Drexel University - Spartan Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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Nineteen seventy-nine brings about a closing of a decade. As man cannot remain stationary, neither can his environ- ment. As time stimulates growth, so too it produces change. Drexel, too, cannot be excluded from this natural process and thus this passage through the seventies ends a Decade at Drexel. Possibly the most obvious change is that of environment. In September 1978, the university had the largest fresh- man class in its eighty-six year history. Of 10,665 under- graduate and graduate students, 1,515 were freshmen residents of thirty-seven states and fifty-five foreign coun- tries. Through special programs such as Project Act 101, Upward Bound, and PRIME, Drexel also increased its en- rollment of minority students. This, along with the increas- 'V . ln D' X Y N- NESBITI' HALL AND GROUNDBREAKING ing number of women students, has enabled Drexel to have a more diverse stu- dent body than ever before. The focus in 1970 included problems still unsolved, inflation, crime rates, SALT talks, and conflicts in the Middle East. This was the year four college students were killed during the Kent State Incident, one display of the spreading unrest throughout the nation. In February of this year, Drexel Institute of Technology received recognition of its role in higher education with its new title, Drexel University. On campus, ex- pansion took shape in the construction of Nesbitt Hall. With this came the begin- ing of Nesbitt College of Design, Nutrition, Human Behavior, and Home Econom- ics. A concentration in the arts, natural sciences, and social sciences was now offered by Drexel. To accommodate its needs, Nesbitt Hall houses specialized lab- oratories used for study in the area of design, food sciences, and human behavior development. In 1971, religion took part in the construction of the Newman Center. Al- though the complex specifically serves the Catholic sector on campus, it also con- tributes to the entire Drexel community. As a religious and cultural center, it includes a chapel, library, seminar rooms, a student lounge, and music rooms. Aside from these facilities, it also provides the students with various programs

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The 1979 Lexerd A Decade at Drexel DREXEL UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

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such as winter retreats, lectures, and dinners. On the political scene in 1972, Rich- ard M. Nixon, already in the White House, was re-elected. His popularity diminished quickly as his administra- tion was crumbled by corruption. Per- haps there was some consolation in Henry Kissinger's success in negotia- ting the Viet Nam cease-fire, and with the succession of Gerald Ford there was hope for better times. Back on campus, much was done in response to the needs of both the increasing commuters and the resi- dents. To cope with the expanding need for housing, Calhoun Hall was opened in the fall of 1972. The dormi- tory was named in honor of Cynthia Calhoun by her husband Ernest P. Calhoun, who was a graduate of the class of 1918 and a long-time Univer- sity trustee. Its modern style with its half-moon shape holds 356 occupants and was the first dorm on Drexel's campus to introduce co-edu- cational living. To combat the problems of the commuter, a park- ing garage was also built during 1972. This multi- level parking facility is available to all University students, faculty, and personnel at a fee. The building cost the University over S3 million, and houses the offices of the Physical Plant, Planning and Construction, as well as receiving, storage, and security. Providing one of the top engineering programs in the country, the University opened an Engineering Research Laboratory to serve the students. This lab is used primarily by mechanical engineers, and also involves the design department and some civil engineers. In response to the increasing student body, both males and females, Mandell Theatre and the Educa- tional Activities Center IEACI were completed in 1973, providing many services and housing several ARTIST'S RENDITION - PARKING GARAGE 9 CALHOUN HALL ENGINEERING RESEARCH LABORATORY , 'f,