Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

Page 13 text:

THE DECADE 1955-1965 saw Brown expand- ing in several directions at once. The most obvi- ous improvement and largest expenditure came in physical plant; new buildings and renova- tions of old structures benefitted almost all signif- icant segments of the University. For under- graduates, the West Quad and the new Pem- broke dormitories were built, and extensive ren- ovations were carried out in several of the older residence halls. Athletics were boosted by the purchase of the Dexter Asylum and the con- struction of Meehan Auditorium-and the al- most overnight upswing in the quality of hockey pointed toward more monetary commitment to other sports. No fewer than six of the sciences received their own buildings and laboratories: the Hunter Psychology building, the Wilson Bi- ology lab, the computer lab, Prince Engineering lab, the new greenhouse, and the Barus-Holley complex. The humanities finally received rec- ognition in the form of the Rockefeller library, with the promise of more to come. In addition to the purely physical develop- ment, Brown has grown in other ways. The size of the faculty has almost doubled. The quality of the faculty has improved, and median salaries have increased substantially. Similarly, the size and quality of the student body has increased, as has tuition. In fact, almost all the dollar- measures have multiplied during the Keeney administration: the market value and income of the endowment have more than doubled, the amount of government and foundation grants have risen e.g. the two Ford Foundation chal- lenge grants, and the amount of financial aid given to students has been raised. On other fronts, the graduate school was en- larged; university-owned land showed a net gain of some forty acres; the Brown University Press came into existence; and the college celebrated its 200th anniversary with all the pomp and lavishness it could muster.

Page 15 text:

13 THE YEAR 1965-1966 began with the admission of an enormous freshman class, and record numbers of seniors, juniors, and sopho- mores moved off-campus as a result of the squeeze. Throughout the tall, Brown received frst-rate coverage in all the national news media; unfortunately, the items found newsworthy were usually those the public relations office would have liked to forget. Irony, however, is always interesting, whether it be a disciplinary dean's lack of self-discipline or a psychology professor's psychotic behavior. Birth control was an explosive issue, but after a few wecks in which U.H. had announced no policy change, everyone accepted or torgot the fact. Undaunted, Brown continued to grow, change, and remain the same. Finishing touches were added to the new library and Barus- Holley; ground was broken for the new grad center; an ancient elm on the college green succumbed to blight but Wilbour Hall remained firmly entrenched on the otherwise sacrosanct John D. Rockefeller block. Another tuition raise made Brown's fees tempo- rarily tops, the grading system and parietal rules underwent revi- sion, and one hoax issue too many proved the demise of an out- spoken, highly opinionated BDH board. While some fraternities split with nationals over the bias question, a redefinition of the magic 50 clause of the '62 Housing Report gave others a new lease on life. Viet Nam affected most Brown men in some way, if only by increasing their worries about grades. The black-out of November 9th was more immediate, less serious. Much too soon or much too late, the 1965-1966 academic year ended for each of us; the Keeney decade passed; and Brown was older by three more $easOns, tWo IMOre SEIesters, one Mmore year.