity or Communism, Islam or Buddhism, and dominates both democratic and totalitarian societies. The chances of controlling such nationalism seems remote. Yet the alternative is the destruction of civilization on this planet."--Professor Giovanni Costigan, Fall 1982

Department Cuts Cause a Stir


Signs of the times? Departmental moves in the 1980s prompt this series of serious and humorous signs in Savery Hall. File photo.

The UW created a stir last fall when it announced that it would review 29 academic degree programs for elimination. Some suggested that the University intended to modify its traditional role as an undergraduate-oriented university with broad-based programs in the arts and sciences. Provost George Beckmann ... says that although the institution is experiencing some slight enrollment shifts, it remains and will remain one of the strongest liberal arts and sciences institutions of its size in the country. ... The enrollment shifts expected to occur at the UW over the next five or six years will not alter the character of this institution, Beckmann said. Engineering is expected to gain about 400 students and business about 125, insignificant numbers when compared to the more than 34,000 students who attend the University. Spring 1983 [In August 1983, following a $30-million cut in state support, the regents approved eliminating 24 degree programs, including art education, child drama, kinesiology, nutritional sciences and textiles, social management of technology, and outdoor recreation.]






Queen Goes to the Dawgs

Queen Elizabeth II and President William P. Gerberding greet the crowd as they walk down the aisle at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. File photo.


Not since President John F. Kennedy visited campus for the University centennial ... had the UW experienced such excitement and splendor. The cause was a convocation honoring Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. ... More than 500 faculty, dressed in the vivid robes of their alma maters, began the convocation with an academic procession. ... In her speech, Queen Elizabeth mentioned the enduring ties between Great Britain and the Northwest, notably in trade, culture and education. She drew laughter when she reminded the audience that more than a century ago the U.S. and Great Britain almost went to war over the shooting of a stray pig in the San Juan Islands. Spring 1983

Coach's Goal: Develop Values to Find What's Important in Life

"I think coaching is viewed differently now than when I was young. Then it was like being a minister or a doctor--you were a teacher first. The bottom line was different. People were measured by their contribution to the kids in school. Coaches were looked at more from an educational standpoint than an entertainment standpoint, as they are now. ... Wins are a by-product of coaching, but the product, hopefully, is that you're going to improve the people you've been working with. Whether you're teaching chemistry, physical education or basketball, the goal is to improve everybody's skill level. You want to improve them as individuals so they might fit a little better into society. You want to help them develop a value system so they'll have a recognition of what's important in life." --Basketball Coach Marv Harshman. Winter 1984-85

Stadium Framework Collapses


The framework of the North Stands Addition to Husky Stadium sits in a heap after it collapsed on Feb. 25, 1987. Photo by Brian Hanser.

Construction of the north stands addition to Husky Stadium continues following the February collapse of the new upper deck foundation. At press time the facility management office was unable to give an estimated completion date. Officials remain hopeful it will be in use by autumn. [There was no design error of the North Stands Addition. Investigators found that several critical guy wires--cables which kept the structure from twisting--were removed in error. The stadium opened as scheduled Sept. 5, 1987, in a game against Stanford.] Spring 1987

Branching Out: Process Begins for New Campuses

The whole character of the UW as a single-campus institution may well be changing by the early 1990s. In an historic action, the state Higher Education Coordinating Board has chosen the UW as the state institution responsible fore planning and implementing the expansion of higher education in the Puget Sound region Winter 1988 * UW upper-division and graduate centers in Tacoma and Bothell could begin operation by 1990. By 1995, UW Tacoma would serve 2,900 undergraduate students and UW Bothell would have 2,350 undergraduates; each campus would also serve 535 graduate students. Fall 1988

Congress Will Continue to `Investigate' White House

"While Republicans maintained control of the White House, the Democrats strengthened their hold on Congress, an unusual development. Polling evidence suggests that the American people now like such a distribution of power. They are not willing to entrust full control of Washington to any one party. They wish each to be strong enough to watch the other and do so effectively. They believe that Johnson betrayed them in 1964, Nixon did so after 1972, and they have doubts about Bush as well as about Dukakis and the Democrats. Thus, congressional investigations of the executive branch seems certain to remain an important part of our political process."--Professor Richard Kirkendall, Winter 1988-89

Tianamen Square: Chinese Students Afraid to Go Home

While students may not be jailed if they return to China, the Chinese government might place them in secluded, undeveloped areas where they will never be heard from again. "To intellectuals," said Fengming Liu, president of the UW Association of Chinese Students, "this is the scariest thing of all." Students fear for the safety of their families in China if they don't return; they fear for their own safety and future if they do. The Chinese government has promised not to prosecute returning students. "But, said Liu, "the government also said, `We won't use a gun against the students (in Tianamen Square).' " Autumn 1989

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