University News
Western Celebrates 50 Years as University
June 6, 2007
MACOMB, IL -- Fifty years ago, Western Illinois State College became Western Illinois University. Illinois Gov. William G. Stratton approved the change on July 5, 1957 and Western began its transformation into a university.
To commemorate Western's change to a university, various celebrations have been planned throughout the remainder of 2007. "From College to University … Celebrating Western's Golden Anniversary" officially kicked off May 5 with the WIU Foundation Major Donor Recognition.
A visual display highlighting "Then and Now" on campus was designed for the University Union Murray Street entrance display case, while the Major Donor event featured campus photographs from the 50s, nostalgic music from the 1950s and a video presentation highlighting photographs from the 1957 Sequel Yearbook. The "Then and Now" exhibit will be on display through July 2007.
Western Illinois administrators, alumni and distinguished guests will have the honor of serving 50th anniversary cake from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, June 23 in the Macomb Chandler Park Gazebo in conjunction with Macomb Heritage Days. Other activities celebrating 50 years as a university include New Student Convocation and Welcome (August), Founders' Day (September) and Homecoming Weekend (September).
"We look forward to celebrating Western's 50th anniversary as a university with the WIU community, as well as our many alumni and friends," said WIU President Al Goldfarb. "We are grateful for the foresight of the faculty, staff, administrators and students who were on this campus half a century ago. They believed that Western Illinois would flourish as a university and provide even greater educational opportunities to its students. We have the responsibility to assure that we continue to build upon their dreams."
Western was founded April 24, 1899.
A Walk Down Memory Lane: 1957 - 2007
* Excerpts taken from "First Century A Pictorial History of Western Illlinois University" by John E. Hallwas, English Professor Emeritus
Late 1950s
• Gov. William Stratton signs legislation approving the change of Western Illinois State College to Western Illinois University.
• Accounting and business administration degrees first offered.
• WWKS-FM, Western's educational radio station signs on the air. The station has since grown into WIUM/WIUW.
• President Frank Beu steps down.
• A.L Knoblauch named Western's fifth president.
• School of Education established.
• The Leathernecks Basketball team, under the leadership of Stix Morley and Guy Ricci, came in second at the IIAC Championship
• Enrollment: 2,871
1960s
• Corbin Hall opened -- 800 female students moved in September 1962.
• First admissions counselor -- Ken Epperson -- hired.
• On campus enrollment jumps to 4,477 in 1963.
• Slang in the 60s: "Laker;" "Drag;" "Gleep"
• WIU has Illinois' largest Veteran's Club
• First group of international students arrive on campus.
• Ten new buildings dedicated - the Health Center, the Union, Memorial Library, Applied Sciences Building, Physical Plant, a greenhouse and four residence halls.
• Alice L. Kibbe Life Sciences Station acquired.
• First classes begin in the Quad Cities.
• Women's intercollegiate athletics reintroduced with the formation of the WRA Extramural Club.
• President A.L. Knoblauch retires.
• John T. Bernhard named Western's sixth president.
1970s
• More residence halls constructed.
• Stipes, Brophy and Currens halls open.
• Nine-hole golf course constructed on Tower Road.
• Western Courier ordered off campus.
• Grote Hall and Lab School close.
• Black Student Center dedicated to Illinois Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks.
• Western Organization for Women (WOW) formed.
• President Bernhard resigns to become president of Western Michigan.
• Leslie F. Malpass named Western's seventh president.
• Enrollment tops at 14,285 in 1975.
• Western develops two museums and three halls of fame.
• Alumni Programs moves into former Home Management House.
• University Library (now called Malpass Library) opens.
• WESL Institute established.
1980s
• Women's Center established.
• Women's athletic teams named the Westerwinds.
• WIU Advising Center created.
• President Leslie Malpass retires.
• Ralph Wagoner named Western's eighth president.
• Enrollment drops to 11,750 in 1984.
• Fraternity and sorority members comprise 12 percent of student body.
• Honors Program established.
• Western's ROTC program is second largest program in the Midwest.
• Western Courier returns to campus.
1990s
• Grote Hall razed; Bennett and Hursh halls closed (Hursh was demolished in 1998).
• Western wins Mid-Continent Conference Commissioner's Cup twice.
• Westerwinds Basketball won its first Mid-Continent Conference title; Westerwinds softball wins conference championship.
• President Wagoner accepts presidency at Augustana College (South Dakota).
• Donald S. Spencer named Western's ninth president.
• Enrollment topped 13,377 in 1992 (12,610 in 1998).
• WIU Board of Trustees established by then-Governor Jim Edgar.
• Student Recreation Center opens (now called Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center).
• Western's Cost Guarantee established.
• WIU-Quad Cities campus moves into its own building in Moline.
• Western celebrates its Centennial 1999-2000.
2000s
• President Donald S. Spencer retires.
• Al Goldfarb named Western's 10th president.
• Western creates Higher Values in Higher Education Strategic Plan initiative for the University's future.
• College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall opens in Simpkins Hall.
• Memorial Hall renovations begin.
• WIU acquires former Hy-Vee facility on University Drive, which now houses the Gwendolyn Brooks Center, the Headstart Preschool Center and WIUM/WIUW.
• WIU begins renovation of Hanson Field and expansion of the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center.
• Planning begins for new Multicultural Center, which will house the Brooks Center, the Women's Center and Casa Latina.
• Western celebrates its 50th anniversary as a university.
• Numerous programs unique to WIU: The instructional design and technology undergraduate degree program is the only program in the state and one of only 10 in the country; WIU offers the only sports broadcasting program in the state; Western's meteorology program is one of only two nationally certified programs in Illinois; WIU is the only Illinois institution and one of only three in the country to offer a bachelor's degree in forensic chemistry; the University is the only public university in the state to offer a bachelor's degree in graphic communication, while Western's newest bachelor's degree in emergency management is one of only two undergraduate programs in the state; and Western is the only public university in Illinois to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre.
• Fall 2006 enrollment tops at 13,602.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
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