Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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IIIE 1 ii Ill' .LL-P -23.-' I ....-----1--' or - 13. .ja I , , , .,-a ' ' 'Y . ' . f X 7 ,-, -7' 'ff ' - 1, l eff K ' Z I, 51 7 ' V w An integral part of any great university is its library and Southern has one of the finest. Pictured here as it looked when opened in 7956, five stories were added during 7967 -63 making it the orea's tallest building. A-xg , A 'K .4 s.-ge: . 11' .a gv l ge 1. 7 1 u as il , 4-J . V if? i.,1:r-l g .,,q?wfv . 2' ' 4. .2 P. it These students were part of a fanitorial crew in the old SIU student center. Southern developed a student worlr program over the years that today employs nearly thirty percent of the student body on a parttime basis. 16 As part of SlU's growing emphasis on quality education, the Plan A curriculum was begun in 7967. Directed by chosen faculty members, the program offered a course in discussion and research. Enrollments grew and a minor is now available in the curriculum. The visiting dignitaries who come to Soutl1ern's campus reflect her growth as a social and in tellectual center. President Kennedy appeared on campus in 7960 during the presidential ram He is pictured below with Southern's chief security officer Tom Leffler during a motorcade. M

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In the early 7950's it was imperative that Southern's physical growth proceed as rapidly aspassible to accommodate the 725 percent increase in enrollment from 7950 to 7955. The construction below was part of the Thompson Point dormitory complex. W , so 4 My . 'W' -n 1. V I I ,N 4 Mm , H' uw-aa: .W Il lllll loili L I 'M M I 'I' Delyte Wesley Morris became presicffgnt of Southern Illinois University upon the resignation of President Lay in August, 7948. Beginning with Dr. Morris's administration, SIU entered a period of growth the scope of which has yet to be fully realized. In 7957 the University Training School was opened greatly en- hancing the facilities available for student teachers. That year the OBELISK increased its page size from 7V2 x IOVZ to its present 9 x 72. The following year saw the installation of the AFROTC unit at Southern. In the fall of 7952 the Salulci was chosen as the school mascot, replacing the old title of Maroons, and the 7952 football team went winless through a nine game schedule, scoring only 70 points to its opponents' 354. Work had begun on the Life Science Building, the Agriculture Building which is longer than a football field, and by 7955 the Thompson Point dormitory com- plex which alone covers an area larger than the completed campus of the 793O's. By 7952 the Graduate School had an enrollment of over 400 that year's OBELISK reported. The Vocational Technical Institute was opened also in 7952 to offer a two-year program with associate business and associate technology degrees. The Division of Communications was established in 7953 with two depart- ments, journalism and speech. In 7955 a major revision in division of the curriculum was under- taken when the College of Vocations and Professions was sub- divided and Business Administration became the School of Busi- ness. The Divisions of Communications, Fine Arts, and Rural Studies became schools. In November a doctoral program was approved for SIU by the Board of Trustees. Thus during this seven-year period Southern had advanced from a normal school to a full-fledged university. The schooI's physical plant tripled in six years and enrollment doubled from 7952 to 7955. Now the upward spiral of Southern's growth was well underway and the 7954 OBELISK boasted: Our University: too self-conscious to be smug-too progressive to be modest. In 7952 Southern's compulsory AFROTC program went into effect. With uniforms and drill, installation ofthe program saw the beginning of the Military Ball and election of the first Military Ball Queen.

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I On a spring afternoon in T959 President Morris turned the first sprideful of dirt on the site of the four million dollar University Center. Initial con- struction took two years and though the building is not yet finished it provides ample recreation facilities. M I T956-T963 It is doubtful that many universities in the nation have experienced a percentage increase in either enrollment or physical expansion which compares with that of our University. ln I956 Morris Library was completed and the first volumes were moved in. The building was originally designed so that addi- tional stories could be added and initial stages on this addition were begun in l962. A university bond issue was passed in the T960 general election which provided funds for construction of five major buildings on campus. The Wham Education Building was completed late in T963 and work had begun on a general classroom building and communications building. A second area at Thompson Point was completed in i962 and work was begun an a I7-story women's dormitory on the site of the old Dowdell Halls. The SIU Arena and School of Technology building complex were also under construction by T962-63. The years from T958 to T967 were the best for Southern's athletic teams in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Confer- ence. They consistently won a majority of the conference cham- pionships and in T967 SIU placed first in every varsity sport, but tennis. The next year Southern chose to leave the conference and the Salukis began competing independently. Southern is in the midst of change, a change which affects all of her functions. Everyone can see the changef the falling trees and rising steel and brick bear witness to the fact. And some can feel it. The tempo of campus activity is a little swifter, compe- tition is becoming keener, and more effort is needed each quarter to keep pace. The change is good because it is a progressive change. But the cost is high when for each change something must be abandoned. We must abandon old policies and traditions. And new traditions take a long time to rlevelop. To build a reputation SIU dropped out of the IIAC. A lack of tradition and quality has been the most costly aspect of Southern's growth, today her only real tradition is progress. But eventually the University will reach a plateau where this rapid development will stop. Then effort can be turned to the development of high standards and a tradition of excellence. This picture of ancient Shryock Auditorium appeared in the I956 OBELISK as part ofthe coverage of New Student Week. As a result of constant remodeling and good maintenance the forty-eight-year-old building is in good shape and seats more than any building on campus. 1 I