Sales of UT’s yearbook, the Volunteer had declined for several years, with only two thousand copies of the 1979 book sold. The Volunteer staff, in consultation with the Student Publications Board and Student Publications Department, decided to change the requirement for inclusion of group photos from a $50 charge for inclusion of a photo of … Continued

On January 18, 1980, Dr. Howard Aldmon, vice chancellor of student affairs, announced that Black Cultural Center director Dennie Littlejohn would be transferred to the personnel office as coordinator of community personnel relations because of “differences with” Dean William Byas involving fund mismanagement, unethical practices, insubordination, and misleading students—none of which was substantiated in response … Continued

In spring 1980 College of Veterinary Medicine students made public their dissatisfaction with a dress code voted by the faculty to take effect in fall 1979 in clinics, laboratories, and classrooms. The dress code banned blue jeans, bib-front overalls, sandals, and flip-flops, and tennis shoes and T-shirts were also frowned upon. Assistant Dean William Grau … Continued

The Student Government Association organized participation at UT in the statewide Students Against Tuition Tax Day on February 17. More than two hundred students marched across campus chanting “No More!” and “Impeach Alexander” (Governor Lamar Alexander). The UT petition drive opposed the proposed tuition increases of 15 percent for in-state undergraduates, 25 percent for out-of-state … Continued

In anticipation of being able to house overnight visitors to the 1982 World’s Fair, students were evicted from apartments that the landlords wished to make available for fair visitors. Students and others evicted complained to the City, which responded by denying landlords who evicted tenants an overnight rental permit and enacted two temporary ordinances to … Continued

In 1982, with a hiring and equipment freeze imposed by the State, students questioned the need to create a $17,300 brick wall to designate the College of Agriculture along River Road. The wall, recommended by the Agriculture Campus Improvement Advisory Committee, was designed by David Kendall, assistant professor of ornamental horticulture and landscape design, and … Continued

The Graduate Student Council and the Student Government Association mounted a petition drive in October 1982 requesting restoration of library hours decreased as a result of budgetary cutbacks. Of particular concern was the discontinuance of the 24-hour study hall in the Undergraduate Library. A total of 4,396 signatures were gathered and presented to UT Libraries … Continued

In spring 1982, as part of the Student Government Association election, student dissent over whether to pay SGA officers a stipend was on the ballot as a referendum item. The students voted 1,672 to 1,030 to discontinue stipends. In May 1982 a bill was passed by the SGA to reinstate the stipends, and they were … Continued

In January 1983 international students presented a petition with more than five hundred names to Dixon Johnson, director of International Student Affairs, asking that plans to move the International House from its present location at 1604 Laurel to the house at 1515 Cumberland be expedited. The house at 1515 Cumberland was supposed to be ready … Continued

In 1983 agriculture students again pressed for a pedestrian bridge linking the main and agriculture campuses that would replace bus service between the two campuses. Students living in dormitories on campus often chose the five-minute “overland” route to the agriculture campus rather than riding the K-Trans bus. To do this, students walked down a 10-foot … Continued