Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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MU marks fiftieth year “There comes a time in the life of every large educational institution when its departments and activities become so diverse and specialized that it needs the unifying force of a great social center to retain its solidarity.” William Jasper Kerr OSU President (1907-1932). For this reason and as a memorial to war dead, a corporation was formed in 1924 to establish a building fund for the Memorial Union. Fifty years later, during the week of April 15-21. 1974. the golden anniversary of the MU was celebrated. “Those Were the Days” and everything from the ribbon cutting ceremony which launched the week to the President’s Banquet which climaxed it was a mixture of past and present. The banquet, attended by more than l(K) past and present leaders of the M U, was the scene of awards... memories .. .evaluation. The forums held every day and slides sponsored by the Outdoor Program offered information.. .entertainment. And there was the fun billiard tournament: free movies every day, representing the decades between then and now; one-handed spaghetti “slurping contest. And how many goldfish can you eat? An active imagination might not even notice they taste like candy? The music makers were there, too. The Sawtooth Ml. Boys with their bluegrass sound and the rock of Magpie. For more traditional tastes there were band and choice concerts. The climax of the “nostalgia events was the Dance Marathon, a 20’s craze w ith the sound of the '70’s. The skillful blending of past and present, serious remembering and nostalgic fun was due to the effort of the MU Program Council under President Jim Wilcox. The MU is not the same as it was when first completed in the I920’s. It has grown in size and in number of occupants. The sights and sounds are of a different world, but it continues to serve as the unifying force of a large, diversified University a Udiversity that dedicated a week to remember; “Those Were the Days. £ Susannc Richardson 22 MU Anniversary

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Above left, the fiftieth anniversary of the Memorial Union was celebrated during the week of April 15-21. 1974. Above, the anniversary events included hand concerts in the main lounge, bar left. Those Were the Days was even celebrated with a golden anniversary cake l.e i. George Stevens, director of the MU. shares a laugh with Mrs. l-.dward Allworth, widow of first MU director. Below left, a candy goldfish eating contest was part of the old time entertainment. Ml nmvcrsary '23